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Are You Ready for Spring? �In the period of the three months in spring is the time of birth and spread. Grasses and trees are becoming vivid and all living things in the world become flourishing with a new dynamic atmosphere. Since a man is one of the living things in the universe, he can by no means be excluded.�[1] That is the teaching of the Huang di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor�s Canon Internal Medicine) as translated by Nelson Liansheng Wu and Andrew Qi Wu. This translation is from the Tang dynasty canonical texts (500 BCE). Thousands of years have passed and yet the teachings are still applicable to our lives. The words and ideas still hold together such that the Huang di Nei Jing is one of the cornerstones of study when learning about the ancient East Asian medical model. Spring has come at last!! Temperatures are rising, we don�t need the heavy coats, scarves and gloves anymore. Buds are appearing on the trees. Yesterday, I saw a flicker at the bird feeder amongst the winter birds. Soon the snow drops will be in bloom (they are probably already up we just need a little more sun to melt more snow!) then the crocus and so on. This is the time of birth and spread. �In the morning, he should breathe the fresh air while walking in the yard to exercise his tendons and bones and loosen his hair to make the whole body comfortable along with the generating of spring energy.�[2] We are advised to live our lives in accordance with the seasons. Reflective of the ascending and rising nature of spring, we become more yang or active with its arrival. Taken a step further, each of the five (5) yin Organs of the body (the Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney) is assigned a season in which it flourishes. Spring is the time of the Liver. We are coming out of winter, the season of the Kidney. It was a time of consolidation and conservation. It was a time of restorative activities which would allow our bodies to stockpile Qi for when spring called upon us to rise and give birth to new ideas, love, and prosperity. �If one fails to adapt to the property of winter energy which is �storing�, he will be apt to contract muscular flaccidity and coldness of the extremities in spring. This is because his adaptability to spring energy had been weaken due to his inability of following the property of winter energy which is �shutting and storing� to preserve health. In this case, it is called �inadequate of offering to birth��.[3] Such is the teaching of the Yellow Emperor. What can we do to have a healthy spring? The ancient masters recommend that we go to bed when the sun sets and get up when the sun rises. The farmers in this country are probably the only people who come close to following this suggestion but we could try! Traditionally there are many correspondences made to each of the yin Organs. The �color� of the Liver is green and the organ associated with the Liver is the eyes. As the tender young plants and buds sprout and open, the sight of �spring green� nourishes our soul through our eyes. In the spring, appetites decrease and we naturally try to cleanse the body of the fats and heavy foods of winter. It is a time to eat foods that emphasize the yang, ascending and expansive qualities of spring � fresh greens, young root vegetables and sprouts. Sweet and pungent foods are expansive and rising. Try a mint tea with honey or use herbs such as basil, fennel, rosemary, onion, garlic, marjoram, or dill in your cooking. When the Liver is harmonious the Qi is able to flow smoothly through both the body and mind. We are motivated! When there is congestion the Liver is damaged and then emotional issues related to anger arise: impatience, rudeness, edginess, frustration and arrogance. In the body, the joints and tendons are not nourished so pain and stiffness result. �Perhaps the most powerful common remedy for quickly removing liver stagnation and the accompanying depression and indigestion is vinegar. The flavor of vinegar is both bitter and sour and has detoxifying and highly activating properties. Its effect is improved by mixing it with honey � one teaspoon of each per cup of water. Vinegar should not be relied upon indefinitely; the basic diet must be improved instead.�[4] In East Asian medicine there are many variables to consider when recommending a course of action. If you are interested in making dietary changes it would be good to check in with a qualified practitioner. Whatever we do now will pay off come summer, the season of growth and flourishing. As we tend to the current season we are simultaneously preparing for the next. In so doing, we generate an adequate �offering to growth.�[5] The Yellow Emperor would be pleased. Biography: Janet Lee M.Ac., Lic.Ac. earned her
Masters degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from the New England
School of Acupuncture in 1999. She is currently practicing acupuncture
and herbal medicine at Jackowicz Oriental Medical Therapy Associates at Summit Center for Advanced Therapeutics and Performance
(J.O.M.T.A.) in
[1] Yellow Empero�s Canon Internal Medicine Englished by Nelson Liansheng Wu and Andrew Qi Wu, page 13 [2] ibid, page 13 [3] ibid, page 15 [4] Healing With Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford, page 287 [5] Yellow Empero�s Canon Internal Medicine Englished by Nelson Liansheng Wu and Andrew Qi Wu, page 13 |
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