A Season Of Creations

Spring Rebirth

The wheel of nature returns to the beginning:
in spring time, every being awakes from slumber.
Our livers take the lead in guiding Qi energy
and nutrition in tune with the season of creation and activity.

Season of Creation

The wheel of nature returns to the beginning: in spring time, every being awakes from slumber. The humidity in the air and gradually warming temperatures results in a spate of growth and activities.
In Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Internal Canon, medical text c. 300 BC) , Spring time is where the liver is most active. Our livers take the lead in guiding Qi energy and nutrition in tune with the season of creation and activity.
As Mother Earth begins the cycle of rebirth, the rise of Yang energy makes it very easy to accumulate heat in our bodies. Our livers and eyes are the first to suffer this heatiness. The Qi energy of spring is deemed to be have pathogenic influence resulting in sensitivities and conjunctivitis.
TCM practitioner believes we should start by conditioning the livers (wood element) and nourishing the kidneys (water element) in Spring. Water begets wood – nourishing the kidneys will help the healthy functioning of livers.
The young and old are particularly susceptible to the weakness of the kidney Qi. Cloudy eyes is a sure indicator of toxicity in the body.
For Yin body types, expelling the excessive coldness in your body by suitably consuming warming ginger, garlic and chives. This will help with your running nose, wet cough, tired and aching limbs. Those with a Yang body types may try to consume chrysanthemum and mint to help expel the excessive heat in your liver.
Liver is of the wood element – a glass of water in the morning helps the liver to function well. This should help to alleviate dry coughing, irritability and dry throats.
The lungs are your body’s primary line of defence against external pathogenic invasions. They are also delicate organs. Adopt a tolerant and unhurried attitude: fretting only disturbs your breathing, interrupts the flow of Qi energy and potentially compromises your immune system.

Read more about the five-element theory in traditional Chinese medicine and achieving your Yin and Yang balance

Seasonal Recipes

TCM believes sour tasting foods retain the Qi energy in the lungs whereas spicy foods dispel it. So as a general rule, in the autumn, you should go for sour in preference to spicy foods. Here are a couple of recipes for you to try in this season.

GOJI & BLACK BEANS SOUP
Goji berries are well known for brightening the eyes. Black beans help to detox and strengthen the liver.

20g Goji Berries
30g Black Beans
300g Pork Ribs
4 ginger slices
2 spring onion chunks
2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
Salt to taste

  • Bring the goji berries, black beans and pork ribs to a roaring boil.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients except for the salt and simmer till the beans are soft and the soup is slightly thickened.
  • Add salt to taste just before serving.

SHIITAKE MUSHROOM RICE
This is a really simple but delicious recipe especially if you have an electric rice cooker.
100g rice
4-5 fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced
50g chicken breast, thinly sliced
shaoxing wine
soy sauce
oyster sauce
white pepper

  • wash the rice and add some water to barely cover. Soak for 15 mins and drain.
  • marinate the chicken when some soy sauce, shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, white pepper and a splash of sesame oil.
  • put the rice in a rice cooker or pot. Spread the mushroom and chicken evenly over the top.
  • Add water according to the rice cooker instructions. If cooking in a pot, add water to barely cover the rice.
  • Once cooked, sprinkle some coriander and a splash of shaoxing wine and put the lid back on for 5 mins.
  • Serve hot.

SPRING ROLLS
The tradition of enjoying spring rolls as the spring arrived is a long honoured one from the Tang dynasty. These spring rolls are unlike the deep fried variety. It is more like a wrap with bamboo shoots, chives, bean sprouts and spinach (all full of the Yang energy of growth). The julienned vegetables are wrapped in a spring roll wrapper with a dipping sauce of light soy and vinegar. The vinegar also helps to restrain the Yang energy. This wholemeal brown spring roll wrappers give the rolls a much fresher taste and chewy texture.
230g Strong Brown Flour
70g Wholemeal flour
1 tsp instant yeast
½ tsp salt
190ml warm water
oil for brushing

  • Sift the flours and mix in the yeast
  • Add the salt and then the water.
  • Knead into a dough for 7-8 mins.
  • Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 30 mins.
  • Give the dough a good knead and divide into 16 portions.
  • Roll each portion till 9″ circles and brush with a little oil and dry toast it in a frying pan till golden brown.

Healing Techniques

Here are a few acupuncture points you can give some TLCs for a more comfortable spring.

BRIGHTENING YOUR EYES

  • Massaging the acupuncture point “Si Bai” (四白穴) that is on your face just below each eye where you can feel the edge of your eye socket. This is a key acupuncture point for your kidneys.
  • Massaging this acupuncture point helps to bring Qi energy from the kidneys to the eyes.
  • Try massaging it for 2-3 minutes daily helps to relieve dark circles and improves your short-sightedness. 

TAKING IN SUN’s YANG ENERGY

  • Try to catch some warm spring sun on your back.
  • Our back is the “yin” side of our body so giving it access to the lovely warm spring sun allows it to absorb the Sun’s yang energy.

 

TLCS FOR THE EYES

  • Ancient Chinese care for their eyes by rubbing their hands till warm and then put each palm over each eye.
  • Try it several times a day to help alleviate tiredness.

IMPROVING METABOLISM

  • Roll a small wooden rod between your foot and the ground while supporting yourself on the other foot.
  • This stimulates the various acupuncture points on one’s foot which helps to regulates one’s digestive tract and improves one’s metabolism of cholesterol.

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