Spring is the time in nature when plants and trees bloom, birds sing and insects become more active. It’s a time of rebirth and new life. We can feel these changes in nature all around us – the spring sunshine on our skin and clear air in our lungs, which makes us feel refreshed. Plus, as the weather warms up, we like to get outside and move our bodies!
Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine believe that spring has other effects on the body, which can be both positive and not so positive for your overall health and wellbeing.
Understanding spring through Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is the season in which our bodies wake up and clean out stagnant emotions, energy and qi (Eastnd, 2021). And although this is generally a good thing, it can also be a time of considerable stress on the body as seasonal changes take place. These changes aren’t always easy to notice, so it’s worth knowing what to look out for.
These stressors come in a few different forms. First, spring is related to the liver (Guo & Wei, 2021), which, in Traditional Medicine, is the organ related to a range of different problems, including irritability, anxiety, depression, anger, insomnia, headaches, muscle cramps, blurred vision, PMS, and anaemia.
Spring can also be a windy season, and Traditional Medicine teaches that these natural winds have a strong influence on our bodies. These winds carry viruses and various bacteria that cause the common cold, or allergens such as pollen and dust that cause hay fever.
Traditional Chinese Medicine tips to stay healthy in spring
In spring, to fend off potential issues, it’s a good idea to pick up some simple lifestyle habits that improve the circulation of blood and qi around your body. These could include:
Take up light exercise. As the weather gets warmer, get outside and move your body! Gentle exercise is healthy for everyone, and incorporating easy activity such as walking can help keep you fighting fit. Movement also activates your liver qi, stopping it from stagnating and leading to problems (China Institute, 2020).
Eat spring vegetables. Green is the colour associated with the liver, and in spring, green veggies are abundant! Eating fresh leafy greens can also improve your liver qi (China Institute, 2020) and contribute to your overall health, so find your local favourites and stock up.
Eat sour foods or fruits. Sour tastes stimulate liver qi to keep you healthy this spring (China Institute, 2020). Try adding a twist of lemon to your drinking water or tea to boost your health.
Control your stress levels. Stress and liver qi are linked in traditional Chinse Medicine – a link that has been observed in modern medical research as well. Keeping stress under control helps to keep your liver – and the rest of you - healthy.
Get good sleep. Sleep is vital for maintaining physical, mental and emotional health. As the season changes, you may have to adjust your sleeping pattern, so make sure you’re setting yourself up for a good night’s rest.
Take care of your digestive health. The liver is responsible for cleaning toxins from your body (Eastnd, 2021), and ensuring your digestive system is in good working order helps it to do its job effectively without placing too much stress on it.
If you’re having trouble transitioning into the spring season this year, another treatment that might unlock your liver qi and help keep you strong and healthy is acupuncture. With an experienced practitioner, acupuncture can help unlock energy flows in your body and promote better health and wellbeing.
Book in for an acupuncture session with our expert, Yukiko, to help support the changes in your body during spring, help with allergies, hay fever symptoms, sinus congestion and a host of other problems.
Sources:
Eastnd, Flowing with The Seasons: A Naturopathic and Traditional Chinese Medicine Approach to Spring, 2021
J Guo, F Wei., Analysis of theory of "the liver corresponding to spring", Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2021
Spring and the Liver, China Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2020
Comments