Supporting the Body Through the Seasons: Spring and the Liver in Chinese Medicine
I was admiring the morning sunshine earlier this week when the sky suddenly darkened, and I found myself caught in a dramatic transformation of the weather—swirling wind, rain, and even snow. It was, quite literally, four seasons in one day! But such abrupt weather changes are typical at this time of year, just before the warmer and more settled days take hold.
In Chinese philosophy, we are seen as microcosms of the natural world. The changes we observe in nature are mirrored in ourselves. Each season carries its own unique energy. Spring, for instance, is characterized by an upward, outward surge—“when the warmth of the sun returns and life pushes forth with great vitality.” It’s a time to refresh your vision and grow in new directions. Yet the expansive, sometimes erratic nature of early spring can leave us feeling unbalanced—at least until we can find steadier footing, or simply get out into the garden and warm up our sun-deprived bodies.
A tree can only grow tall if it is anchored by deep roots and nourished soil. In the same way, our transition from winter into spring can be blocked by low energy reserves, fatigue, emotional stagnation, depression, or stress. These factors can put the brakes on the natural creative impulse that spring brings—and deeply affect how both our bodies and minds feel during this time of year.
In Chinese Medicine, spring resonates with the liver, an organ that plays a vital role in detoxifying the body, cleansing the blood, and nourishing the muscles, tissues, and cells. According to Chinese Medicine theory, the liver also governs the smooth flow of qi (energy) throughout the body. When the liver becomes overloaded—due to poor diet, stress, or overeating—it can lead to stagnation, irritability, and physical symptoms like headaches, tension, or digestive issues.
Spring is considered the ideal time to support the liver through acupuncture and other therapies. Chinese Medicine offers a clear framework for understanding and addressing liver-related imbalances. Treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and dietary guidance can all help restore healthy function and energy flow.
But there are also simple, everyday ways you can support your liver this spring:
How to stay healthy during the Spring
A Healthy Diet
The liver will benefit from a de-congesting diet rich in green leafy vegetables. Apple cider vinegar is beneficial too because of its sour taste and nutritional benefits. Avoid foods that are too spicy, oily and rich, reduce red meat and roasting or frying to prepare food. Many of the heavier winter-sustaining foods that we may have wanted to eat during the long dark winter months are not going to be appreciated by the liver during the spring! Trying to wean myself from the simple doughy comforts of sourdough bread is taking herculean will-power!
In general, think green, as well as light, nutritionally-packed and easily digestible, as this will maximise your energy for growth, just like plants in spring stretching up and out up from the nourishment in their roots. Other foods that help to cleanse the liver include: garlic, apples, avocado, broccoli, lemons and limes, turmeric, cabbage and walnuts.
Freeing our Emotions
Just as foods can be congesting and place a strain on the liver, unexpressed emotions can create congestion internally. It is healthier to let our emotions flow during the spring when this push for release is felt inwardly. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine's Five Element theory, chronically unexpressed emotions, such as anger, frustration or guilt, can unbalance your liver functioning, which can lead to fatigue or depression. Being able to talk about how you're feeling and letting things go can keep your energy flowing in healthy ways, which inevitably helps you to move forward with renewed energy, creativity and purpose.
Movement and creativity
Other ways of easing stress during spring are by gardening, as this is very grounding physically and emotionally. Activities involving movement, such as dancing, yoga, qi gong or tai chi; learning a new skill, or taking up a new creative pursuit all help to keep our energy flowing in healthy and creative ways
How the 'liver' expresses it's unhappiness!
As you might imagine, symptoms that resonate with spring tend to have an upward or outward flowing tendency, such as headaches or eczema, but also any symptoms that are compounded by stress. Here are some symptoms that are characteristic of spring and suggest that you may need acupuncture to bring some balance to the liver system:
Headaches and migraine
Muscular aches and pains and stiffness
High Blood Pressure
Irritability and mood swings
Flare-up of eczema or psoriasis
Digestive problems, precipitated by stress, such as IBS or gastric pain
Heightened or unexplained Anxiety
Dry eyes, blurred vision or floaters
If you like more information about how acupuncture or acupressure massage might help you, please contact me on 07583-291616 or email: nickyjanethomas123@gmail.com.
