Spring is on its way. The bulbs are coming up, the buds are swelling on the trees and shrubs and the sun is higher in the sky. At this time of year it is possible to feel the energetic change in season very clearly. If you go for a walk you can see that the birds and animals are changing their behaviour. They were quiet in the winter and reserved their energy. As spring approaches they liven up. They build nests. They get frisky! They are in tune with the seasonal shift. Human beings are part of nature too and also should live in harmony with the seasons.Unfortunately few of us do.
It is not really possible to slow our lives down in the cold dark days of winter and reserve our energy for the spring – though this is what most animals of our size would do in a temperate climate zone. Hibernation does not fit in well with modern life styles. Most employers would take a dim view. When Spring comes we feel it like any other creature – we are part of nature. The problem is that many of us have been working hard through the winter when we should have been resting. We have artificial light. We have air-freighted food. We have stress and deadlines and too much coffee at work. People do not always make the seasonal adjustment well.
In my acupuncture practice I find that many of my patients feel a little ropey at this time of year. They often say they feel a bit 'unbalanced' in the early spring. This is often reflected in their pulses.. If acupuncture has helped a person in the past it worked by helping to restore the balance of qi in their body. Even if a person is feeling well it can be a good idea to come in for a 'tune up' when the seasons change to protect this balance. In traditional Chinese medicine it is always considered wise to catch imbalance quickly and to prevent it getting more severe.