Welcome to Spring! We have moved into the phase after Winter, nourishing ourselves through the colder months, transferring from the Water (shui 水) phase into Wood (mu 木). The absolute Yin of the grounding and slower Water phase has begun to transform into Yang, warming the Earth to release new life. This is the power of Wood, the power of birth (sheng 生).
"[Wood] and the Liver are manifestations of strength and the great and visible impulse of life." Larre and Rocha de la Vallée, 1999
This can be seen in Spring as the Earth is livened by the new sprouting of plants and blossoms, and charged by the energy of growth and expansion.
The climate for Wood is Wind (feng 風). Wind carries the pollen to fertilise the flowers and fill the air with the scents of new florals. Although wonderful for the plants, it can be quite the opposite for some. Experiencing hay fever or sinus irritation is common with the change of season and the coming of Wind. Other times the Wind can help external pathogenic Cold, Dampness, Heat or Dryness enter the body, causing acute conditions like the common cold or flu. These are often carried into Spring from Winter in those with weak Wei-Qi (defensive energy).
The taste for Wood is sour (suan 酸), which in Chinese Herbal Medicine has an astringent effect. Sour flavoured herbs and food help gather and collect stagnated Qi (气, pronounced 'chi'), Blood (xue 血) or Fluids (jin ye 津液), as well as having firming and astringent actions. The sour taste guides the herbs to the Liver and Gallbladder, but also aids in cooling the body and generating Yin and Fluids. As green (qing 青) is the colour of Wood, green leafy plants along with sour foods are great for harmonising or nourishing the Wood phase in our bodies. Below are some foods that resonate with the phase of Wood:
Spinach, kale, kelp, nori, roquette, basil, beetroot (leaves and bulb), cabbage, celery, fennel, leeks and scallions.
Plums, peaches, grapefruit, lemon, green apples, gooseberries, olives, coconut milk, vinegar or fermented rice drink
Beef or chicken liver
Bay leaves, black pepper, garlic, ginger and rosemary
Eating with the season is always important, particularly in the prevention of disease. Eating foods that resonate with the Wood phase and Spring will allow the Qi to flow freely through the body and the digestion and emotions to move smoothly.
The sound of Wood is shouting (hu 呼), which is caused by an upward flow of Qi giving the voice the power and volume to be heard. To shout is to indicate assertiveness and one's position of empowerment, something that is useful in certain situations. However, to be short and abrupt, or assert oneself in a passive environment reveals a possible imbalance in the Wood phase or its relations. A less obvious imbalance is when the Qi fails to rise sufficiently to produce a 'shout' in a time when one must assert themselves. People who are often spoken over and left invisible in a room may have Wood imbalances just like the people with more domineering or irrational personalities.
The sound of shouting resonates with the emotion of the Wood phase, anger (nu 怒). Anger is another force of rising Qi, felt in the quick rush of anger, or if imbalanced, rage. Although anger is commonly thought of as a negative emotion and one that should be tempered, it is an important emotion in bringing about change. The powerful expression of Yang in the rising of Qi in anger, is similar to the rising Yang when a new seedling bursts through the Earth.
Anger is not just being mad or angry with someone, but umbrellas emotions like frustration, irritability, rage and feelings of apathy or resignation.
For some, anger is a main aspect of their pathologies and if chronic, can cause disharmonies in the movement of Qi and consequently the Blood. These hidden feelings of frustration, resentment or bitterness may be so painful or difficult to express rationally in some people, so they avoid feeling them. Keeping oneself busy and withdrawing from others, or turning to alcohol or drugs are a common way for people to avoid or dull the pain of their emotions. Unfortunately drugs and alcohol damage the Liver and Gallbladder causing a vicious cycle and fuels the anger with toxic heat and Yang.
The orifice/sense of Wood are the eyes (mu 目), and the secretion the tears. The Liver opens into the eyes giving sight, both physical and metaphysical. People with diminished eyesight (myopia, floaters, declining vision) or the inability to see where they are going in life may have a disharmony in the Wood phase. Although the tears are generally related to the emotion of sadness and grief, they can also be the overflow of an internal build up of anger or frustration. Frequent outbursts of tears at inappropriate times may be a sign of unexpressed anger or frustration.
The Liver and Wood nourish and generate the tendons and ligaments (jin 筋). The ease in moving the body comes from good nourishment of the tendons and ligaments by the Blood. Ligaments that are too flaccid or tense may be a result from poor Blood flow and malnourishment to the area. As the Liver stores the Blood, it is responsible for releasing and sending Blood to the ligaments and tendons when the body is in motion. If the Liver is in disharmony and the Blood is not released or slow to be released, the body may feel tight, stiff and movements are no long smooth and possibly painful.
The Blood is also important in nourishing and moistening the nails. The Wood phase and Liver generate the nails by ensuring proper Blood flow and nourishment meet the extremities of the body. Brittle, dry, rigid or soft nails may indicate a disharmony in the Wood phase of the body. Some people bite their nails due to habit or in stressful times, this can also be an indication of a Wood disharmony.
The Wood phase aids us in having the flexibility to reach our destinies. The organs that resonate with the Wood phase are the Liver (Yin organ) and Gallbladder (Yang organ). They are in charge of helping you make the right decisions to keep you on your true path, and to help you overcome the obstacles you meet along the way.
If any of the disharmonies mentioned above relate to you, book an appointment online, or call me to find out how Chinese Medicine could help you.
Hicks, A., Hicks, J., & Mole, P. (2011). Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture. 2nd Edition. Churchill Livingstone: Edinburgh.
Kaptchuk, T. J. (2000). Chinese Medicine: The Web That Has No Weaver. Rider: London.
Ross, J. (1985). Zang Fu: The Organ Systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Churchill Livingstone: Edinburgh
Sally Taylor
BASc(Chinese Medicine), BHSc(Human Biology)
Eingana Traditional Chinese Medicine
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