Preparing For The Seasons

“In the spring, the yang qi of the universe begins to grow.
The yin qi of the earth begins to disperse.
Coldness turns to warmth.
Ice melts.
Water flows into the streams and rivers.

The qi in the human body flow in the channels.
In the summer, the blood and qi overflow with abundance in the channels.
The skin is nourished and strong. In the late summer, the qi and blood in the channels are both abundant. The nourishment and lubrication of the muscles take place.
By the autumn, as the earth takes energy back, the pores of the body begin to close, and the skin shrinks. By the winter the energy is of hibernating and storing.
Similarly, the qi of the body turns inward to the deepest level, the bone marrow. From there, the qi flows to the five zang organs.”

- The Yellow Emperor -

     In Traditional Chinese Medicine each of the five seasons is associated with an element in nature. Each of the five elements is associated with a different pattern of balance and imbalance. March 20 is the spring equinox; the first day of spring.

Spring Wood
Summer Fire
Late Summer Earth
Fall Metal
Winter Water

     Emotions can drastically affect your body and how you feel. We are heading into spring, the time of Wood. Spring is especially related to anger and its associated emotions of frustration, resentment, animosity, bitterness, rage and stress. Emotions like anger and stress, when experienced intensely or chronically over a period of time, can have serious consequences because they can impair or disturb the wood’s energy functions. It is believed that needling certain points on the wood channels will help your bodymindspirit prepare for the seasonal change. Preventive medicine is the best kind.

Things that you may notice change, appear, or worsen during the time of Wood are:
               • Irritability, hypertension, dizziness, headaches, and allergies.
               • PMS, irregular or painful periods, cramps, distending pain in the breasts.
               • Poor digestion, food retention, belching, gas, stomach distension and diarrhea.
               • Tendon spasms, contraction of the tendons, tremors of the hands and feet, numbness of the

                  extremities, and sluggishness of joint movement.
               • Soft, brittle, thin, dry, cracked nails are a sign of a wood imbalance.
               • Vision changes, blurry vision, dry eyes, sore, swollen, and bloodshot eyes.

Things you can do to help move and nurture your energy during the spring months:
               • Get some fresh air, walk around the block.
               • Drink plenty of water, and if you like add a slice of lemon or lime.
               • Minimize stress, take time for yourself.
               • Meditate for five minutes a day. This will drastically change the chemistry of your body

                  and reduce your stress, helping your body circulate energy better and keep things flowing.
               • Doing an energy practice. Practices like Qigong tune up the organs and balance the entire

                 body, helping to heal health difficulties. By making the organs function more efficiently,

                Qigong reduces the amount of Qi your body uses on a daily basis.

Take care of yourself, keep moving during this time of change and

make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Call today to make your appointment for a seasonal treatment during the

weeks surrounding March 20.



“In the east, wind arises,
there is movement that promotes green woody growth,
and when unripe, gives off a sour taste.
The sour taste stimulates the liver when ingested and
nourishes the tendons and ligaments.
When the wind is gentle it harmonizes all,
but when it is extreme it can be destructive,
just as in people,
emotions turn into rage when the liver is out of control.
Metal is the control element,
so therefore grief counters anger while dryness lessens the wind
and pungent neutralizes sour.”

- The Yellow Emperor -