Bambú Naturopathic Clinic in Portland, OR • April 2011 Newsletter

in this issue:

Spring is Here!

In September of last year, we wrote to you about the 5 phases or seasons in the Chinese medicine calendar and the importance of the late summer harvest within that framework. This month, we will revisit the concept of the seasons of Chinese medicine with an emphasis on the season we are entering, spring.

Five Seasons Revisited:

As a reminder, within Chinese philosophy lies the concept of five seasons or phases. These phases apply to the yearly calendar, to the course of our lives, and to disease. The five seasons are spring, summer, late summer, fall and winter. And, the schema associates each of these seasons with one of five “elements”—wood, fire, earth, metal and water, respectively. The correlations between seasons and elements exist because each pairing relates to different gestures or expressions in nature.

For instance, the “wood” element represents the “bursting forth” energy of the spring with its new green growth, longer days and, usually, renewed vitality for patients. Fire represents the summer season with its hot, consuming inferno. The heat and long hours of sun during this season allow for the full maturation of nature’s bounty. A time of harvesting, fresh fruits and vegetables are in abundance at the local farmer’s markets during the extra season of late summer. The season of the earth element, late summer energy combines the warmth and fullness of summer with the stillness and tranquility of fall, creating the perfect environment for ripening.

The fall season begins on the equinox at the end of September. At this moment in the annual calendar, we turn the corner between more hours of light each day to more hours of darkness. This moment marks the movement into the yin seasons, fall and winter. Yin energy is downward and inward. And, autumn’s element is metal, which can be fluid to fit a form or can harden in that form. For this reason, metal represents transition—completion of the harvest and the beginning of the resting period. And, last, winter is the season of storing and hibernation. As with water, the winter element, which flows downward around any obstacle to rest at the lowest possible point, so does nature’s life energy during this part of the year.

The Spring & the Liver:

Spring marks a new start for most people. Whether we are doing spring cleaning or watching the bulbs rise out of the cold ground, even the smell of the air reminds us that life is emerging anew at this time of year. And, in Chinese medicine, this season takes the symbol of “wood”. Rather than the log that you may throw into a fireplace, the “wood” element is typically depicted by new green growth. Rapid and directional, this growth has an abundant energy that perfectly represents the spring season. And, along these lines, the bamboo plant most accurately symbolizes “wood”—shooting quickly upward toward the sky with a strength and flexibility made possible by a hollow stem that bends easily without breaking.

The bamboo plant represents a “perfect model of healthy growth in nature.” It is the fastest-growing plant on Earth – it surges upward as fast as 4-5 feet in a single 24-hour period, and for brief periods of time, can reach a maximal growth rate exceeding 3 feet per hour. In Chinese philosophy, our life’s purpose, like the rapid directional growth of the bamboo plant, is represented by skyward growth towards the sun ultimately revealing the heart’s true desire.

Strength and flexibility are the two crucial characteristics of the bamboo plant and of the patient’s journey to optimal health. The plant’s hollow stem endows bamboo with the qualities of durability and grace – it bends readily in response to external events, but does not break easily. The nodes on the stem represent various milestones encountered along the way as the organism strives to grow and adapt to its surroundings.

When speaking of medicine, the spring/wood phase relates directly to the liver, so spring is the ideal time to take part in a cleanse or rejuvenation of your health. But, this is also the time when liver conditions can aggravate due to climatic influences.

Personal Spring Cleaning...

Stretch: In Chinese medicine, the tendons relate to the liver and the spring. To maintain good health, especially this time of year, stretch daily to increase blood flow into these connective tissues.

Take Care of Your Eyes: The liver opens into the eyes. So, while eye health can be connected to many other issues in the body, the liver rules proper eye function. Take some carotenoids and do some eye exercises to keep your vision acute.

Eat Green Foods: Green is the color of spring. And, many green things pop up all over during this season. Take advantage of the nutrition in all of the new growth by making lots of salads and green leafy vegetables for meals.

Sour Apples: Sour food and drink are thought to stimulate liver qi. Be extra vigilant about your apple cider vinegar before meals or add lemons to your water, but get something sour into your body to help your liver process the stagnant energy leftover from the winter.

Get Outdoors: Fresh air promotes the flow of qi. Now that the sun is peaking through the clouds, make a point of getting out to enjoy it. So what if you get rained on five minutes later…

Cleanse: Help the liver release toxins by spending one day per week on a cleansing diet. If you want to try this, eat salads with olive oil and lemon juice for lunches and dinners and prepare a green drink for breakfast. The liver does not start releasing toxins for 17 hours after starting a cleanse, so if your last meal is dinner on Saturday, your next should be on Monday at lunch.

Do Something: Anger/frustration is the emotion of the liver. And, nothing is more motivating than frustration and anger. Therefore, the primarily the energy of the liver is to move you forward into action. Do something you have always wanted to start. It will feel good to knock another goal off your bucket list.

For a local, supervised detox, check out Glow Health Coaching's Spring Detox.

We hope you found this information helpful. We strive to help our patients find a healthy way in the world. If you have topics you'd like us to address in future issues please let us know. We are always available for questions and comments.

Warm Regards,

The Physicians of Bambú Clinic