In the West, spring officially begins on the spring equinox when the daytime and nighttime hours are equal. The Chinese feel that, energetically, spring begins with the Chinese New Year in February, when the light begins its return, and the dormant forces under the frozen ground are called to life again. In both thought systems, the basic energy remains the same: new beginnings and a fresh start.

Even though the early months of spring are beautiful, many of us may experience intense feelings of irritability, anxiety, and depression. The pressure of spring energy building in the body can be likened to a tree filling up with sap. Alongside the feeling of potential rising with the body comes a sense of being pent-up. This pressure gradually builds within but does not gain relief until the leaves burst from the limbs in the late spring. In the human body, the rising energy is experienced both as joy as well as anger and impatience; but trust that if you tune in to the activities needed during the spring, this feeling will soon find a resolution.

 The Wood Element

The spring is represented by the element of wood. The power of Wood is gentle, persistent, and filled with creative potential. In the spring, the grass shoots up through the vital earth and is full of activity. In life, we shall find the energy to push forward with strength and firmness of purpose, yet always remaining supple and yielding to growth like a tree that requires flexibility and the ability to bend in the wind. When the wood element is in balance, you’ll feel highly confident and motivated with the ability to envision the future with precise insight. Your stress will be minimal and you’ll be a calm, effective leader. You’ll feel courageous, be resourceful in implementing change, and will welcome challenges. It is likely that you will be ambitious and competitive.

When the wood element is out of balance or blocked from full expression, you may lack the qualities above. Confidence turns to tyranny; motivation turns to confrontation; planning becomes impulsiveness; courage turns to aggression; ambition becomes arrogance. An imbalance in wood energy will be reflected as anger, depression, anxiety, mood swings, swellings, lumps, fibroids, eye issues, arthritis, tendon issues, PMS, headaches, joint pain, and a general feeling of being “stuck.”

Anger

The emotion associated with the element of Wood is anger. In its balanced state, anger can be a healthy emotion, for it can be understood as a natural reaction to stress, frustration, or injustice. When expressed with careful control, anger acts like a thunderstorm that clears the air; controlled anger can dispel tension and restore balance. An imbalance in Wood, however, often has the quality of out-of-control anger and results either in excess or depletion. An excess, or pent-up quality of Wood, expresses itself as “quick to anger,” prone to volatile outbursts, irritability, and the tendency to judge others too quickly or harshly. The converse, deficient Wood, often expresses itself as difficulty dealing with anger and a tendency to swallow your anger, leading one to become anxious and irritable.

Liver

The spring is represented by the body’s largest organ, the liver. The liver is the storehouse where nourishment for the entire body is stored and distributed. It has hundreds of essential functions, including the formation of blood, cleansing and filtering the blood, and eliminating toxins. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the functions of the Liver go far beyond its purely physiological function and include emotional and spiritual qualities as well.

It is said in Chinese medicine that the Liver rules “flowing and spreading,” which means that the Liver is responsible for keeping the free and easy flow of blood, energy, and emotions throughout the body, mind, and spirit. The element of Wood dislikes stagnation; stagnation is associated with all forms of disease. Just as a mountain stream is safe to drink from if it is flowing freely, so stagnant pools of water create a breeding ground for bacteria and pathogens. In Chinese Medicine, there is no way to separate the mind and the body. By treating the liver, you correct the emotional imbalances associated with the wood element and vice versa.

How to Keep Healthy and Joyful During Spring

The spring is a time to get up and “do”. It is a season of activity after the cold of the winter. It is a time to nourish the yang, the body’s natural action principle. Appetite should ease and the extra winter pounds should naturally fall off. The best foods for spring are those that are slightly warm and ascending in property with a slightly sweet flavor. In the early spring try beetroot, sweet potato, cabbage, and carrot. As the weather gets warmer add mint, sweet rice, shiitake mushrooms, peas, sunflower seeds, and pine nuts.

• Move: The Liver needs movement and so do you; Spend time in the sun, waking early to take brisk walks as close to nature as possible will prove very beneficial. Observe the changes going on all around you, and invite change in. Join an exercise or yoga class.

• Recreate Order Out of Chaos: Go through your home and office and get rid of stuff that you donʼt need; donate items to create and allow the space for the new to come in. Imagine what you would like to create in your life and make actionable plans to follow these dreams.

• As Without, So Within: Spring is the time to start a healthier diet and flush out the toxins so that the Liver can do its job more effectively. Begin by eliminating foods that stress the Liver, such as fried or very fatty foods. Sugar and white flour should be eliminated or minimized, and foods with chemical preservatives and food coloring should be avoided. Donʼt overeat. Try to eat slowly, savoring the flavors. Reduce salty flavors and start to incorporate sour flavors.

• Let Go of Old Resentments and Start Fresh: Grudges and resentments are indigestible and can do damage to Liver energy. Practice forgiveness.

• Hydrate Your Body: Drink eight to ten 8 oz. glasses of water daily. Use filtered water, not carbonated. Adding some fresh lemon juice to water first thing in the morning alkalizes the body and nourishes the Liver.

• Eat From the Spring Diet

• Eat from the Stagnation Diet

Living in harmony with the seasons is at the core of Chinese Medicine and is based on living in harmony with nature and one’s environment. It is also a system rooted in prevention. Food is medicine; we can use food and its healing properties to build up the body when it is deficient, cleanse it when it is toxic, and release excess energy when it is stagnating. With the basic principles of eating with the seasons and understanding each associated emotion and organ relation, we can all stay healthy by strengthening our bodies and minds to live healthy, happy lives.

Spring Foods:

Basil, Bay Leaf, Beets, Cabbage, Cardamom, Carrots, Celery, Chamomile, Chicken, Cilantro, Dates, Dill, Fennel, Grains, Grapefruit, Hawthorne Fruit, Leeks, Legumes, Lemon, Lettuce, Licorice Root, Lime, Mushroom, Oats, Onion, Oregano, Parsnip, Pepper, Pickles, Radish, Raw Honey, Rosehips, Rosemary, Rye, Seaweed, Seeds, Spinach, Sprouts, Sweet Potato, Turmeric, Watercress, Vinegar.

Aromatherapy:

Bergamot, Blue Cypress, Cedarwood, Mint, Rose