Spring is the best season; we feel light and bright as we bid farewell to the cold and gloom of winter. With the change in season, as the weather warms and the days get longer, we can spend more time outdoors and can expect an increase in chi energy and optimism.

However, the Spring season can also have some not-so-positive impacts on our health and chi life force energy, with seasonal allergies affecting our immune system and Spring winds making us feel irritable.

By having a clearer understanding of the relationship between our bodies and the season of Spring, we can take advantage of the beneficial concordances to nurture our bodies and mind, balancing chi energy to promote our well-being while being wary of potential Spring pitfalls.

Eastern philosophy (Chinese Medicine Qi) follows a principle known as “The Principle of the Five Elements”, which describes the cyclical flow of Qi (chi energy) and the balance of Yin and Yang.

According to this principle, Traditional Chinese Medicine Qi, all change “in the universe and in your body” occurs in five distinct stages, with each stage associated with:

• a particular time of year,
• an element of nature,
• a pair of organs in the body,
• an emotion and a taste.

The Principle of Five Elements show us how the structures and systems in our bodies are connected to each other and how we are connected to our environment and to nature. That’s the Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Spring is the season of the Wood element. Wood represents the Qi life energy of growth, change, and birth.

The wood element has a lot of Qi life force, energy, allowing for much movement and progress both internally and externally. It’s a good time of year to clear low chi energy, any blockages we might have and allow for a clear flow of that useful balancing Qi Wood energy.

However, with all this Qi energy healing comes frustration and anger, especially when we do not feel aligned with what we are doing or are constrained from growing and harmonize the Qi.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine Qi, the emotion associated with Spring is Anger, and anger is strongly linked to the primary organ of Spring, the Liver and Gall Bladder issues.

We all experience anger from time to time, which is totally normal. However, when we sit in our anger or our temper rises quickly and gets the better of us, it can have a serious impact on our lives. It stops us from expanding, growing, and moving on to better things.

With the winds of Spring stirring up our Liver qi, this can be a good time to reflect on what triggers our anger, whether our responses are valid, and how we can adjust our lives to reduce the stress and frustration we feel.

At Balance Acupuncture, near Carindale, we specialise in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese herbs.

When the liver is not in balance, it stops our liver energy (Qi life energy) from flowing smoothly, which often causes us to feel frustrated, angry, and stressed.

We can also experience physical symptoms such as:

• digestive issues,
• PMS,
• menstrual problems, and
• a tight neck and shoulders.

When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body is supported by the Qi vital energy that also runs smoothly.

For optimum health this Spring, the liver is the organ to treat, restoring Qi with a bit of a Spring clean. Since the colour of Spring is green, it is probably not going to surprise you that a good place to start is by eating lots of fresh leafy greens, which contain vital energy Qi.

The liver loves green. Foods such as:

• Kale,
• lettuce,
• broccoli,
• beans,
• peas, and
• sprouts

They all act as Qi healing and will help get your liver Qi force up and moving.

While we are talking about food, according to the principle of the five elements, sour is the taste of Spring, so add a scrumptious vinaigrette or some pickles to your greens to power that life force Qi.

You could also quench your thirst by adding slices of lemon to your water—the liver loves lemon! Or add it to a Qi detox tea.