Written by: Angela Warburton, B.A., R.Ac., R.TCMP
Spring is a time where everything is coming back to life after the cold dormant winter. Generally we tend to spend more time cozied up inside trying to stay warm in the winter, but once spring hits we start to come alive again as things come back to life.
In Chinese Medicine the spring season is paired with the liver system. The liver system shows up in the eyes, the tendons and the nails. It also has a lot to do with our mood and movement. So when this system is out of balance you might see things like irritability, eye issues, tendon or muscle cramps or spasms. You might also get pain in your ribs, sigh a lot or just generally feel cranky. Women will often have PMS if their liver system is off balance. It really has to do with the ‘stuck’ pattern. Sometimes in the spring we can see these things get a bit worse. BUT, if we do some simple things to help balance and strengthen this system we can feel amazing and healthier all season long.
A very beneficial thing for the liver (particularly in the spring) is movement! We really want to get things moving again after the long (and cold!) winter – but easing into it is a good idea. So things like walking and spending time in the outdoors are great ways to ease into it. Anything that encourages that gentle movement and things coming back to life is great. But in moderation – you don’t want to go run a half marathon in your first run of the season. Easing into it is important.
The liver/gall bladder system shows up in the sides of the body and the inner legs. Yoga or stretching can be helpful – anything that gets into the sides of the body and the inner legs. Side bends or wide leg forward bends are great for opening up this system