Spring Belongs to the Liver & Gallbladder
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Hey y'all! I hope this message finds you well.
Every season in Traditional Chinese Medicine has an organ pairing and Spring belongs to the liver and gallbladder.
And yes, yes…I know I’m posting this late. Please forgive me.
But better late than never because spring energy is still very much present, physically and mentally. The allergies are allergy-ing, emotions are emotional-ing, and everybody suddenly wants to “reinvent themselves” overnight.
Classic liver season behavior.
In TCM, spring is connected to the Wood element — growth, movement, expansion, direction, flexibility. Think about how nature behaves during spring. Trees stretch outward. Flowers bloom. Everything begins moving again after winter’s stillness.
That same energy is believed to happen inside of us too.
The liver in Chinese medicine is associated with the smooth flow of Qi (life force energy), while the gallbladder is associated with decision-making, courage, and action.
Which honestly explains a lot. Because spring can feel strangely emotional. You may notice:
- irritation rising faster
- restlessness
- the urge to declutter your entire life at 11pm
- frustration about situations you tolerated all winter
- random motivation spikes
- creativity returning
- wanting movement, change, softness, freedom
That I need to get my life together immediately feeling? Verrry spring coded. Hence the popular phenomenon: Spring cleaning.
TCM also associates spring with the emotion of anger/frustration — not necessarily explosive anger, but stagnation. Feeling stuck, emotionally cramped and like your spirit wants movement.
Winter lets us hide a little. Spring asks us to re-enter life.
Signs Your Body Might Be Asking for More Support
Quick disclaimer, this information is educational only, not medical advice — but in TCM, liver/gallbladder imbalance or “stagnation” is often associated with things like:
- tension in the shoulders/neck
- headaches
- PMS flare-ups
- irritability
- digestive discomfort
- eye redness and irritation
- feeling emotionally “blocked”
- low motivation followed by bursts of urgency
As someone who pays very close attention to seasonal shifts in my body, I always find it interesting how aligned this season feels with emotional processing and physical tension. Like the body is trying to unstick itself.
Things I’ve Been Trying This Season
And not in a hyper “detox, completely rebrand your life” way, but a gentle “support/ regulate your nervous system” kinda way.
Things that have helped me:
- walking/ intentional movement
- stretching before and after the gym
- eating more greens and fiber
- prioritizing hydration
- reducing heaviness (mentally, spiritually, physically) where I can
- creating again (even when it's not "good" or "perfect")
- spending less time forcing and more time flowing
- letting myself reassess things honestly
TCM often recommends green vegetables and lighter foods during spring because the season is associated with upward, fresh energy. This season has less to do with becoming a “new person” and more to do with removing what’s clogging your natural movement.
That’s the part I keep thinking about. Spring isn’t about reinvention, but circulation.
Movement. Truth. Direction. Release.
Maybe the reason spring feels emotionally loud is because things buried during winter start asking for air. And maybe healing sometimes looks less like transformation… and more like finally allowing yourself to move forward without dragging old energy behind you.
Until next time.
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