This year the weather in northern New Jersey has been slightly cooler than usual, but honestly to me this is refreshing knowing that the real heat and humidity of summer are just around the corner. We are coming upon the transition times between Spring and Summer, but I’m happy to have Spring a bit longer.
Hoopoe
This blog post is actually coming out late by almost a week, as last Friday, April 19th, we started the Grain Rain (Gu Yu 穀雨) seasonal node. The name of this seasonal node refers to precipitation that feeds the grains and other plants readying them for harvest, allowing them to grow to their fullest. While this week hasn’t had much rain here, the last few weeks where I am have seem some decent rainfall. The three smaller segments of the node are Ping shi sheng 萍始生 (Duckweed Begins to Grow), Mingjiu fu qi yu 鳴鳩拂其羽 (Cockoos Flutter Their Wings), and Daisheng jiang yu sang 戴勝降于 (Hoopoes Land on Mulberry Trees) – all images of early plant growth or increased bird activity.
Grain Rain is actually the last seasonal node of Spring since early May marks the beginning of Summer in the Chinese calendar. In only about 2 months the days start getting shorter again – so get out and enjoy the sunshine! Grain Rain is also the 6th step of the 24 seasonal nodes thus corresponding roughly to the Chen (辰) watch of the day (7-9am). It is the time of transition from Spring to Summer correlating to the Soil (i.e., Earth) phase; the Soil phase represents the transition between seasons. Thus, Gu Yu is the time of year associated with the Stomach channel. The general movement of Spring is the movement of Liver-Wood, but the Soil phase is also in charge of movement and transformation. Because of this, during Grain Rain we need to ensure that Qi and Blood are moving smoothly. Watch for signs of Qi stagnation in yourself and in your patients. This is why a good basic recommendation for this time of year is performing regular self-massage to ensure smooth circulation of Qi and Blood in the body.
One of the easiest points to massage for the average person is the collection of points known as the Shi Xuan 十宣穴. These points are located one at the tip of every finger and every toe. The word “Shi” means 10 – there is a point on each finger and toe adding up to 10 total. The word “Xuan” means to spread or diffuse. Since all the channels of the body connect to the fingers and toes, these points together spread or move all the Qi in all the channels of the body, and can be massaged as a general way to prevent and treat stagnation in the channels. To massage simply squeeze and rub the tip of each finger and toe in succession. Repeat throughout the day, but preferably at least once each morning and once each evening.
As the weather does get a bit sunnier and warmer it is good to increase outside activity – consider walking or gardening. However, since Spring is a time of temperature ups and downs, be careful to dress appropriately as dictated by each day. This is also allergy season, for which I suggest using Tung’s Mu (木穴; 11.17) point. Located on the palmar surface of the proximal digit of the first finger, this point is also call the common cold point of the hand (手感冒穴). Also because of the ups and downs we’re still seeing quite a bit of upper respiratory infections around here (including COVID since it isn’t completely gone). Be sure to wash hands, and mask when feeling sick or around patients presenting with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.
Getting back to the idea of stagnation, it is vital that during Grain Rain we prevent stagnation in the Stomach (since this is the time of Stomach channel). With acupuncture treatment this means making frequent use of Men Jin (門金穴; 66.05), the Tung point overlapping the Shu-stream point of the Stomach channel. It is also important to avoid overeating or overdrinking, and the overconsumption of oily and greasy foods.
During Grain Rain start eating lighter and easier to digest items and in-season vegetables such as asparagus. There are also a host of other early blooming plants that are just fantastic seasonal food. In Japan, this is the time for bamboo shoots. Known as Takenoko (竹の子) in Japanese, they are sweet and slightly bitter. Their temperature is cold and they enter the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine. Thus, they can nourish fluids to treat dryness of the Lungs or intestines.
There are also plenty of lesser known seasonal foods local to the western world. In the Northeastern United States we are at the tail end of fiddlehead season. Fiddleheads are curled fern fronds that have a wonderful fresh flavor similar to asparagus. In Japan and China, bracken (Japanese: こごみ; Chinese: 蕨菜), another type of fern, are also eaten as local fiddleheads there. We cooked some last night in pesto with scallops and they were fantastic! Another seasonal food I’ve recently discovered is magnolia blossoms - the beautiful petals can be quick pickled (we are going to do this tonight). I’ll report back on their flavor later but I’ve heard they are gingery, meaning slightly acrid. Last are ramps, a tasty cousin of the leek, onion and garlic plants. Ramps are native to the Appalachian Mountains, north into Canada, west into Missouri and Minnesota and south to North Carolina and Tennessee. As an Allium, ramps are slightly warming, acrid and sweet – meaning they’re perfect for moving Qi in the Stomach and Liver.
Other foods to emphasize are those that boost Qi and Blood, and gently strengthen the Spleen and Stomach; the Yang of the Spleen/Stomach is still fragile now, especially since Liver-Wood can over-control Earth. These foods include rice or rice congee, Bian Dou, yams, nagaimo (i.e., Shan Yao), peanuts, and cherries (a slightly warming fruit). If you didn’t know, this is also egg season. Yes… Eggs have a season! Most chickens naturally lay eggs only when day length is about 10 hours or more (commercially grown eggs are available because farmers trick chickens with strong artificial lighting year round). One of my favorite early spring recipes is steamed asparagus with scrambled eggs – delicious and light, and good for you too!
I hope everyone is staying healthy and having a great Spring.