Spring!

In Traditional Asian Medicine, spring is the season of new beginnings. Classic Chinese Medicine literature reminds us this is the time of year to break out of the darkness of winter, to rise with the sun and take brisk walks to activate and match the active and rising energy of spring. It is a time to let go of the heaviness of winter and embrace the lightness and energy of spring.

“It is a time to let go of the heaviness of winter and embrace the lightness and energy of spring.”

This is a time when the body naturally wants to cleanse itself of the heavier, richer foods typically consumed in winter. Perhaps we may notice a decrease in appetite or a craving for lighter and fresher foods. We may also feel drawn to more physical movement as the weather warms-up. The dark leafy greens growing in the garden are perfectly tender and ready to help support our bodies as we cleanse the blood and lymph.

Spring is the season of the Wood element reflected in the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems. The Wood element is also expressed through the eyes and is associated with the color green. Spring is the time when we see an abundance of bright green foliage breaking through. When we feast our eyes and fuel our bodies with this rich color we balance and harmonize the Wood element and its’ related organs the Liver and Gallbladder.

Spring Overview

Element: Wood

Organs: Liver + Gallbladder

Color: Green

Foods for the Season

Vegetables:  young leafy greens, young beets and carrots, artichoke, eggplant, dark leafy vegetables, Chinese yam, Chinese chives, radish, spring bamboo shoots, shiso leaves, celery, purslane, micro-greens, garlic, green onions, sprouts, pungent cooking herbs basil, fennel, marjoram, rosemary, caraway, bay leaf

Fruits: currants, tangerine, citrus fruits, grapefruit, kiwi, rhubarb

Protein: free-range egg, chicken, shrimp, white fish, rabbit

Carbohydrates: wheat bran, rye spelt, brown rice, sprouted rice

Herbal: goji 枸杞, jujube dates 红枣, Qian Shi 芡实, Chinese mugwort 艾草, mulberry leaf 桑叶, goji leaf 枸杞叶, aged orange peel 陈皮, lily bulb 百合, chrysanthemum 菊花, ginger 生姜

Others: vinegar, white wine, green tea

To Limit: over indulgence of alcohol, spicy foods