I am so grateful for the spring! Especially after this year of trials, it is good to have a season of new beginnings. In many forms of traditional medicine, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the impact of the seasons upon human health and behavior is acknowledged and spring is recognized as a season of cleansing, renewal, rejuvenation, peace of mind, and fresh starts. Such seasonal changes in the human body are not esoteric, I think that most of us can really attest to experiencing some of these changes, but they are also demonstrated in modern medical literature. For example, in the winter lack of sun exposure in certain areas changes our vitamin D levels and neurotransmitter levels, our caloric intake often increase and activity declines and weight can increase, and there can even be changes in blood pressure and cholesterol. Our immune systems, waistlines, and coronary arteries all welcome spring!  It is interesting how our health can shift so much with the change of seasons. Traditional medicine recognizes how being in tune with these seasonal changes and adapting our lifestyles accordingly can help us prevent illness and be in balance. 

In TCM, spring is associated with liver and this season and the energy of the liver starts in February. Most of us know that the liver is one of our most important organs for detoxification. However, the liver has many other important functions including:

• Cholesterol production, which is essential for female and male hormone production and balance in the body

• Hormone regulation through activating certain hormones and metabolizing and detoxing others

• Purifies the blood – it aids in both the production and breakdown of our blood

• Stores fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and vitamin B12

• The liver transforms fats and proteins into glucose and releases glucose into the bloodstream when it is needed

  • If the liver is stressed this can manifest as fatigue or hypoglycemia

• Manufactures bile

  • Interestingly, bile itself has been found to have important roles in regulating metabolism - so we need bile not only for detoxification but for a healthy metabolism - this is part of the reason why bitter herbs, which stimulate bile acid production can be so helpful for not only for digestion, but blood sugar and weight management

• Makes antibodies for the immune system

Chinese medicine also teaches that when the liver is functioning healthfully that emotionally Qi will course smoothly as well and vice versa and indeed I see this in clinic, where if there is an underlying liver condition that is not properly supported, this can manifest with depressed mood. 

The liver is a resilient organ, it can withstand a lot of abuse, and significant damage that might appear as elevated liver enzymes in labs takes some damage to the liver to achieve. However, suboptimal, or stagnant liver function is more common and can manifest in the following ways: 

• Brain fog

• Fatigue

• Irritability

• Depression

• Allergies

• Hormonal imbalances (ie PMD, menstrual issues, hot flashes, breast tenderness/ fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, etc)

• Headaches

• Sensitivities (fragrances/ chemicals, coffee, pharmaceuticals)

• Indigestion

• Skin issues (ie dryness, rashes, acne)

• Body odor

• Foul breath

When there is liver stagnation, Chinese medicine, teaches that the following emotions arise: 

• Anger, irritation, and sometimes rage

• Resentment

• Unforgiveness

• Indecisiveness and unassertiveness

• Procrastination

• Dissatisfaction

• Stagnated growth

• Difficulty letting go of things that no longer serve us

Happily, flowing liver energy leads to the opposites, and just as in nature, springtime is also an ideal time for people to take action, create, flourish and:

• Forgive

• Have empathy and compassion

• Make decisions and to be decisive

• Cultivate ones spirit

• And let go of the things that no longer serve us

Here are 5 tips to support the emotional and physical health of the liver:

1) Eat green and sour. Green is the color of the springtime, that bright green itself is cheering to look at, and the taste of spring is sour. So green and sour foods are ideal to incorporate into the springtime. My pro-tip is to try making any type of pesto or blended herbal mix, these can be made with basil (my personal favorite), cilantro, watercress, dandelion, spinach, arugula or a blend. Garlic, green onions, ramps or leeks can be added, along with some olive oil and salt (or potassium salts for those who are salt sensitive – although the potassium salt is not for those on blood pressure medications).  Pesto is quick and easy to make, it can make the perfect dip, condiment, or sauce. Try spaghetti squash pesto - just delicious! The greens also stimulate bile production, which is important for both detoxification and metabolism. 

2) Rest the Eyes. In Chinese Medicine, the orifice of the liver is the eyes. With the excess screen time most of us have already, exacerbated amid the pandemic, it is even more important to give the eyes some rest. A general rule of thumb advocated by organizations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology is the “20 – 20 – 20 rule”, where with every 20 minutes of computer/ screen usage, you shift your gaze to an object 20 feet away and look at it for at least 20 seconds. Generally, it’s also beneficial for creativity and also productivity to take some breaks, as a type A person - who struggles doing this for myself, I think it is important for us to encourage each other to move more during the days. Shifting focus can help us to shift and renew our energy.  

3) Stretch and move. Chinese medicine teaches us that the liver controls the tendons. Stretching opens these pathways or meridians of the liver and gallbladder. These get quite stagnated with sitting and stretching helps to release the stuck energy in these areas and get healing blooding coursing, which brings healing and protective nutrients. Taking time to take frequent breaks of just a few minutes to do simple stretches and takes walks goes a long way. Here are a few simple stretches to activate the liver and gallbladder channels: 

• Stand tall and lift your arms above head and take 5 deep breaths. If breathing is too restricted, lower your until comfortable.

• Stand tall and gently bend to the side, take 5 deep breaths, and then switch sides. Do not force, strain or create pain, it should be easy. This will help to open up the gallbladder channel.

• Stand tall, with arms lifted above the head and gently rotate, take 5 deep breaths and then switch sides. Again, go gentle and do not force the stretch or create pain.

 4) Spring beautify. There is so much evidence that beautifying and creating an appearance of abundance in our homes and workplaces, elevates our minds and health. Ingrid Fetel Lee is an expert in this field and has an amazing book called the Aesthetics of Joy. Go ahead, buy yourself some flowers, it will change your day for the better. It is difficult to create in a cluttered space so a little cleaning and organizing can go a long why. Make sure to use non-toxic products amid your cleaning. One of my most trusted environmental hygienists, highly recommends Branch Basics sanitizing products, as top of the line in terms of function, health, and environmental safety. Many home cleaning products can be easily made with water, vinegar and essential oils, but for tougher jobs, these products might be useful. The Branch Basics website has an excellent article on detoxifying the laundry room – those front-loading washing machines require special attention and this article has some great tips! 

5) Start fresh on a project or goal that you let go of during winter hibernation. We sometimes beat ourselves up for dropping projects or goals, but this does not serve us. Sometimes the energy of an actual season or season of life does not allow the energy or bandwidth for us to move forward. That is how life roles and it’s a lot easier if we accept it and roll with the punches. However, spring is the season for creation, so if you feel the urge to move forward on a project or goal, now is a good time to take action on this motivation. Personally, I had to take a few months break from writing, networking, and marketing due to focusing my energy on moving naturopathic medicine forward in Virginia. Instead of resting and storing my resources during the winter months as is ideal, I was pushing forward. I needed to gather my resources back up for the past few months. However, I am glad to refocus my energy back towards my practice, as helping people thrive on their journey of health is my passion! In February, I celebrated 3 years at my solo practice, Collective Health Center, and I couldn’t be more grateful to you, my patients and community for your extra measure of support during this intense year. It is a true honor to be on this journey with you!

Dr. Sarah is a lover of spring and a naturopathic doctor & acupuncturist at Collective Health Center in Leesburg Virginia.  Her passion is helping patients get to the root cause of their nagging health concerns with natural medicine. Learn more by filling out the form below.