Living in Harmony with Energetic Spring
Mar 26, 2026
“Adapting itself to obstacles and bending around them, Wood in the earth grows upward without haste and without rest. Thus too the superior man is devoted in the character and never pauses in his progress.” – Nei Jing (475-221 B.C.)
We still are experiencing the remnants of the Water energy of Winter so though traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) says we have entered the energetic season of Spring, the new energy of the Wood element, as of February 5, it’s a bit challenging to think Spring right now, but let’s give it a whirl!
As we’ve said, in TCM the element represented by Spring is Wood. To live in balance with the 5-Element Theory of TCM and indeed, to live in balance with nature of which we are an inherent part, we’ll want to embrace the following attributes, characteristics and specific organ activity for the Wood element and Spring season.
If you are affected by liver problems (the organs associated with Spring are liver and gall bladder), it’s a sign your body may be suffering from insufficient or lack of Wood chi. You can strengthen your Wood chi by consuming more Wood element foods which tend to be sour in taste (sour is the taste for the Wood element). Sour foods facilitate clearing an overburdened liver.
Wood element foods act as astringents and help the blood to circulate, your energy to flow, and emotions to move more elegantly through you. Eating fresh greens during this season naturally cleanses the body of physical and emotional impediments.
Wood element foods are cooling and contracting and prevent leakage of body fluids. If you’ve been indulging in a rich, greasy diet, you’ll want to switch to the Wood element foods at this time.
Check out column two for an exhaustive list of foods for Wood.
Additionally, there are some herbs and spices we can use in springtime food prep that have a sour taste: dill, sour jujube fruit, and hawthorn berry.
Certain pungent and sweet foods such as scallion, garlic, cinnamon, fennel and ginger tend to have an expansive, rising quality. They are very nice to add to springtime meals and will help you resist colds and allergies.
As always, avoid or reduce consumption of foods and drinks that have little redeeming value for the body such as deep fried foods, oil, fat (aside from the more beneficial oils and fat content derived from olive, avocado and coconut), salty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, and sweets.
While we slow cooked our food in Winter by preparing stews and hearty soups, best cooking methods for the Spring energetic season are sauté, stir fry, light simmer, blanch, quick boil, pickle, and marinate.
At this time of year, our diet should be the lightest to enable our systems to cleanse and strengthen the body, mind and spirit.
Check out the Wood Element Vital Skincare Line to address imbalances in the skin such as oiliness, blackheads, hyper-pigmentation, and issues of vital energy circulation.
Best Foods for Wood Element (in alphabetical order)
- adzuki beans
- almonds
- baby spinach
- barley
- black cherry
- black currant
- blackberry
- celery
- cheese
- chicken
- chives
- cod
- collard greens
- grapefruit
- green beans
- green cabbage
- green tea
- halibut
- hazelnuts
- herring
- leafy greens
- lemon
- lettuce
- lime
- liver
- long string beans
- napa cabbage
- nuts
- oats
- olives
- peas
- pickles
- pineapple
- plums
- raspberry
- rose hips
- rye
- sauerkraut
- scallions
- sour grapes
- sour green apples
- sour green star fruit
- sourdough
- spinach
- sprouts
- tomatoes
- vinegar
- walnuts
- wheat
- yogurt
Though the weather may still feel like Winter because of the remnants of the Water energy of Winter according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the new energy of Wood since February 5, is well into the energetic season of Spring.
In TCM, the element represented by Spring is Wood. To live in balance with the 5-Element Theory of TCM and indeed, to live in balance with nature of which we are an inherent part, we’ll want to embrace the following attributes, characteristics and specific organ activity for the Wood element and Spring season.
The color for the Wood element is green. Bring green into your life in all sorts of ways–in your diet and even in your home decor.
Liver and gall bladder are the organs associated with the Wood element. If you have liver or gall bladder issues and/or you have a Wood element imbalance, incorporate more of what is outlined in this post and in the post to follow into your daily life.
Indications of too much Wood chi, a Wood imbalance, include stiff muscles and joints, liver troubles, sallow or yellowish skin, panic attacks, hysteria, neck pain, and stroke. Emotion-oriented displays of Wood imbalance include anger, resentment, bitterness, lack of compassion, erratic behavior, low self-esteem, shouting, complaining, arguing, violence, abuse, incessant arguing. These indicate strong Wood imbalance.
In addition to food, Wood element fragrances like lavender, orange, citrus, grapefruit, and chamomile can be used and enjoyed to uplift and strengthen Wood chi and help create more balance in Wood.
The green gemstones of green jade, emerald, and green opal may assist the flow of Wood chi.
TCM-advised sound and breathing exercises for each element also help to bring imbalance to balance.
For Wood, the healing sound is easy. It’s a long “Shhhh” – as in telling someone to be quiet. On the exhale of a deep breath, this sound will help to release anger and frustration. It can help to soften the person suffering with anger and at the same time assist to quell ailments in the liver and gall bladder.
The five element healing sounds are actually breathing exercises that are best done every day at least five times a week, taking at least six deep breaths, the deeper the better. It is most beneficial to do the exercises outdoors where chi is fresh, preferably in the morning, with the sun shining on you from the East but they can most definitely be done indoors too.
You will want to inhale through your nose until your abdomen is full of fresh air and then exhale out through the mouth making the soft healing sound Shhhh. On the inhale, imagine positive chi entering your body and cleansing the negative chi and ailments in your body. On the exhale, imagine pushing out the negative chi and ailments.
It is important to practice mindfulness and meditation at this time of year to bring clarity of vision, because the liver governs the health of the eyes and the clarity received applies both literally and figuratively.
The time is energetic Spring! Rise early with the sun and take brisk walks. Live in harmony with Spring!
Check out PHYTO5’s Wood element skincare line to address imbalance in the skin such as oiliness, blackheads, hyper-pigmentation, and issues of vital energy circulation.
Sources:
Nguyen, Phil N. Feng Shui for the Curious and Serious. New Jersey: Xlibris Corporation, 2008. Print.
Thunderhawk, Denise, L. Ac. The 5-Element Guide to Healing with Whole Foods. N.p.: Lulu, 2016. Print.
