Spring is wonderful.  It's time to put away your heavy sweaters and bring out your lighter fabrics and clothing colors.  (For some of you it means putting away your winter black and getting out your summer black.  You know who you are.)  Rain cleanses the earth.  Flowers start to bloom.  The days become longer.  It even has a ritualistic method of house cleaning named after it. 

In Chinese tradition, spring has several significant attributes that I address with my patients on an on-going basis throughout the season.  The liver is the organ that corresponds with spring.  Liver's corresponding element is wood.  Like wood, liver qi is expansive.  The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of qi throughout the body and is a place for blood storage and filtration.  The corresponding color for liver is green.  The corresponding emotion is anger.  That's right, anger can be stored in the liver.  It is not uncommon to have feelings of anger come to the surface during this season.  Release it.  Free your body and soul.  Make room for change.

The liver controls the sinews (tendons).  If liver blood is sufficient, the tendons will be pliable.  Since the fingernails are a by-product of sinews, if the liver is nourished, the nails will be nourished as well.  The liver opens in the eyes.  Bright, clear eyes are an indication of a healthy liver.

Spring is the time to implement change.  It is also time to be a bit self-serving.  These are some things you can do to ensure that your liver is functioning at its best:

1.  Move.  Qi moves blood so be sure to get enough exercise.  Start small if you'd like.  20 minutes a day is a good start.  Eventually you will want to move your body every day.

2.  Twist.  Twisting is one of the reasons I'm such a fan of yoga.  You actually wring out your organs when you twist.  Think of your organs as sponges.  Wring out the old blood and bring in fresh, oxygenated blood.  Your liver loves it.

3.  Eat your greens.  Green foods nourish the liver.  Kale, spinach, broccoli...take your pick.  In fact, add to my short list. 

4.  Get some rest.  Remember that the liver is a filter.  Lie down and let it do its job.

5.  Let go of anger.  Feelings of anger can and will come to the surface.  Let it go.  Make room in your soul for happier emotions and start to create a new history for yourself.

Happy Spring!  

Thank you for reading.

Tamara ZumMallen