The sky is a little lighter. The air is a little warmer. The daffodils have been poking through the frozen ground. Pretty soon, the robins will be pecking for worms in the grass. The buds on the trees will grow greener. And if you're lucky, maybe you'll get to witness the first steps taken by a newly born deer.
This time of year is so special. Nature is waking up and soon will stretch outward and show off their vibrant colors. If you look really closely at the branches and the ground, you'll see the first signs.
This is also a time of year when patients notice tension, irritability, and symptoms from chronic conditions flaring up. I've noticed this trend in the 18+ years that I've been in practice. In the newsletter I released exactly a year ago, I wrote about the Stomach Qi deficient pattern that's often seen during seasonal changes, especially as we move from winter into spring. It's common for many to not feel their best during this time of year. So what can you do to feel better?
1. Rest. It's still winter, and those extra few minutes of sleep and doing less can do wonders for our overall energy. As the days get longer, it'll be easier to get up earlier and go to bed later, but while it's still darker outside it's best to use that time to rest. Rest allows your body to do many things, including supporting your immune system in fighting germs.
2. Wear a scarf. Keeping your neck warm helps the lymph nodes in your neck to stay warm. White blood cells behave better in a warmer environment, especially during a season where germs are rampant. In traditional Asian medicine, colds and upper respiratory infections are thought of as Wind Cold Invasions entering the neck. Wearing a scarp helps prevent the entrance of Wind Cold.
3. Get acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments are excellent for decompressing the nervous system from stress as well as boosting the immune system, two things that often need extra support during this time of year.
4. Get outside. Bundle up and breathe in the fresh air. Go to a park and take a look up close at the branches. Notice if you see any specs of green popping from the branch. This exploration exercise can be an excellent mindfulness practice. There's a lot of beauty to behold if you slow down and take a moment to look around.
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