Seasonal Nodes : Start of Spring
While westerners are accustomed to placing the beginning of Spring in March, the Chinese calendar marks time more by relative daylight. As the days are now getting longer, we are in the time of everything waking from Winter’s hibernation. The darkest and longest nights are now 6 weeks behind us, and in only another 6 weeks we will be at the Equinox – half way to when the days will get shorter again.
The Chinese use both a lunar and a solar calendar to mark time, and because of this there are two dates that are considered the beginning of Spring. One is called Li Chun – the “Beginning of Spring,” which is one of the twenty four seasonal nodes. The solar beginning of Spring happens every year February 4th or 5th, and this year it started last Tuesday (February 4th). The other beginning of Spring is the lunar, also known as Chun Jie, the Spring Festival. This day is the Chinese Lunar New Year, and it falls on the second new moon following the Winter Solstice.
This time of year the Yang influences are growing in the natural world. As mentioned already, we are only about 6 weeks away from the Vernal Equinox, where we have more equal day and night. Even with cooler weather lingering this week the days are getting longer. Here in Southeastern PA, there is a dramatic increase in songbird activity in the mornings. This increased activity in the natural world is also reflected in the names of the shorter 5 day segments (the 72 Material Manifestations of the year) that make up Beginning of Spring –The East Wind Liberates From Icy Shackles, Hibernating Insects Begin to Stir, and Fish Rise Up to the Ice.
Beginning of Spring is the time of year for all new beginnings. It is also time to continue growing the ever-expanding Yang in our bodies so as to mimic the expanding Yang in the natural world. One of the basic health exercise recommendations for Beginning of Spring is to frequently comb the hair (or head if there is no hair). In Chinese, this is called Shu Fa, or “combing therapy.” Combing therapy has been around since at least the Sui dynasty.
To apply Combing Therapy comb the hair (or scalp) daily, 100 times each sitting. This can be done either in the morning upon waking or in the evening before bed, and the traditional recommendation is to use a comb of either bone or wood. That said, simply combing with the fingers is even more effective since the fingers are living and contain Qi, which bone and wood do not. This is such a simple exercise that anyone can be taught to do it.
Combing has several functions. By stimulating the head we are stimulating the top of the body, meaning the most Yang area of the body. Since Spring is a time of Yang growth and expansion, stimulating the Yang area of the body is appropriate. Gently working the surface of the body also stimulates Wei Qi movement in the head and channels of the head. This in turn helps expel wind, and avoiding wind is one of the basic “avoids” for the Beginning of Spring. Furthermore, the scalp is a microsystem of the entire body, so stimulating the channels on the scalp mobilizes Qi and Blood in the entire body.
Spring is the time associated with the Wood phase and the Liver, and the Liver is a Yang viscera (with Heart being the other Yang viscera). A traditional saying for Beginning of Spring is - "Nourish the Liver means following the timing of Heaven, expel and rid yourself of disease and protect your health." Diet recommendations at the Beginning of Spring are designed to help and nourish Liver.
As a general rule this is the time to consume foods that help maintain normal Liver function, especially the Yang of Liver. Since the Liver governs free coursing, eating mildly acrid and warm foods will support this function. For example, appropriate foods this time of year include scallions, leeks, chives, cilantro, and garlic. Here is another phrase for this time of year: “Eat a lot of leeks and pork to nourish and protect the Liver yang and develop the nature of birth.” A strong recommendation of eating beef stewed with garlic and or ginger is most excellent for warming and strengthening of the Liver which is appropriate now for the next 2 weeks. Chronic Liver Fire or excessive Yang is on the rise everywhere. This is the time to consume red dates, because this week is the start of Spring in the Chinese calendar. Red dates nourish Liver blood, and since the Spring is the season of Wood, it is time to nourish the Liver.A traditional Beginning of Spring drink in the morning and evening is a gentle brew of Artemesia Tea. This formula benefits qi, generates fluids, and protects the Liver. The sound for Spring/Wood is “shout”, which helps remove Excessive liver fire and free the qi. I shout 2x a day in a private area to release any excessive Yang and clear the channels- it feels good and i always feel energized and refreshed after this exercise!
One more traditional dish for Beginning of Spring is Pork Bone Red Date Soup. Yes, even before bone broth became the latest health trend here in the US, it was considered an important food for health the world around. This dish can be taken daily; it builds blood, warms the interior without being too warming or drying, and can be taken both to prevent and treat colds. One last note: Continue to protect your ears and throat from wind/damp as well as extra time spent napping, resting, sleeping and stretching.
Enjoy the very last phases of hibernation!