Traditional Perspectives on Spring Self Care

AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE 

In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian philosophy of medicine, spring is referred to as Vasant Ritu (Vasant = spring | Ritu = season). It is considered the "king of all seasons" because it’s not too hot nor is it too cold, and and generally considered very pleasant. 

It lasts from mid March to Mid May before the transition to summer takes effect. It is known, unsurprisingly, as the season of flowering and it comes with a handful of energetic tendencies.

Winter is what is known as the Kapha dosha, a combination of the elements of water and earth. In winter, we move slower, lean towards lethargy, increase sleep, and may not be prone to weight gain as we have less access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

In the spring, as the temperature starts to heat up, accumulated Kapha becomes liquified. This can be seen as slight weightloss, post nasal drip, congestion, allergies, and hay fever. The body comes out of hibernation and some people experience digestive upset as the digestive fire, agni, gets diminished with all this extra "liquid."

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PERSPECTIVE

According to Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), spring is the season of the release of stagnant emotions and energies, to embrace new growth and renewal.

Spring is associated with the wood element. Along with corresponding to spring, wood in TCM is related to the liver and the gallbladder. Which is responsible for the free flowing movement of qi (energy & blood) in the body along with regulating emotions.

The wood element readies the plants to begin their transition back into the growing season, so that buzz we start to feel right before the flowers bloom is the movement of the wood element. Just as the plants start coming back to growth, that same energy permeates you too! The energy of wood wants to move out and get things done.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, we want to watch out for stuck wood energy as winter turns to spring which will show up as qi stagnation. This might look like emotional disturbances like anger, depression, mood issues, sleep issues, headaches, pain, digestive issues, and so on.

Between these two traditional systems through a quick glimpse into their perspectives on spring. A few key qualities and concepts really stick out to that we can explore in determining how our wellness behaviors might need to change during the spring.

First of all, we see really strong themes of

• Renewal

• Growth

• New beginnings

• The potential that gets stored in winter is ready to mobilize

• Access to a sense of rejuvenation

• A renewed sense of inspiration

On the dark side of spring, we also see that to avoid lingering heaviness from the winter season we need to consider lightening up, which we can do by: 

1. Increasing gentle movement in the body

2. incorporating simple and seasonal foods into our routine

3. Exploring herbs and foods that have bitter, pungent, and astringent qualities

4. Supporting the liver specifically as it relates to general metabolic functions and the ways that it pairs up with the gall bladder to participate in processes of digestion 

4 Self Care Behaviors For Spring

#1 Increase gentle movement in the body

You might actually already notice that you are more interested in movement, especially as the days get longer, the weather gets warmer. The ways you might step up your movement is going to depend on a few things like your lifestyle, how active you were in the winter, and even your interest in movement. .

I encourage you to think about adding more movement into your own life. Even in simple and gentle ways. This will help to shed some of the stagnation in the body that is associated with winter and help you feel energized, primarily because movement in the body also moves lymphatic fluid.

Remember that movement is pretty important for the general functioning of the body. Our bodies do need mechanical loads to engage effectively in some of the processes it undergoes, but it doesn't have to look like formal exercise and fitness behaviors.

My favorite way to do this is by taking extra walks and getting in the garden.

#2 incorporating simple and seasonal foods into our routine

If you noticed, both TCM and Ayurveda mentioned digestive issues as a potential ailment to think about in the spring, specifically as it relates to transitioning from eating the heavier foods available to us in winter to eating the lighter and simpler foods in spring. 

You might notice that around this time of year you are interested in colder and fresher foods naturally. See if you can add in an extra salad or smoothie into your routine to lighten the digestive load, increase phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants!

#3 Exploring herbs and foods that have bitter, pungent, and astringent qualities

The negative effects of the seasonal transition can be soothed by exploring foods and herbs that have bitter, pungent, and astringent qualities. Especially as opposed to sweet, salty, and sour natured foods

Bitter flavors and compounds help to support the secretion of bile which can be a big help in improving and supporting digestive processes. We can get more bitters in our diet through bitter herbs like dandelion greens, burdock root, turmeric, and our green leafy vegetables
The pungent flavor increases heat, and as we see in the Ayurvedic system, the heat helps to liquify the kapha of winter. Think well-spiced meals with things like ginger, pepper, garlic, onions, cayenne, etc. They can be helpful also for drying excess moisture and have the added benefit of supporting the digestive fire and stimulating metabolism when incorporated long term into the diet

Rather than a taste so to speak, astringency is more of a sensation of drying or tightening tissue. We can access astringency through things like nettle, holy basil, grapes, and green, black, white and oolong tea, all which come from the plant Camellia sinensis. In generalm astringent tastes can help absorb excess moisture. In ayurveda it is thought to scrape kapha from the body, and it can help to bind the stool, and cleanse the mucous membrane. 

So we see with these specific tastes and flavors, the main idea is managing excess moisture that comes along with the transition to spring whether thats through seasonal allergies, an increase in humidity, or a melting of kapha in the body.

#4 Support the liver

The liver is responsible for over 500 metabolic functions. It participates in the filtration of blood, digestion, metabolism, detoxification, protein synthesis, and it even stores vitamins and minerals. 

As we see in traditional Chinese medicine, the main organ to attend to in the spring is the liver. Remember that according to TCM, spring is associated with the wood element and the wood element helps us get up and moving again after the conservation of energy in winter. 

In TCM the liver and gallbladder is responsible for the smooth movement of qi or energy in the body and mind so we want to support the liver in functioning smoothly to avoid liver qi stagnation. 

Focusing our attention on herbs that stimulate the processes of the liver OR support the healthy functioning of the liver is the way to go with herbs like dandelion, burdock, milk thistle, and so on.

{ READ MORE ABOUT HERBS FOR THE SPRING HERE. }

Spring is one of my favorite season. I love the vibrancy, the blossoming, the smell of soil, and the new growth I get to experience. It offers a special time to connect to the medicine of place and the seasons and to explore creating more balance as significant shifts occur in the body.

I hope some of these suggestions help you transition into the warmer months with ease and grace.

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Kristen Prosen