Spring Has Already Begun in Chinese Medicine (Even If Nebraska Still Feels Like Winter)
If you live in the Midwest, February can feel like the longest month.
The holidays are over.
The temps swing up and down.
Snow and frost can still be prominent.
Seasonal depression can settle in quietly.
And yet…
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring has already begun.
On February 4th, we officially entered the first days of the solar spring calendar — and in 2026, this also marks the true energetic beginning of the Fire Horse year.
It’s subtle at first.
Not a dramatic shift.
More like…
A tiny ember under the soil.
The kind of ember that becomes a flame.
Wood Season: The Energy of Early Growth
In Chinese medicine, spring is the season of the Wood Element.
Wood is associated with:
new beginnings
growth and movement
vision and planning
the Liver and Gallbladder systems
flexibility (in body and mind)
Wood energy is what pushes up through frozen ground.
It’s the roots of the trees waking up.
It’s the moment before the bloom.
The First Signs of Spring Are Often Quiet
I was thinking the other day about my cherry bushes.
I planted them directly outside my front window so that when winter feels endless, I’ll be reminded:
The blooms always return.
The sun always comes back.
Happiness returns, too — even after a long season of heaviness.
A few years ago, I planted hundreds of crocus bulbs across the yard.
They didn’t bloom last year… but I have my fingers crossed that this spring, I’ll wake up to purple flowers everywhere.
That’s Wood season.
The promise of life underneath the surface.
Spring Detox in TCM (Without Doing Anything Extreme)
Spring is often called “detox season,” but I want to gently reframe that.
A seasonal detox doesn’t need to be a cleanse.
It doesn’t need to be harsh.
In Chinese medicine, spring is simply the season when the body naturally wants to:
lighten up
move stagnation
support liver function
wake up digestion
clear out winter heaviness
Think of it as supporting your body’s natural spring cleaning process.
Simple Ways to Support the Liver + Gallbladder This Season
Here are a few gentle, realistic practices that align with Wood season:
1. Add Something Sour
Sour is the flavor associated with spring.
Try:
lemon water
apple cider vinegar in warm water
fermented foods
citrus in salad dressings
A little goes a long way.
2. Bring in Bitter Greens (Soon)
The bitters of dark leafy greens help support liver and gallbladder pathways.
As spring approaches, look for:
arugula
dandelion greens
mustard greens
kale
wild spring foods (when available)
These are some of nature’s best seasonal allies.
3. Castor Oil Packs
Spring is an excellent time for gentle liver support, and castor oil packs are one of my favorite home rituals.
They’re grounding, calming, and supportive for:
detox pathways
hormone balance
digestion
nervous system regulation
Even once or twice a week can be powerful.
4. Small Movement = Big Medicine
Wood energy wants movement.
Not intense workouts — just flow.
Try:
walking
stretching
gentle yoga
shaking out winter stiffness
The goal is circulation, not punishment.
This Season Is for Vision and Growth
Winter is yin — inward, reflective, quiet.
Spring is yang — movement, action, becoming.
This is the season when you can begin asking:
What do I want to grow this year?
What’s ready to change?
What vision is asking to take root?
Even if it’s still cold outside…
Energetically, the shift has begun.
A Seasonal Invitation (Even If You Can’t Plant Seeds Yet)
In feng shui and seasonal living traditions, this is a beautiful time to work with intention.
Even if it’s too early to plant outdoors here in Nebraska, you can still participate in spring through small acts:
repot a houseplant
propagate a cutting
clean a windowsill
light a candle for the returning sun
notice what in you is waking up
Sometimes spring begins inside first.
A Gentle Invitation If You Want to Go Deeper
One of the reasons I love seasonal medicine so much is that it reminds us:
Your body is not separate from nature.
Your hormones, your nervous system, your cycle, your energy…
They all move in rhythms.
Spring is a season of awakening — and sometimes it helps to have gentle guidance as we transition into this new phase of growth.
If you’d like to explore this seasonal approach more deeply, I currently have two offerings available:
Root to Bloom (Free Mini Course)
A short, supportive spring reset rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotional flow, nourishment, and simple Wood season practices.
Perfect if you want to begin gently.
Harness Your Hormones (Full Course)
A deeper self-paced course that includes an entire section on:
seasonal living through the lens of TCM
how the Wood element connects to hormone harmony
cycle support that honors both modern science and ancient wisdom
If you’ve been wanting a grounded roadmap for hormone balance, you may feel really at home inside it.
The course is currently open in its early founding round.
Use code Hormone99 for $76 off through the end of March 2026.
You can explore both courses here:
→ Visit Courses & Seasonal Education
(And as always, no rush. Come when it feels like a yes.)
Spring Is Coming. Your Body Knows.
Wood season reminds us:
Growth is already happening — even if you can’t see it yet.
Like the crocus bulbs under the snow…
Your healing is still alive.
Your nervous system is still listening.
And the light is returning.
Slowly.
Surely.
If you’d like support moving into spring with your hormones, energy, or nervous system health, I offer both acupuncture care and seasonal wellness education through Full Scale Wellness.
You’re not behind.
You’re right on time.
