Spring into the Season!

The Spirit of Renewal: Spring and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Spring: It is the long-awaited change of winter to spring. Seeds sprout, flowers bloom, and the sun warms the earth. There is a sense of renewal and new life all around.

While winter was a time to conserve energy and reduce activity, spring is a time of regeneration, new beginnings, and a renewal of spirit.

The Principle of the Five Elements

The five elements refer to wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in Eastern philosophy. The Principle of the Five Elements (known as the Wu Hsing in Chinese) describes the flow of Qi and the balance of yin and yang.

According to the principle, all change — in the universe and in your body — occurs in five distinct stages. Each of these stages is associated with a particular time of year, a specific element in nature, and a pair of organs in the body. Change links together the seasons of the year, aspects of nature, and your body’s organs and bodily processes. A practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine uses this principle to diagnose and treat health problems, linking specific foods, herbs, and acupuncture points to the restoration of yin-yang and Qi.

In the five element system, spring is associated with the wood element, the color green, the Liver and Gallbladder, and the emotion of anger.

Read Article

Spring Cleaning

Spring is the ideal time for cleansing and rejuvenation for overall health and well-being. As spring is represented by the wood element and includes the liver and its complementary organ, the gallbladder, these two organs are usually the primary targets for springtime cleansing and health regimens.

Eat Green
Green is the color of the liver and of springtime. Eating young plants — fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses — can improve the liver’s overall functions and aid in the movement of Qi.

Get moving
Incorporate breathing exercises, stretching, qi gong, tai chi, yoga, light weightlifting, walking, meditation, or light cardio into your daily routine. Not only will you find it easier to lose those extra winter pounds, exercise can also improve your mood and increase energy.

Do more outdoor activities
Outside air helps liver Qi flow. If you have been feeling irritable, find an outdoor activity to smooth out that liver Qi stagnation. Try hiking or take up golf.

Enjoy milk thistle tea
Milk thistle helps protect liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and even heavy metals such as mercury.

Liver Qi Stagnation

The Liver and Liver Qi Stagnation

Spring is ruled by the wood element, which is associated with the liver, an organ with an incredible capacity for regeneration.

When searching for the underlying cause of disease, practitioners of Chinese medicine often look first to the liver. The health of your liver reflects your overall health and well-being.

The liver filters over a liter of blood every minute. It is responsible for detoxifying, nourishing, replenishing, and storing blood. It also acts to energize the blood by releasing stored sugar, and it recombines amino acids to create the protein our bodies need to grow and repair tissue.

Liver Qi Stagnation

According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body and smoothing our emotions. Anger, irritability, and frustration are all signs that our Qi is not flowing smoothly. This is referred to as Liver Qi Stagnation, one of the most common imbalances treated by Eastern medicine practitioners in the United States.

Read Article

In This Issue

Points: The Four Gates