The Wood Element Expresses Internally & Externally
In Tibetan Medicine the spring season, known as Chyid Du དཔྱིད་དུས་, begins with the Tibetan Lunar New Year celebration of Losar ལོ་སར་. Specific constellations rise in the sky, plants begin to spring open, growing and spreading vigorously. One hears the sound of the Cho ga ཅོ་ག་ or lark singing, and this bird is emblematic of the season.
Spring is associated with the wood element, the liver and gallbladder organs, and the sense organ of the eyes. These are some of the key factors by which the seasonal qualities of the external environment match the characteristics of our internal terrain.
The springtime seasonal pulse expresses the exuberance and vitality of the wood element. It is said that during spring our pulse quality resembles the tight, rapid chirp of the lark.
Accumulated Stagnation of Winter “Melts” and Arises
Over the winter our bodies are more sedentary and our food is heavier. The weather is cold and damp. These seasonal factors accumulate excess stagnation of cold Earth & Water elements in our system, known as Pedkan Nyepa (བད་ཀན་ཉེས་པ་). When the weather warms up and we begin to be more active in the spring, this accumulation of cold Pedkan Earth & Water “melts” just like snow and ice. It then arises and is expressed in our bodies.
This presents as the flaring of many symptoms we often see in the spring. This time of year, our office is flooded with cases of congestion, lingering wet coughs, colds, respiratory infections, indigestion, joint pains, stiffness, and pain in the body. Many people feel stagnated, heavy, and lethargic, even as the weather grows warm and inviting.
Diet and Lifestyle Guidelines for a Healthy Spring!
Tibetan Medicine offers simple guidelines for maintaining our health this season. We must support the activation of the Wood Element and clear out the accumulated Pedkan Earth & Water.
Our diet should be light and mildly cleansing. This means using foods that are bitter, astringent, and spicy. These tastes have the nature of wind and fire elements. They are light and stimulating, to help purge accumulated heaviness. It is a great season for fresh herbs, young greens, citrus, honey, beans, and other legumes. As usual, it is a great time to sip on warm water several times per day.
The classical texts of Tibetan Medicine advise us to exercise vigorously this time of year. It is a good time to use the sauna and do frequent bathing. Tibetan Medicine specifically recommends scrubbing the skin with pea flour or other astringent, abrasive scrubs. The classical texts also advise us to spend time in shady gardens, enjoying fresh flowers and fragrances.