According to traditional Chinese medicine, spring is the time of the LIVER and GALL BLADDER. The emotion most closely tied to the liver is ANGER. You may find yourself becoming easily angered over trivial matters. Anger is the most yang of the emotions and therefore is congruent with the spring. By comparison, the emotion of fear is associated with winter and has a constrictive quality. Just as the sap of a tree reverses its directional flow upwards, our emotions also find their way to the surface and may explode forth more easily in the spring than at any other time of year. Other emotional difficulties related to anger that may bubble up are impatience, frustration, resentment, rudeness, edginess, arrogance and aggression.
Chinese medicine teaches that the liver is the organ that is most susceptible to congestion or stagnation ~ for example, STRESS causes Liver Qi stagnation. When congested it throws the body into disharmony. This disharmony may be the root cause of the pent up emotions that may be bursting forth.
The muscles and tendons of our body are governed by the Liver organ system. When the Liver Qi is constrained it may manifest in random MUSCLE SPASMS OR CRAMPS. When the body is out of balance the Liver may try to rectify the imbalance of qi by overacting on the Spleen/Stomach, which would manifest in acid reflex, indigestion, intestinal discomforts.
Because spring is associated with the liver, it is important to have a diet that strengthens and cleanses the liver. There are many foods serving the purpose of soothing and cleansing the liver. GREEN is the color of the liver and of spring. Green and leafy vegetables, especially if the plants are young, help by cleansing and refreshing the body. They benefit the liver’s overall well-being, as do dandelion and milk thistle. A balanced diet with a variety of juices such as citrus fruits, pear, apple, celery and carrot is very helpful. Sprouts from seeds such as beans, mung, and radish are valuable for spring use, as well.
An excellent time to get acupuncture is when the seasons change and our energy becomes imbalanced.