Hello, spring! The sun is shining. It’s getting beautiful outside, but why am I so agitated? Could be an imbalance of the wood element in Chinese medicine that corresponds with springtime. This article explains the season from a Chinese medicine perspective and offers tips to help you feel your best this spring.
 
Spring is here! 
by Carolyn Laney, BA, MCM, Dipl.OM., L.Ac., CMT
 
“Spring is the beginning of things, when the energy should be kept open and fluid.”
—Huang De Nei Jing, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine
 
In Minnesota it seems like spring will never come, and life will never appear again from the barren landscape. And all at once it seems, the snow melts. The trees bud and leaf. Flowers bloom and the grass grows once again. New life is everywhere. 
 
In Chinese medicine, spring corresponds to wood in Chinese five-element theory. Wood represents the concepts of:

• Renewal, rebirth, creativity, cleansing, flexibility, and growth
• Expansive, smooth, free and easy movement of energy and activity
• The organs liver and gallbladder, the tissue of the tendons and ligaments, and the sense of sight
• Emotions of: kindness, forgiveness, gratitude, anger, negativity, and frustration

 
I feel the wood energy of spring bubbling up every year. I suddenly want to clean and organize my whole house. I want to get outside and feel the sun, plant my garden, eat lighter meals, and move my body. 
 
One of the things that pops up for me, that I hate to admit, is irritability. If I’m not living in balance, my fuse gets short and my perspective of the world becomes quite negative. Luckily this is a common sign of wood element imbalances and can be shifted. Wood imbalances usually manifest as:

• A rigid, inflexible attitude, and body stiffness or tension in the neck and shoulders or headaches 
• Quick to anger, an overbearing approach to others, lingering depression, an inability to assert one’s self, and a general pervasive, negative point or view
• Trouble making decisions or impulsive behavior, difficulty adapting to change, and making future plans
• All of these symptoms can be made worse with stress or in windy weather

 
The good news is that all of this can be shifted with diet and lifestyle modifications, acupuncture treatments, and Chinese herbal medicine. Some things to try at home include:

• Doing a liver detox by avoiding drinking alcohol and instead drinking water with fresh lemons added or drinking peppermint tea and taking a milk thistle herbal supplement. 
• Eating foods that are sour, bitter, or pungent in taste will help balance the wood element. Try adding dandelion greens, mustard greens, turmeric, fennel, basil, ginger, mint, beets, taro root, strawberries, peaches, turnips, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, or brussels sprouts to your diet. Spring is also a good time to eat raw, uncooked vegetables and fruits, sprouts, and fresh salad greens. 
• Incorporate an exercise routine that gets your heart rate up and your body moving on a regular basis. Brisk walks, light jogging, vigorous yoga, and gentle bicycling are good choices. 
• Spring is a good time to develop a meditation practice around gratitude and loving kindness. Five to ten minutes a day is enough to reap the benefits of this practice. Here’s a link to a guided meditation to get started if you are curious about adding this to your daily routine. “Loving Kindness Meditation to Develop Mindfulness and Compassion” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d_AA9H4z9U

Getting regular acupuncture treatments and taking Chinese herbal medicine is the best way to manage symptoms of wood imbalances if home remedies aren’t quite doing the trick. Acupuncture is the quickest way to move Qi or energy in the body and releases blockages or stagnation caused by wood imbalances. The use of Chinese herbs help extend the acupuncture treatment and balance the wood element effectively by utilizing plants that directly affect the liver and gallbladder. 
 
Have fun this season! Get outside, soak up the sunshine, and go for a walk. Enjoy all the dramatic transformation the renewing spring landscape has to offer in Minnesota. If you need a boost along the way, reach out and schedule an appointment. We’d love to help you get back in balance. 
 
Ni, Maoshing. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary (pp. 7-8). Shambhala Publications. 
 
Saunder, Mary. Rhythms of Change: Reclaiming your Health Using Ancient Wisdom and your Own Common Sense. Hidden Needle Press.

Nourishing food to support the kidneys: by Carolyn Laney, BA, MCM, Dipl.Ac., L.Ac., CMT
​
 
Winter is a great time for eating nourishing foods that warm the body and support the kidneys. In Chinese medicine, the kidneys represent the essence or our body’s constitution, childhood development and the aging process. They correspond with the bones, marrow, and the brain, sexual function and fertility, and help us process stress. Nourishing the kidneys boosts mental clarity and cognitive function, helps us manage stress, and aids in development and slows the aging process to an appropriate rhythm. 
 
Foods that help with kidney function that are naturally salty and bitter in nature (no added or excess salt, please). These foods include:
Fruits and vegetables: 

• Turnips
• Celery
• Asparagus
• Chicory
• Seaweed
• Blackberries
• Mulberries
• Water chestnut

 
Grains and Legumes:

• Rye
• Oats
• Quinoa
• Amaranth
• Millet
• Barley
• Black beans
• Wheat germ

 
Lean meats, seafood, and protein:

• Chicken
• Lamb
• Trout
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Crab
• Clam
• Pork
• Tofu
• Miso
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Walnuts

 
Spices and seasonings

• Cloves
• Fennel seed
• Dried ginger
• Cinnamon

 
This is by no means a list of foods that you should narrow your diet to, but ones that you can incorporate into your diet throughout the season. It is always best to eat a variety of foods. 
 
Not sure how to incorporate these foods? Here’s some links to recipes that utilize some of these foods in the dish. Enjoy!
 
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/crispy-skin-salmon-with-miso-honey-sauce
 
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/greens-and-grains-scramble-51195250
 
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/coconut-cabbage-and-tofu-with-lemongrass-and-ginger
 
https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/big-pot-of-black-beans-9-meals-article
 
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/asian-vegetable-noodle-toss
 
In need of extra support in these winter months? Reach out and make an appointment. We are here to help!

​Settling Into Winter
by Carolyn Laney, BA, MCM, Dipl.Ac., L.Ac., CMT
 
“During the winter months all things in nature wither, hide, return home, and enter a resting period, just as lakes and rivers freeze and snow falls. This is a time when yin dominates yang.”
—Huang De Nei Jing, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine
 
In nature, winter is the coldest, darkest, stillest, quietest time of the year. It is a time of resting, restoring, and conserving our energy or yang. Going to bed early and rising with the sun, which is later in winter, is a good way to restore your yang. Care must be taken to stay warm and avoid the cold. We should be covering our bodies and avoiding excess sweating. And mental activity should be calm, reflective, and subdued. 
 
In Chinese medicine, winter corresponds to water in Chinese five-element theory. Water represents the concepts of:

• Storage, quiet, reflection, dormancy
• The deepest of our emotions, our essence, and will power
• The organs kidney and bladder, the tissue of the bones, marrow, and brain, and the sense of hearing
• The deepest yin and cold
• Emotions of fear, fright, insecurity, wisdom, intention, courage, serenity, and calmness

 
Imbalances in the water element during winter are common and tend to manifest as:

• Weakness and soreness in the low back, knees, or diminished hearing
• Infertility, poor childhood development, or premature aging
• Low stamina, low endurance, poor concentration, or lack of motivation
• Anxiety, depression, excessive fear, or insecurity
• Symptoms may worsen with over-working, and too much exercise, sexual activity or alcohol

 
Winter is a good time to nourish your body, mind, and spirit so that you may conserve your energy and be prepared for spring and all its new growth, warmth, and movement. Incorporating practices that balance the water element include:

• Eating nourishing well cooked, warming foods, especially roots vegetables, greens, and lean proteins.
• Drink warm beverages, teas, or soups.
• Make time for more rest and down time in your schedule. Try listening to restorative guided meditations for an added element of relaxation. 
• Avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, sugar or other activities that may be too stimulating.
• Daily light exercise practices of yin yoga, yoga nidra, qi gong, or slow walks. 

 
Cuddle up with some herbal tea and a book and enjoy the time of rest that winter provides. Spring will be here before you know it. With ample rest and nourishment from winter, you will be prepared for spring and all its splendor. 
 
References:
​Ni, Maoshing. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary (p. 7). Shambhala Publications.
 
Saunder, Mary. Rhythms of Change: Reclaiming your Health Using Ancient Wisdom and your Own Common Sense. Hidden Needle Press.
 

​Find the Beauty in Letting Go
by Carolyn Laney, BA, MCM, Dipl.Ac., L.Ac., CMT
 
“The trees are about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go.”
 
Autumn is upon us. Days are getting shorter. Nights are getting longer and cooler. The trees are turning color and letting go of their leaves.
 
The Chinese believe that the environment in which you live greatly influences your body, mind, and spirit. Living in harmony with the current season is one way to assure optimal health.
 
In Chinese medicine, autumn corresponds to metal in Chinese five-element theory. Metal represents many concepts, such as:

• Harvest, decline, and reduction
• Turning inward, self-reflection, and letting go
• The organs: lungs, large intestine, skin, and mucus membranes
• Dryness
• The sense of smell
• Emotions of sadness, grief, hope, and inspiration

 
Balancing our spirit and emotions along with protecting our body from the cool air and building our immune system is essential during autumn months according to the Huang Di Nei Jing, the oldest Chinese medical book.
 
But particularly the emotions of autumn can be most difficult for some to balance. Sadness and grief are more close to the surface during this time of the year. You might notice that you are more nostalgic lately. Or things in your life might be touching you in a way that might bring you to tears a little easier. This is natural and a part of the season.
 
Autumn is a time for self-reflection and letting go of habits that no longer serve us. It is a great time to be intentional with our thoughts and tune into our emotions. By letting go we are making room in our lives for other pursuits, dreams, or thoughts that haven’t come to fruition yet by creating inspiration and hope.
 
Receiving acupuncture and herbal medicine can help support and balance your emotional health through this season. Outside of the clinic, gentle practices of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation can also help regulate the mood and rejuvenate the spirit.
 
If any of this rings true for you right now, please reach out and book an appointment. We are here to support you to live in harmony with this beautiful season. 

2 Cups Boiling Water 
1/4 Cup Lavender Flowers (or more to taste)
2 Cups Cold Water 
1 Cup Ice 
1 Cup Lemon Juice 
Add in 6 Drops of Stevia  (or more to taste)
1 Lemon Sliced into Wheels or Wedges for Garnish (optional)

***Find culinary lavender at Penzeys Spices in MPLS, St. Paul or Lakeville or at thespicehouse.com.

Pour the boiling water over the lavender in a glass pitcher. Cover and allow to steep 10 minutes. Strain and discard the lavender from the water and return the lavender tea to the pitcher.  Add the cold water, ice, lemon juice and stevia to the pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves.  Chill until serving with lemon wheels for garnish.  **Note - this tea will be an unappetizing grey-brown-purple.  But don't worry.  By adding the zest of lemon juice, stevia and water, the mixture will turn a beautiful, pale pink.  We've also tried this with homegrown blossoms and it works, though the color isn't as bright.  

We Invite YOU to our Summer Charity Mixer!

We are teaming up with local non-profit The Open Door Pantry and the Eagan School District #196 for an unforgettable night of feel-good vibes! Join us for our Summer Charity Mixer on Friday, August 16th from 6:30p to 8:30p.   We will begin collecting non-perishable food items (for Open Door Pantry) and school supplies (For District #196)  starting on July 9th and our donation drive celebration will conclude on August 16th with the mixer - come and enjoy a social gathering with wine, good eats, feel-good vibes and special giveaways.  

"We are putting together this special evening as a way to give back to the kids in our community during back-to-school time. Think of it like this -- we're fueling the body (with the food drive), to power the brain (with donated school supplies), to lift the spirits of kids and families in our community," said owner, Jean Baker. 

We invite you and your friends to join in the donation drive beginning July 9th, and to our donation celebration for our 1st Annual Summer Charity Mixer on August 16th at LifeStream Family Wellness! 

To check out the list of most needed items at The Open Door Pantry - see below...
​As for school supplies, we're accepting new and unopened pencils, colored pencils, notebooks, folders, memo pads, glue sticks, glue bottles, pens, markers, calculators and pencil sharpeners.   

YOUR SUNSCREEN RECIPE FOR SUMMER SUCCESS 


INGREDIENTS:

• 10 drops lavender oil
• 1 tbsp raspberry seed oil
• 1 tbsp carrot seed oil 
• 3/4 C coconut oil
• 3-4 tbsp of Zinc Oxide
• 2 tbsp shea butter
• Glass Jar
• Wear also, one big hat :) 

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients except zinc oxide in a jar. 
2. Place a saucepan with 2 inches of water on stove over medium/low heat.
3. Place jar in saucepan and stir contents until ingredients start to melt. 
4. Once all ingredients are combined, add in zinc oxide and stir well. Store in a cool place.

***NOTE - As with any natural DIY sunscreen, reapply more frequently for greater  effectiveness.  As always, protect your skin by covering with a swimsuit cover, a large-brimmed hat and be sure to wear sunglasses.  

For More Details on Chemical Vs. Natural Sunscreen SEE HERE.