In the Chinese Luni-Solar calendar, the beginning of the New Year, as well as the beginning of the season of Spring, started on February 4th, 2020. As many of you know, this is the year of the Yang Metal Rat. The Rat has qualities of water, making this a year with the energetic qualities of both structure and flow, or when taken together, show a need this year to allow fluidity into our normally structured lives.
In the framework of Chinese Philosophy, the Spring season is the time of growth that happens after we have gathered all the necessary resources and regenerated our deepest energies during the season of Winter. Spring is the time where we begin to emerge from the folds of inward attention to focus on achieving the ideas that we’ve incubated during the Winter. Spring also represents a time of increased physical movement, and when life speeds up from the relative stasis of the winter.
From the Chinese Medicine perspective, “harmonizing with” rather than “fighting against” the energy of the season is essential for facilitating continued or improved health in ourselves and our loved ones. I recommend allowing physical and intellectual growth and movement, daring to try rather than fearing consequences. I recommend incorporating more of the green color and an eastern direction into your life for the next 3 months, as well as foods with a sour taste to them. Furthermore, allow anger and frustration to well up within you, but let it pass, rather than holding on to these emotions.
During this time, we need nourishment that will allow us to think big and put our inspiration into action. As such, some Western foods that will help us to achieve these goals include:
Beans and Seeds: Adzuki Beans, Bean Sprouts, Lotus seeds
Dairy: Sour Cream, Unsweetened Yogurt
Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Currants, Gooseberries, Grapes, Kiwis, Lemons, Limes, Lychee, Mandarin Oranges, Mangos, Mirabelles, Oranges, Peaches, Pineapples, Plums, Pomegranates, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tomatoes
Grain: Quinoa, Spelt
Seasonings: Vinegar
Vegetable: Rhubarb
The combination of Western and Eastern medicine can be termed “Integrative Medicine”, and I find it’s use to be quite beneficial in helping my patients adapt to seasonal and life changes. For assistance with these issues, as well as other complex medical conditions, please do consider The Chen Center as an ally in your care, and consider subscribing to our newsletter for health and wellness updates.
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