Spring is upon us, symbolising new beginnings and offering opportunities for us to see things in a new light. The Chinese believe that just as the body is nourished by eating young green plants, so too is the soul as we look at the emerging greenery surrounding us. Spring is a time for reaching into ourselves, shaking off the shackles of winter and listening to our inner voice and self-expression.

As we emerge from our winter hibernation we naturally want to stretch and reach out to feel the new energy of spring. Think about spring happening on the inside of you. What in your mind needs spring cleaning? What weeding needs to be done? What needs to be planted in order to come to fruition later in the year? What seeds did we plant last year, allowing to lie dormant over the cold wet winter and which now are ready to grow shoots for 2008? 

This is the season to support our Liver and Gallbladder. The diet should be light and ‘yang’ in energy. Try young plants, fresh greens, sprouts and cereals. Limit the salty foods that we needed over winter and heavy foods which slow down the liver and make us sluggish. Unless you suffer from IBS or are lacking energy, include some raw sprouted food in your diet for renewal and vitality. Cook foods for shorter times than in winter. Stir frys are great.  

To create springtime within try sweet and pungent foods like honey and mint tea. Remember that ‘sweet’ in the world of Chinese medicine does not mean sugar-filled! Complex carbs such as grains, legumes, seeds, carrots and sweet starchy veg are sweet. Pungent flavours include black pepper, cayenne, hot green and red peppers and ginger, although avoid these hot foods if you have migraines or hot flushes. If you feel restless or anxious try fennel, dill, caraway, coriander and cumin, ginger, cooked onion, horseradish and black peppercorns which stimulate the body. Other good springtime foods include rosemary, spearmint, garlic, basil, nutmeg, peppermint, marjoram, elderflower, radish, turnip and kohl rabi. These will help to stimulate the blood and circulate energy round the body. 

Here is a springtime story, author unknown. 

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil.

The first seed said, "I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth's crust above me... I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of Spring. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!" And so she grew.

The second seed said, "I am afraid! If I send my roots into the ground below, I don't know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts... what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe."

And so she waited.

A yard hen, scratching around for food in the early Spring ground, found the waiting seed and promptly ate it. 

In traditional storytelling style, an abrupt and sad end but it serves its purpose. So rise up and grow and feel that spring sunshine and wind on your face!