Support for Seasonal Transitions in Chinese Medicine
Walking through the woods of late, the earth is soggy and squishy beneath my feet. The sun not consistently warm enough to transform/dry the damp soil. Even still, the flowers are rising from dark roots, growing prematurely toward the light.
Currently, on the wheel of the year we are moving from winter, the most yin season, to spring, which marks the return of the yang energies.
In Chinese Medicine it is the yang principle - warming, dynamic, active - that supports healthy metabolism of food, thought and emotion. More specifically, it is the yang of the spleen/pancreas and kidneys that aids in the transformation and transportation of fluids in the body.
When the yang principle of the aforementioned organ systems needs support, we may experience symptoms such as lethargy after eating, heaviness in body/limbs, weakness, loose stools, bloating, mental cloudiness, and/or edema. More severe expressions of yang deficiency include prolapsed organs, varicosities, watery filled growths, chronically feeling cold to the core, and chronic exhaustion.
Need a seasonal acupuncture appointment for support during the transition from Winter to Spring? Schedule One Here.
Qi, the motive force of the universe, is the quintessential yang substance within our bodies. Blood, xue, is revered as the most yin substance within the body mind.
Where the qi goes, the blood flows.
In many ways, it is quite natural to experience some of the above symptoms - heaviness in body mind, lethargy, slow digestion, loose stools - when we transition between seasons. The transitions between the seasons are governed by the Earth element. The earth of our bodies is instrinsically connected to Mother Earth. We mirror one another.
Want to come into harmony with the life-giving rhythms of Nature and her cycles? Join the email list for Renewal: The Spring Session below.
How we care for ourselves in later winter is different than how we care for ourselves in early winter. Early winter is ALL about rest, rest and more REST to fill the deep well and roots of our being for the growing season. As we transition into early spring, we must continue to prioritize quietude and rest, and we must begin to stoke our yang energy.
On a psychospiritual level, we can attune with the burgeoning energy of Spring, associated with the Wood Element in Chinese Medicine, by getting clear about what we want now so that as the light continues to return we can set ourselves up for a bounteous harvest.
What seeds do I want to plant in the garden this year? Where would I like to travel? What is my vision for my career? In what direction do I want to grow? How do I want to feel? What do I want to harvest come Autumn?
First step is to reflect, and then gather your seeds.
Draw a map of the garden.
Envision yourself sitting on that beach.
Walk into your new office.
Summit that mountain.
Buy your plane ticket.
Book the cottage.
Sign up for the pottery class.
By making decisions, even small ones, we exercise the yang faculty, thereby strengthening it.
The great paradox is that, like the plants, the direction in which we will grow is largely held in the dark roots of us. By taking time to honor early winter’s edict of rest, we fortify the roots of our becoming.
The miracle is that come spring, without thinking, our roots propel us through the soil, out of darkness and unknowing, toward clarity.
Instinctively, we grow towards the LIGHT.
I’ll speak more on foods and herbs to nourish yang in the next blog. Please email me with any questions or feedback. I LOVE sharing and talking about seasonal medicine.
Want more guidance on how to use food as medicine during the transition from Winter to Spring? Schedule your consultation here.
