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Walking in Beauty Spring Cleaning: An Ancient Chinese Medicine Perspective

AAs winter transitions to spring, an inner spring cleaning is good to promote resilience after a difficult period of short days, long nights, bitter cold, and relative hibernation. To aid in our body’s adjustment, Oriental Medicine has practical wisdom for us.

Spring is a time of new beginnings, seen as seedlings, bright budding greens, upward reaching towards the sun. This is the proverbial wood element in Chinese Medicine, and the first element in the five-phase cycle of this tradition. The liver organ system is aligned with wood element, and thus a spring cleaning of one’s body necessitates supporting this energy system.

Wind is a component of wood energy, and as the high desert winds blow across the land, internal wind can stir up such things as allergies, skin ailments, autoimmune disease, and a general restlessness. This is a classic manifestation of a lack of harmony in the liver organ system. The liver stores excess, whether food, drink, chemicals, or emotions. As the body comes out of its relative winter hibernation, “residues” have built up in the body from a general lack of movement; a lack of purifying sunlight; the excesses of food, drink, and drugs (whether prescription – often used more in winter months – or recreational). When the liver is overburdened, its role in digestion is compromised, leading to blood pressure and/or blood sugar imbalances, constipation, anger, and often fueling a sense of a loss of selfcontrol. This makes perfect sense; the body is coming out of winter from a cold start, and trying its best to recalibrate and warm itself to the growing freedom of lengthening days and increased movement in general.

With respect to foods that can nourish the liver and aid in spring cleaning, plant-based foods are warranted. As plants reach for sunlight, they charge themselves with vital energy that embodies the spring season, and this naturally imparts a dynamic movement into the liver organ system. This aids in reharmonizing the body with nature’s shifts, while thus supporting the liver. Leafy green vegetables are good for sweeping the liver...envision all the chlorophyll from sun-thirsty plants imparting their solaces/nourishment to your body, sun-charged and ready for waking up sluggish digestion. Sour foods are likewise supportive; such foods include lemons, pickles, plain yogurts, sauerkrauts, kombucha tea, and sourdough breads. Serendipitously, these also support a healthy gut microbiome (good intestinal bacteria), thus cleansing and renewing our digestive system.

In the spirit of spring cleaning, now is an auspicious time to do a “cleanse,” whether this means taking several days to load up on veggie soups (light on the digestive system, rich in a plant base), perhaps extra green salads, or you might commit to a more formal herbal or fasting cleanse. A “fasting-mimicking diet” is a more practical way to cleanse if you’re concerned about trying to fit your cleanse into a busy routine. Alongside this, and in accordance with increasing bodily movement, drink plenty of water to flush out any blockages.

And don’t forget to move! What do animals do when they awaken? Yawn, stretch, move. As we reach for the sun from a long winter, take time to walk, breathe deeply, stretch, perhaps take a yoga class, do some Zumba, dance, or hike some of Gallup’s beautiful trails.

Emily Hornback is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine practicing in Gallup. Trained in Classical Chinese Medicine, she has made it her life’s work to help people find balance in their everyday life through the practical wisdom of Oriental Medicine. She incorporates not only acupuncture and herbal remedies, but also dietary and lifestyle advice. forLoveofLife Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine