Traditional Chinese Medicine

Embracing Spring with Healthy Eating

Spring symbolizes a time of awakening and rejuvenation. Just as nature bursts into life with renewed energy, we too feel a natural shift as the days grow warmer. After a winter of indoor living and perhaps a little extra comfort food, spring invites us to step outside, become more active, and refresh our diets.

The wisdom of ancient Chinese traditions teaches us to align our habits with the natural world. In spring, this means embracing activity and nourishing our bodies to support this increase in movement. Qi, the vital energy that sustains us, needs to be replenished with the right foods during this vibrant season.

To bolster our Qi in spring, we should focus on foods that reflect the season’s upward and expansive energy. Think green and leafy vegetables that mirror the sprouting life around us. Yet, as we become more active, our bodies also crave additional sustenance. Here’s where slightly sweeter foods come into play. Enjoy fruits, nuts, and root vegetables like yams and carrots for that extra burst of springtime energy, but remember to balance the sweetness to avoid feeling lethargic.

Pungent foods are also essential this season. They help circulate Qi and facilitate detoxification through perspiration. Incorporate foods like scallions, ginger, and garlic into your meals to keep your energy flowing smoothly.

Spring is closely associated with the liver and gallbladder in Traditional Chinese Medicine, organs vital for maintaining a smooth energy flow. To prevent stagnation, which can lead to emotional and physical discomfort, it’s crucial to choose foods wisely. Opt for chlorophyll-rich greens like kale and Swiss chard, and start your day with warm lemon water to cleanse your liver and gallbladder.

Bitter foods also have their place in a spring diet, helping to cool any excess heat in the liver. Asparagus, quinoa, and dandelion tea are excellent choices for maintaining balance during this season.

Interested in learning more about seasonal eating? A licensed acupuncturist can offer personalized guidance and support, helping you navigate your wellness journey with the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and nutritional advice.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the liver and gallbladder, focusing on foods that support these organs and the smooth flow of Qi. Here’s a list of spring foods beneficial according to TCM dietary therapy:

Leafy Greens: Foods like spinach, Swiss chard, and kale support the liver’s detoxifying function and encourage the smooth flow of Qi.
Sprouts: Bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, and other young, sprouting vegetables embody the upward and expansive energy of spring.
Green Vegetables: Broccoli, bok choy, and asparagus are excellent for supporting liver health.
Herbs: Fresh herbs like mint, dill, and cilantro can stimulate Qi movement and offer fresh flavors to meals.
Sour Foods: Foods with a sour taste, like lemons, limes, and vinegar, are believed to stimulate liver Qi.
Root Vegetables: Carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes provide grounding energy and nourishment for increased springtime activity.
Bitter Foods: Dandelion greens, arugula, and radicchio can help to clear heat and support liver function.
Whole Grains: Brown rice, barley, and millet are nourishing and can help to ensure smooth Qi flow.
Legumes: Mung beans and lentils are light and supportive of liver health.
Fruits: Cherries, blueberries, and strawberries are gently cleansing and supportive of liver health.
Seeds and Nuts: Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts can provide essential nutrients and support overall vitality.
Teas: Herbal teas such as green tea, dandelion tea, and chrysanthemum tea can be refreshing and supportive of liver health.

It’s always best to consume these foods in moderation and balanced with other elements of a healthy diet. Consulting with a TCM practitioner or a dietitian knowledgeable in TCM dietary therapy can provide personalized recommendations based on individual health needs and conditions.

Transitioning from Winter to Spring with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Most people look forward to spring. It means new life, longer hours of daylight and depending on where one lives, warmer weather. This transition allows for the ability to get more done and spend more time outdoors, possibly shedding those extra pounds gained over the holidays and reconnecting with nature. But as with any seasonal change, there are organ systems that need specific attention. This is where Traditional Chinese Medicine excels in helping make a smooth transition.

In TCM, the season of winter is associated with the element of water and it corresponds to the kidneys. The kidneys house our life force or jing and therefore, they must be constantly fed and replenished, as jing dissipates over time. Winter is the perfect time to do this. It is done by sleeping more, eating hearty, warming seasonal foods and avoiding excessive sweating or exercising.

The season of spring is associated with the element of wood and it corresponds to the liver. As everything around us blossoms in the spring, so too should we embrace this time. But the liver tends to be a bit of a bully for many people and it must be kept in check. Often the winter months leave some stagnant feelings, which can manifest in different areas like relationships, work or even our bodies. If there is frustration, physical pain or sadness, it may be a sign that energy is not flowing properly or optimally.

One way to make the transition from winter to spring easier is by engaging in some spring cleaning. Getting rid of some of the clutter that has built up during the winter months may help with the underlying frustration or sadness. Tossing out old clothing, magazines or just going through that one junk drawer we all have, will create an empty space that will then allow for growth throughout the spring season.

Eating according to the seasons is very important in TCM. As the weather gets warmer, most people gravitate towards healthier food options in an effort to lose some of the winter weight. But according to TCM, eating lighter, more natural foods actually gives the liver a chance to repair itself and that alone can help us feel more energetic and improve our clarity of thought. The immune system also functions better when excess sugar and dairy are removed.

Acupuncture is one of the tools in the TCM toolbox that can also help make the transition from winter to spring easier. Acupuncture can balance the body as it reacts to the changes in the weather and activity levels. Regular acupuncture treatments have also been shown to boost immunity. Spring can also cause flare ups associated with seasonal allergies and acupuncture treatments can help with the inflammation, sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes that accompany the allergic reactions. But most of all, acupuncture can help regulate those emotional imbalances that are often common during this transitional period.

Using Food to Achieve Balance

Balancing Energetic Foods in Chinese Medicine

In Western dietary practices, we often evaluate food based on its nutritional content, such as protein, fat, and calorie count. However, Chinese medicine adopts a different perspective, viewing food in terms of its energetic properties and their impact on the body. Foods are categorized as heating, cooling, drying, or damp, and maintaining a balance among these energies is crucial for health and disease prevention. This article will delve into the energy of foods in Chinese medicine, discussing foods that heat and cool the body, as well as those that cause dryness and dampness. We will also explore why it’s essential to balance these energetic food properties and provide recommendations on what to eat and avoid.

Heating and Cooling Foods

Certain foods and beverages generate heat in the body, while others have a cooling effect.

Heating foods and drinks include onion, garlic, ginger, pepper, pungent spices like chili, cayenne, coriander, cumin, and turmeric, tomatoes, mangoes, oranges, coffee, energy drinks, oily foods, and red meat.

On the other hand, cooling foods and drinks encompass sweet fruits like banana, watermelon, strawberries, raw foods (including uncooked vegetables), leafy vegetables such as lettuce and kale, cold drinks, iced water, peppermint tea, and bitter herbs like mustard greens, chicory, and dandelion leaves.

Drying and Damp Foods

Some foods can cause the body to become damp (characterized by phlegm, sluggishness, swelling) or dry (indicating a lack of moisture).

Drying foods and drinks include crunchy foods like biscuits, crisps, crackers, carrots, celery, nuts, seeds, starchy grains like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, couscous, beans, lentils, legumes, roasted vegetables, raw food, green tea, and cinnamon.

Damp foods and drinks include dairy, gluten and wheat-containing foods (bread, pasta, pastries), sweet or high-water content fruits and vegetables like watermelon, pineapple, cucumber, sugar, sweeteners, eggs, meat, soy products, slimy foods such as okra and linseeds, excessive mushrooms, and cold drinks.

Balancing the Body’s Energy

Excessive heat in the body can manifest as redness, burning sensations, inflammation, acidity, loose stools, and ‘fiery’ emotions like irritability and anger. Conditions associated with excess heat include cystitis, sinusitis, autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and coeliac disease, high blood pressure, migraines, acid reflux, gastritis, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, acne, inflammatory skin diseases, infected wounds, and stress and anger management problems. To balance excess heat, reduce hot foods and drinks, pungent spices, red meat, oily foods, chemical food additives, coffee, and alcohol. Increase intake of salads, raw food, green smoothies, bitter vegetables, and herbs. Regular fasting and detoxification can also help reduce excess heat.

Excess cold can result in a pale complexion, feelings of cold and weakness, muscle spasms, lack of motivation, and emotional withdrawal. Conditions connected to excess cold include poor circulation, weak digestion, low thyroid function, poor memory and concentration, exhaustion, and depression. To balance excess cold, reduce refrigerated and frozen foods, iced drinks, raw and leafy foods. Avoid fasting and detoxification. Increase intake of warming foods like soups, curries, cooked vegetables, and add spicy herbs to food. Only drink warm drinks and engage in vigorous exercise, saunas, and oil massages.

Excessive dryness in the body can lead to weight loss, dry skin and mucous membranes, gas, bloating, and feelings of fear and anxiety. Conditions linked to excess dryness include osteoarthritis, dry skin conditions, wrinkled skin, dry mouth, sinuses, throat, dry cough, gas, bloating, IBS with constipation, gallstones, kidney stones, tremors, anxiety disorders, and insomnia. To balance excess dryness, reduce dry and crunchy foods, avoid green tea and cinnamon, drink more fluids, eat lightly cooked or steamed foods, sweet fruits, root vegetables, nut milks, and slimy foods like okra, chia, and linseeds.

Excessive dampness in the body can cause weight gain, fluid accumulation, watery discharges and mucus, lethargy, lumps and cysts, nausea, and feelings of over-sentimentality. Conditions related to excess damp include obesity, fluid retention, swelling, benign tumors, cysts, candida, PCOS, hay fever, allergies, wet coughs, excess sweating, and fungal diseases. To balance excess damp, reduce dairy, sweet or high-water content fruits and vegetables, sugar, gluten, and refined carbohydrates. Eat drier and crunchier food, limit alcohol, and drink green tea. Add warming and drying spices to food.

In Chinese Medicine, the key to optimum health is to eat foods that balance the energy in your body. Decrease excess heat with cooling foods, and reduce dampness with drying foods. Achieving balance is the best way to prevent disease and mental disharmony.