Spring Season According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Spring is the beginning of new things, renewal, and birth. The energy should be kept open and fluid. Spring is the best time to start new things and projects. Planting the seeds for the rest of the year, this is the time for creativity and growth! Start a business, learn a new activity, plan a big trip. Spring is a time of ascending active nature. The Inner Classic says it is a good time for Yang activities and to “Rise Early with the sun” and “take brisk walks”.
Season: Spring
Element: Wood
Climate: Wind
Taste: Sour
Color: Green
Emotion: Anger
Organ: Liver/gallbladder
Sensory part: Eyes
Tissue: Tendons
The climate associated with the Spring is wind. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), wind embodies movement and change. Diseases caused by wind usually have sudden onset, rapid progression, spasms, tremors, twitching, and dizziness. They usually affect the upper body and extremities.
Even though the weather may be getting warmer, it is still important to keep layers on and especially protect our neck. Wind can easily penetrate the neck and cause colds, so continuing to wear a scarf outside can help avoid that.
The organ of the Liver governs the smooth flow of Qi in the body and governs the tendons. Issues with the Liver are more apt to come up during the Spring season. This is why people may be extra irritable, angry or impatient. Sometimes coming across too assertive, pushy, inflexible, or dominating. We can also be very susceptible to headaches, dizziness, shoulder/neck tension, or insomnia around this time.
It's extra important to stretch out the tendons and ligaments and make time for movement to help facilitate the Liver's function of smooth Qi flow through the body. This will help get out that anger and frustration. Moving the body opens up all the channels and helps the Qi flow properly.
In Spring we naturally eat less. The flavor is sour so we should be incorporating more sour foods into our diet. Our body wants to cleanse itself of the fats and heavy foods of the Winter. This is a good time to do a cleanse as the body is naturally cleansing. Focus on young plants, fresh greens, and sprouts. Better to avoid heavy foods during this time. Just like Spring cleaning, our bodies are also ready for their Spring cleaning.
Tips to stay healthy in Spring:
1. Be active: go for walks outside, move your body, stretch out your body.
2. Healthy, light, and fresh foods.
3. Drink room temperature or warm lemon water in the morning. The Liver loves sour flavors and lemon.
4. Wear loose fitting clothes.
5. Stay covered up when outside (especially the neck region).
6. Vision problems like dry eyes, blurry vision, etc. can occur in the Spring. This tea can help nourish the eyes.
Chrysanthemum & Goji Berry Tea:
3-5 dried chrysanthemum flower buds
1-2 teaspoons goji berries
fresh mint (optional)
honey
Add chrysanthemum flowers, goji berries, and mint leaves to a cup.
Boil water.
Pour water into cup.
Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
Remove herbs and add honey to taste. Enjoy!
This tea can be infused up to 3 times, each time add fresh hot water and let steep for 5 minutes.
Foods to incorporate this season:
Artichoke
Eggplant
Chives
Radish
Micro greens
Garlic
Currants
Grapefruit
Rhubarb
Chicken
Shrimp
White Fish
Gogi berry
Lily bulb
Chrysanthemum
Kiwi
Onions
Leeks
Chinese yam
Wheat
Cilantro
Lemon
Mushrooms
Sprouts
Spinach
Vinegar
Green tea