It’s time.
We are shedding our winter coats and emerging refreshed into spring. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is the time to stretch our limbs, and channel our newly stored winter energy into growth.
In TCM, the organs that go hand in hand with spring are the Liver, the Yin and the Gallbladder, the Yang. These organs play pivotal roles in tendon, eye and nail health. Your Liver is where blood and emotions flow through, so any imbalances can cause an emotional buildup. It’s paired with your Gallbladder, which not only secretes bile but is a source of inspiration, planning and dreams. When you work to heal and restore these functions, you will notice a shift in your mood. On the flip side, if you are out of balance, you may find yourself experiencing irritability, anger or forgetfulness.
The spring season is the time to begin to utilize our regenerated Qi. We may find ourselves making changes and having emotional breakthroughs. Imagine you are a flower, this is the time to bloom through the cold hardness of winter into a fresh and clear spring. A few ways to help get your energy moving smoothly are:
- Getting outdoors, soaking in nature
- Spring cleaning your home/spaces
- Regular exercise and stretching
- Saunas/Steaming
- Practice spontaneity
Keep yourself de-stressed and focused with regular acupuncture, cupping and meditation. Spring is a great time to plan, journal and manifest your desired goals. You’ll feel an uptick in creativity, along with energy and mood which is perfect for taking on that big clean you’ve been dreaming of doing, or starting a new project. Paint the house, turn your shed into a hangout spot, prep your garden and lean in to this shift!
Our favourite acupuncture point for this season is GB34. This Gallbladder point is perfect to kick start the flow of Liver Qi to ease stress and give you motivation. It’s a great point to help deal with tendon or ligament pain so you can get moving this season without that standing in your way!
What you put into your body also shifts with the seasons. We’re leaving behind the warming, heavier meals of winter and switching it up to lighter meals, slowly incorporating raw foods. “Detoxifying” foods are recommended for these months to help aid in Liver function. We love this recipe from Natural Harmony TCM
INGREDIENTS
1 apple
¼ inch piece of ginger
1 beetroot, washed and stem removed
2 large carrots
KITCHEN TOOLS
Juice Blender
Glass for serving
HOW TO
1) Wash and remove stem of the beetroot.
2) Put all ingredients into a blender.
3) Blend, pour, enjoy!
BENEFITS
Beetroot is the perfect food to improve your circulation, by tonifying blood flow and preventing blood stagnation. Beetroot also benefits the large intestine and digestive system overall, as the large intestine is responsible for filtering good fluid from bad and removing the bad from the body. Ginger also benefits the body through its warming qualities, particularly for the lungs, spleen and stomach. Through the warm nature of ginger, blood flow is encouraged and in turn improves circulation! (from natural harmony TCM)
If you don’t have a juicer, use a high power blender and strain through cheesecloth for easy at home juice!
Some more foods to incorporate are:
- Arugula
- Basil
- Bay leaves
- Beet
- Black sesame seeds
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Rabe
- Cardamom
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chives
- Coconut milk
- Complex carbohydrates (brown rice, millet, potatoes, amaranth, etc.)
- Cucumber
- Daikon
- Dill
- Grapefruit
- Green Tea
- Legumes
- Lemon
We love living on Vancouver Island surrounded by amazing places to explore. Some of our absolute favourites for Comox Valley Locals to explore are Rosewall Creek, Trent River, Goose Spit and so many more. Check out All Trails for even more amazing spots to explore while staying safe and close to home!
We wish you a happy Spring, and be sure to book your acupuncture appointments ASAP to get ready!