February 4th, Monday marked the first day of Spring by the lunar calendar. This is the official Chinese New Year. February 10th marks the first day of Spring according to the solar calendar (the calendar we use in the West). This is a difference of measuring the Earth’s journey around the Sun versus the Moon’s journey around the Earth. Click here for an excellent explanation of the differences between these calendars. The differences in the lunar and solar calendar total up to about 1 week, a time period we are currently in the middle of now (as of Friday, February 8th).
When my husband and I were living in China in 2011, we arrived right before the Spring Festival, a celebration and national holiday that lasts for about 2 weeks and honors the Spring energy that is emerging. Below is one of my favorite pictures of the decorations that were posted in different places in Chengdu to celebrate Spring.
What is so amazing about living and observing Chinese culture was the way that seasonal changes are recognized in the celebrations, in the food and dietary choices to mention two important ways. When we ordered water in a restaurant in January (winter and cold) we were typically served warm water with lemon, not the cold ice water I am used to seeing in the US. One of the most important awarenesses I have developed as a result of my Taoist qi gong practices is a refined and enhanced consciousness of my inner world and how I experience the seasonal changes and transitions internally. I like to track the season changes within myself and then observe what is happening around me, in nature, in my clients I work with in my herbal practice, in my cats. It has and continues to help me refine my understanding of the five organ systems in Chinese medicine – liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys – and how to restore and maintain internal balance.
We are transitioning from the year of the water dragon to the year of the water snake – yin and yang aspects of the water element. The yang of the water dragon last year might have resulted in some more external life transforming changes or shifts, while the yin of the water snake relates more to our internal processes and transformations. I particularly enjoyed my friend Miles Coleman’s post on the energies of the snake versus the dragon (click here). I have been noticing how different the water snake feels in contrast to the water dragon. This snake energy feels far more subtle, more internal. It seems to flow and shift, and feeling it reminds of swimming in under water. Although, despite its more internal and subtle elements, it is a still a transition to move into Spring and we are right in the middle of it. The trick, I believe is to fully align with this new energy in meditation, in food choices, and lifestyle choices. That, in essence, is the topic of this article.
Spring Energy and the Wood Element
Spring corresponds to the liver organ system and the wood element. It is an organ that has an abundant vital life force, or Qi, associated with it, embodied by its color of green. Think literally of the green shoots of life that survive winter to burst through the ground with vigor. It is birth energy that will come forth at any cost and can become frustrated when it gets stuck or blocked in any way. The liver functions as our filtration and detoxification system to eliminate toxins, be they environmental, emotional, hormonal, etc. In Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for regulating the smooth flow of Qi in the body. It rules the tendons and muscles in the body, and you will often see in folks that have stuck liver Qi that they also have sore muscles, especially of the neck and shoulders. The energy of spring is expansive and ascendant.
This wood energy is quite magnificent when it is in balance. This energy in it’s positive aspects is our creativity, kindness, the desire to be of service. When out of balance it can become anger, frustration, moodiness, and depression. If you are not attuned to the subtle seasonal shifts, this energy can surprise you and sneak up on you. Even if you are attuned to the energy, you may still be impacted as it emerges. Practically speaking, what does this look like physically and emotionally?
Physical Health Issues of Spring
It will manifest differently for each individual, depending on our constitution, stress levels (this especially can exacerbate livery symptoms), lifestyle, diet, and health conditions. But there are obvious commonalities. Here are some possibilities, as well as why you might expect to see them:
- Headaches – the ascending energy can rise into the head and get trapped in the bones of the skull. This can be a hard time for those who have migraine headaches.
- Racing thoughts and feeling wired – another way the ascendant energy can manifest
- Eye issues – redness or swelling around the eyes – the liver rules the eyes and can affect this area of the body
- Moodiness, sudden anger, frustration, and irritation – the surges in the spring energy may overwhelm the liver (especially if it is weak or deficient already) hindering it’s ability to filter and detoxify emotions
- Skin conditions – red, itchy, weepy or dry skin problem that can occur anywhere or move around, but most especially those in the upper body (ie neck or head). This can include conditions like hives.
- More susceptible to stress – the liver manages the flow of qi and any excesses can overwhelm its ability to process extremes like stress
- PMS – in women this can look like PMS symptoms like moodiness, breast tenderness, cramping pain right before the period or on the first day, irregular bleeding or spotting, bloating, and gas
- An aversion to wind and possibly even colds that start out as sore throats – wind comes with the springs and is associated with the liver. When the liver is weak it can leave you more susceptible to internal wind (tremors or spasms) as well as an eternal invasion of wind (colds and sore throat)
These conditions share several characteristics. First, they all represent rising energy. Second there is a component of heat in them because after all, heat rises. Third, they can all be aggravated by trying to filter or process too many things at once. Please note that if you already suffer from any of these conditions, the onset of spring can aggravate them. Because most people associate the spring equinox as the first day of spring (what most calendars say) they may not associate their symptoms with the season change. The Spring equinox, however, is the midpoint of Spring, though, not the first day.
We have so many wonderful tools at our disposal to help balance these energies. Nature provides the right food to help us in her seasonal treats. There are also meditation practices like qi gong. Herbs too can provide immeasurable support. Below, I will provide specific suggestions for food, herbs, and lifestyle, and qi gong. Keep in mind that the best way to balance spring energy is to be in harmony with the seasons throughout the year, tuning in to each season and adjusting your food and lifestyle choices accordingly. Also, if you have chronic or serious health issues, these practices can supplement and support you, but it is best to seek the assistance of an herbalist of Chinese medicine practitioner who can tailor an herbal formula or program to your specific issue.
Food
Nature provides the most beneficial food for us in season. ONe way to align and internalize life force energy is to eat foods rich in life force energy. This means avoiding processed or refined foods and sticking to ones that are closer to coming directly from the earth. Organic is best because these foods do not have any pesticides or chemicals that can further stress the liver. Also, make sure the foods you select are not genetically modified, which in the United States means selecting certified organic foods or foods specifically labeled as non-GMO. See a recent blog post by me and my husband Andres in which we describe the results of a recent study documenting the effects of GMO corn.
1. Nature provides the most beneficial food for us in season. Greens (the color associated with the liver and wood element), dark green leafies, are perhaps the most excellent springtime tonic food. Kale, bok choy, spinach, swiss chard, dandelion greens (perhaps one of the best), beet greens, mustard greens are all wonderful foods to eat in great abundance. Be sure to cook your greens, either steaming them or sauteeing them. It is still cold outside, meaning your body may need some extra assistance metabolizing your food. Cooking them helps your body better digest them.
2. Seaweeds added to sautés & broth, such as miso soup, help promote cleansing and support the body during the seasonal change. I particulary like Trader Joe’s seaweed snacks because I can sprinkle them on everything like my greens or I can eat them as a stand alone snack.
3. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (brussel sprouts are one of my favorites) help cleanse the liver and reduce congestion left over from the cold months of winter. Brussel sprouts help lower cholesterol and are high in folic acid and Vitamin C which means they can help boost your immune system to fight getting sick.
4. Beets are an excellent liver tonic and enrich the liver blood – this is especially important if you have signs and symptoms such as dry skin, scanty blood or no blood flow for your menstrual cycle, trouble falling asleep, anxiety, racing thoughts, cold limbs, numb feet and hands, and forgetfulness, just to mention a few signs of the most common symptoms of deficient liver blood. Berries such as raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are all good ways of nourishing the blood.
5. Omega-3 fatty acids, although less cleansing than supportive, help facilitate the transition from winter to spring. I like sardines (packed in water), flaxseed milk, walnuts, black and kidney beans. These foods are a way to nourish the blood and yin aspects of the body, important for everyone, especially the people (typically women) with weak liver blood who have the signs and symptoms listed above.
Herbs
The great news is that the liver responds well to herbs, which means there are excellent plants you can incorporate into your diet that can support and rejuvenate a stressed liver. There are also a wide range of easy-to-find herbs that you can incorporate into your diet as a tea, as a snack food, or even in an herbal bath. Most of all, though, I think herbs are an especially wonderful way to connect to the life force energy and wisdom of nature.
1. Goji or lycii berries are an excellent tonic for the liver and the eyes. They can increase energy levels, libido, reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, improve vision, and are high in antioxidants. Gojis are especially excellent if you have deficient liver blood described above in food section in the bullet about beets. I recommend mixing gojis with walnuts and sprinkling in cinnamon for added flavor. Although be sure the cinnamon is not too heating if you have a red skin condition, hot flashes or other obvious signs of heat.
2. Dandelion (taraxacum officinale) – this is one of the best liver remedies. It also happens to be quite tasty. The root and leaves are a bitter that stimulates digestive enzymes and can aid digestion. The root also helps remove metabolic waste from the blood, thus supporting liver functioning. The leaves in particular, are have a high content of Vitamin A (almost as much as carrots) and B, C, and G, as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon. The leaves are a diuretic can help detoxify the system through urination, while not depleting your mineral levels. Please note that you should avoid dandelion root if you have a blockage of your bile ducts, gallbladder inflammation, or intestinal blockage.
3. Milk thistle (silybarum marianum) – Milk thistle is another her that protects and enhances liver functioning. It aids the liver in processing toxins, as well as reduces liver inflammation and fibrosis. See this link for a 200 study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that offers a summary of clinical studies of milk thistle and its effects on liver disease. One way to take milk thistle is to get it in powdered form through a company such as Mountain Rose Herbs and sprinkle it in your food daily, using a total of 1-2 teaspoons a day.
4. Chamomile tea (Matricaria Recutia or German Chamomile and Anthemis nobiles or Roman Chamomile) – This is an herb that does so many thing well that it tends to get overlooked and forgotten. I love this herb and have found myself recommending it quite a bit lately. Chamomile flowers are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, and sedative. This means they settle the stomach, relax the body and mind, and can help alleviate digestive upset, menstrual cramps, and tension headaches. You can drink it as a tea for a calming and soothing ritual. I also recommend chamomile tea or a poultice for mouth sores and swollen, red, or inflammed eyes. You can brew up a cup of tea and use your teabag as an external poultice. Now that is really getting your most out of your herb! While similar in function, one note about the difference between Roman and German is that German is more bitter and a stronger anti-inflammatory, while Roman is sweeter tasting.
Qi Gong/Meditation
Qi gong is my spiritual (actually Taoist internal alchemy) and meditation practice, as well a what I teach in my practice. I like this system because it is about attuning to your own internal space, as well as the forces of nature and how they operate within you. I think the most important thing is aligning with nature and using these forces to create the life you desire.
1. The first and most important step is deliberately aligning with the life force energy. You may call it Source energy, the Divine, God, or Goddess. You can use whatever prayer, rituals, or traditions resonate with you. I like stating that intention aloud (or silently letting it radiate through my being) with clarity that I want to align with the life force energies so that everything I create is in alignment and in harmony with the Divine or Source energy. If you are using prayer or rituals, I think it is important to sit and digest, allowing inner self to internalize anything you have received from that connection. Do this daily during this time period. An especially good time is at dusk or dawn when day and night are even and there is a balanced period of yin and yang energies.
2. Another way to connect with your internal infrastructure is to put a smile on your face and direct that smile inward to the liver (right side of the body below the rib cage). Smile at the liver, thanking it for everything it does for you on a mind, body and spirit level. Embrace it and smile unconditional love.
3. There is a sound meditation in qi gong called the healing sounds, with one sound for each of the 5 shen plus a 6th for the triple warmer. The triple warmer is the connective tissue that integrates the functioning of the 5 shen. These sounds can help you release emotions and energy that have been stored in your organs (either recently or a long time ago), consuming useful energy, that can be then freed for other functions. For the liver, this means, anger, frustration, irritation. The sounds also allow you to communicate directly with your organs, building an important relationship with this body wisdom and intelligence. To make the liver sound, imagine that the liver is being filled with restorative green light on the inhale. On the exhale, make the “Shh” sound, expelling any stored emotions that liver has been holding or carrying.
These are simple, yet powerful ways to harmonize yourself with this new water snake energy for greater vitality and health. Remember that attuning and aligning with this energy is a daily practice. In order to effectively attune to yourself and the life force, like any relationship, it needs daily attention and time. Enjoy!
