Transitioning from Winter to Spring

Many of us look forward to spring...

It means new life, longer hours of daylight and depending on where one lives, warmer weather. This transition allows for the ability to get more done and spend more time outdoors, possibly shedding those extra pounds gained over the holidays and reconnecting with nature.

But as with any seasonal change, sometimes there can be some cobwebs to work out and symptoms like allergies or illness, before we are fully adapted. There are organ systems that are associated with each season and benefit from specific attention. This is where Eastern Medicine and wholistic principles excel in helping us make a smooth transition and help in feeling great throughout the year.

The season of winter is associated with the element of water and it corresponds to the kidneys. The kidneys house our life force or jing and therefore, they must be constantly fed and replenished, as jing dissipates over time. Winter is the perfect time to do this, to replenish this resource inside. This is done by sleeping more, eating hearty, warming seasonal foods and avoiding excessive sweating or exercising.

The season of spring is associated with the element of wood and it corresponds to the liver. As everything around us blossoms in the spring, so too can we embrace this time and start to move with the changes occurring.

Often the winter months leave some stagnant feelings behind, which can manifest in different areas like relationships, work and of course, our bodies. If there is frustration, physical pain or sadness, it may be a sign that energy is not flowing properly or optimally with the wood element and it's time to get some support and literally shake off those winter blues or get moving in some way.

The liver is our main detoxification center and requires some attention for us to age gracefully and remain healthy. It has over 300 jobs in the body and a lot to do with keeping our blood and circulation healthy and properly pumping.

Here are a few ways to support yourself during this transitional time of year and welcome spring with a sense of joy and ease:

Get rid of the clutter!! Start to clear away all that has built up during the winter months. This season is associated with the eyes and so we want to notice what we SEE around us and whether or not that contributes to our happiness. Its number one for starting to really maintain changes in other areas too.

Clearing your space will help with the underlying frustration or sadness you may be trying to shake off. Tossing out old clothing, magazines or just going through that one junk drawer we all have, will create an empty space that will then allow for growth throughout the spring season and new more intentional things to come into your life.

Be sure to have awareness around the types of cleaning products you use as well. It does make a difference!! And cleaning chemicals are linked to many modern diseases including cancer. Clean with clean products and if you're not sure, this is a good resource www.ewg.org

Eat according to the seasons-always a great way to feel our best and enjoy whats most fresh.

As the weather gets warmer, most people gravitate towards healthier food options in an effort to lose some of the winter weight.

Eating lighter, more natural foods also gives the liver a chance to naturally heal and repair itself.

Acupuncture helps make the transition between any seasons easier. Acupuncture can balance the body as it reacts to the changes in the weather and activity levels. Regular acupuncture treatments have also been shown to boost immunity. Spring can also cause flare ups associated with seasonal allergies and acupuncture treatments can help.

Essential oils can be of great help too! Our favorite blend to reduce those pesky spring sneezes and sniffles are- lavender, lemon and peppermint of a therapeutic grade brand (we prefer young living) that is approved for internal use and place in a veg capsule with a carrier like olive oil. This works great! Of course inhaled as a blend can offer relief too. Just be careful of getting peppermint on any sensitive areas like your eyes.

Nettle Tea is probably one of the most "powerhouse" herbs and teas out there. SO many benefits for the body and mind and especially for strengthening our defenses and immunity around the change of seasons. Great to help reduce the itchy, yucky feelings of allergies, inflammation and general sluggishness. If you can harvest the young shoots early yourself thats the best, otherwise we use dried organic forms, tincture and tea bags. Drink daily at the end of winter and all through the season as needed.

And our last suggestion to ease your way through is to go for gentle walks in nature. Let your eyes soak in the GREEN color and bring it into your body to soothe, detoxify and repair your liver system.This helps during any time of transition to calm, connect and restore ones sense of clarity and peace.

Happy Spring!