Spring Wellness Tips
Happy Spring Equinox! On the Equinox, we celebrate a perfect balance between Yin and Yang. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Spring is the transition season from the most Yin time of the year (Winter), to the most Yang time of the year (Summer). It is the most transformative time of the year as we step out of Winter hibernation and into new beginnings and the expansion of our surroundings. We can see this all around us as the snow melts, the plants are starting to grow, and the days are getting sunnier and longer.
Spring is controlled by the Wood element and is associated with the Liver and Gallbladder. One of the primary roles of the Liver in TCM, is to maintain a smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. When the Liver becomes out of balance and the smooth flow of Qi is disturbed, it has a negative effect on the whole body. It often results in frustration or anger, stress, feelings of being stuck, pain, especially in the neck and shoulders, sciatica, PMS and irregular menstruation for women, headaches and migraines, and even digestive problems.
We refer to this as Liver Qi stagnation and it is one of the most commonly seen patterns in clinical practice. Why? Likely because we live in a high-stress environment and are often too busy to maintain a proper self-care schedule. I will be the first to admit that I am nowhere near perfect and regularly need to remind myself to get my Qi moving to avoid a lot of these symptoms.
The good news is that there are a lot of ways to help your body during this transition period so that you can bloom rather than stagnate.
Eat green foods: Green is the color associated with Spring. You’ll want to increase your intake of green foods, such as leafy greens, scallions, and cilantro. It’s important not to jump headfirst into a fully raw, salad diet. Remember, we are transitioning from Yin to Yang, so you want to maintain a balanced diet of warm and cool foods, ideally lightly cooking all your food. If you live somewhere warm, it is okay to eat raw foods, but here in Colorado, we are still experiencing cooler temperatures.
Mind the wind: Wind aggravates the Liver and carries pathogens into the body. While it might be tempting to leave the scarf at home on the warmer days, it’s still pretty windy out there and it is best to keep the body protected. Switch to a lighter-weight scarf if you are too warm.
Get regular exercise: This is a perfect time to step up your movement practices. Throughout the winter, we practiced a more gentle form of exercise, but during Spring we can participate in more invigorating exercises such as running and cycling. Be mindful not to overdo it though! Our bodies need some time to work up to more aggressive exercise and anything too crazy right out of the gate can lead to injuries.
Address emotions with mindful practices: Many people are uncomfortable talking about or expressing their emotions. Over time, this emotional suppression creates blockages in the body that make it difficult for the Qi to flow smoothly. Take this time to process what is stuck emotionally. You can do this through meditation, journaling, crying (I am a big fan of a good cry to make you feel better), going to a rage room, talking to someone, and more. If you have trouble processing on your own, find a licensed therapist to help you. There are so many ways for them to help you process beyond talk therapy.
As with any seasonal change, get some acupuncture. Whether it is just a seasonal tune-up to prevent symptoms, or you have something going on, acupuncture can help!