As the ground begins to thaw, many people are coming into the clinic reporting irritability, impatience, and anger. Spring time is associated with the wood element, the time when the trees wake up and new life pushes forth and through into their leaves.
Here in Vermont, we may not see these leaves for a while yet. The impatience and irritability seem to be based on the fact that there is still snow in the forecast, and the stir craziness of being cooped up is really taking its toll on us all. For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has watched human cycles as they ebb and flow with the seasons. In our bodies, the wood element is associated with the liver, which keeps everything flowing smoothly in our emotional, physical, mental and spiritual selves. Like the xylem and phloem within trees, our optimal well being is when our emotions, circulation, digestion, and all other organ systems are flowing smoothly.
When a tree is brittle and dry, it can break in the spring winds. When a tree is not firmly rooted, it can be pulled up spring storms. To weather the spring, we as humans want to emulate the trees that are both rooted and supple, strong in themselves, while able to go with the flow in life.
From an emotional stand point, winter can be akin to depression. As depression thaws and we begin to come to life and feel again, anger is often the first sign of coming back onto a joyful track. Anger is an emotion associated with the spring for this reason, and joy is associated with the summer. As our earth cycles, so do our emotions.
The intention within all Chinese medicine treatments is to bring a person back to balance, to cool that which is hot, to warm that which is cool, to strengthen that which is weak, and to calm down that which is excessive. Anger is the resulting energy of stuck liver qi. It is the frustration we feel when our liver is not doing its job of keeping everything flowing. As we move into spring, there are several things we can do to balance out the irritability of our own internal thawing to get our frozen streams flowing their course again.
Exercise! Now is a great time to take walks, get in the last snow shoeing, cross country, or downhill skiing of the season. If you want to stay toasty while exercising, take a dance class, a yoga class, or hit the gym. Exercise moves sluggish lymph, another system ruled by our liver that ultimately flushes toxins out of our system. Get your heart rate up, and watch the irritability melt away.
Get a massage! Massage is the only other way to move lymph, and it is soothing, destressing, beneficial for digestion, sleep, the nervous system, and all our aches and pains. If you can't afford a massage, trade with a loved one, roll around on a foam roller, a tennis ball, or rolling pin. Stretch, roll your shoulders, rub your own neck, and relax.
Drink dandelion or mint tea. These two herbs have an affinity for the liver and getting things flowing. Mint, citrus, and pine essential oils also aid in relaxation. Put a few drops of these in a kettle on the wood stove, or on your own wrist.
Eat bitter greens such as collards, mustard, dandelion, nettle, kale, chard, romaine, arugala, etc. The bitter flavor in general moves liver qi. Add balsamic to your greens, veggies and salads, even soups and breads. Sour is also a good flavor to go for. Lemonade, sourkraut, kimchee, and cultured foods in general can be helpful.
Come in for acupuncture! We can treat your liver, emotions, stess, and tensions by working on your liver channels, opening up the flow of all your organ systems, and helping you transition into the upcoming season. We have a great formula called Ease Pearls that is also really helpful for moving our liver and getting us unstuck in our lives and selves.
Thank you so much for coming in and continuing to take care of yourself! Healthy people make healthy relationships make healthy society make a healthy world!
See you soon!
