Happy Spring Equinox!
Today in the northern hemisphere we officially welcome the Spring season. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you felt the arrival of Spring weeks ago in the wildflowers and people in their Spring outfits. It’s beautiful to see the plants and humans blooming. Time to begin again.
I am including a 5 minute recording where I share my thoughts and insights on the emotion associated with Spring and the Wood phase.
Take a listen.
Ailments That Stir Up During the Spring
The season of Spring belongs to the wood phase which is associated with the climate of wind. Wind conditions in the body can look like sudden symptoms that come and go, move around to different parts of the body or worsen with windy weather conditions. Some of these ailments include:
Itching
Hives
Sneezing
Dizziness
Joint pain and swelling
Hay Fever
Sudden Paralysis (Ex. Bell’s Palsy)
Twitching or Trembling
The organs that belong to the Wood phase and are associated with Spring are the Liver and Gallbladder. These organs and channel systems are often affected during this season, and can look like the following ailments:
Vertex or temporal headaches
Anger, irritability, frustration
Insomnia and excessive dreaming
Eye conditions
High pitched tinnitus
Menstral chages
Pain tension or cramping on the sides of the body
One sided symptoms
Difficulty with regulating body temperature
Joint conditions
Embodying Spring
Here are some ways to support your body to better live in harmony with the Spring season.
Spring cleaning refers to the home, and there is no more important home than your body. Spring is the best season to detox your body.
Consider eliminating inflammatory foods such as alcohol, refined sugars and flour. There are a variety of detoxes available. Reach out if you would like to learn about the carrot juice protocol I do with patients.
Support elimination via 20-30 minutes of sweating through exercise or sauna, cupping, guasha and dry brushing.
Eat less, eat light. Include more fresh and leafy greens, sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, beets, garlic, onion, radish, lemon, marjoram, basil, fennel, rosemary, dill, bay leaf.
Combine pungent and sweet flavors in your meals to create a “Spring within.”
Avoid spicy, high sodium, rich and greasy foods.
Avoid over exposing your body to windy environments and fans. Always keep an extra light layer of clothing to protect your head, neck and back.
Practice flexibility in your body and mind. Observe were your rigidity lies.
Dive into creative expression, movement, writing, brainstorming, vision boarding. Set time build a clear vision of where you want to go.
Spring tea ideas: mint and honey, dandelion, milk thistle, chrysanthemum, lemon balm.
To learn more on how to eat with the seasons, check out the book Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford.
With love and gratitude,
Melanie
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