April 5th, 2011. "Clear and Bright ", the 5th small Spring season arrives

      "Clear and Bright"(Qing Ming in Chinese Pin Yin) is the 5th Spring season and the 2nd warm season of the year. Just like its name, this season is bright and clear, the gloomy feeling from winter has left us, key is blue and earth is awaking, trees and even some flowers start to bloom, and the temperature will continue rising. And this is the golden time for farmers to plant new seeds, and for people to plant new trees.


      As both the "heaven energy" (temperature) and "earth energy"(rising energy) is at a new level, we people fit in as well. By this season, the spring rising energy has reached a very high level, and you may notice there are more angry people around you. This is the result of extreme high liver energy. Liver is considered as "wood"(tree) in the 5-element system, and "wood" feeds "fire", which is the heart. The last thing we want in this season is the "double-fire" of liver and heart, because this can cause high blood pressure, and for those who are already dealing with high blood pressure this will be the risky time.


      Good news is, if there is YIN, then there must be YANG to balance it. If we know what may cause trouble, there will be solutions. The term "high blood pressure" or "hypertension" is one of the most used terms in our life. We all know the symptoms and possible damages it can cause to the body. But according to TCM, the cause of hypertension varies. The pathology is comprehensive. Therefore in order to treat it effectively, we must figure out the closest cause first. The general reasons for hypertension include aging, emotion imbalance, long term energy over-spending, and wrong diet. And common hypertension types include:

1. Low in Yin energy causing weak-hyper Yang energy: Headache, dizziness, tinnitus，blurry vision, insomnia or dreamy, sore lower back and knees, red face, numbness. This is usually caused by chronic emotional stress and imbalanced diet. Work on balancing and easing the emotional condition and use Chrysanthemum tea as simple food remedy.
2. Yin energy weakened in Liver and Kidney: Dizziness with blurry vision, dry eyes, tinnitus or deafness, sore and weak lower back and knees, heels pain. This is usually caused by aging and energy overspent. Use honey as simple food remedy.
3. Low in both Yin and Yang energy: Vertigo, pale and dull face, heat rush, short-breathed, sore and weak lower back and knees，frequent micturition during sleep or retain fluid (water swollen). 

Therefore TCM does not support the idea of depending on medications. Instead, use the medication for temporary or emergency conditions to earn more time and opportunities to treat the root causes. The treatment for hypertension must be comprehensive, which should not only include physical manipulation but also emotional adjustments. TCM believes that emotions play big roles in the cause of hypertension. This can be verified as the blood pressure rises fast when people are experiencing extreme emotions, such as anger, happiness,fear or sadness. Therefore besides necessary medical treatments, adjusting the emotional condition is the other kind of essential treatment. But this has to be done by the patients themselves, under proper instructions by the therapists of course. Tai Chi or Qi Gong is always the first choices for inner energy balancing exercises. If doing regular exercises, choose mild ones like jogging or walking. Avoid intense competitive sports to prevent over-excited emotions. Avoid weight lifting to prevent possible risks from breath-holding. Try to develop a steady, regular and mild eating pattern, no devouring (in any sense).


      The name "Clear and Bright" (Qing Ming) also refers to the traditional Chinese Qing Ming Festival, or "All souls day".  This is the time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it is a period to honor and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival. This festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their ancestors. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is, usually 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. In some area it may last one month long. As the rising warm air meets the cold air more often, there will also be some raining or misty days during the "clear and bright". The sentimental people walk in the light rain toward cemetery to see their long-lost loved ones, this makes another typical "Qing Ming" picture. As the famous Chinese poem said:

Drizzling rain falls like tears on the Qing Ming Mourning Day;

The mourners' heart is breaking on their way.

Where can a winehouse be found to drown the sadness?

A cowherd points to Almond Flower Village in the distance.

      Interestingly, several things people do the most during the season and festival benefit the health as well. One is kowtow, meaning you kneel and bow so low as to have your head touching the ground. This is the act of deep respect. Meanwhile this movement allows you to move many joints and muscles in your body that you usually do not exercise. This movement is also a "energy-directing" exercise of Taoist Qi Gong, It's proven to increase the energy and blood flow in the body to prevent angiosclerosis, hypertension and stroke. However, this works the best as preventive exercise and if you already have hypertension this may NOT be the best move for you. The other one, believe or not, is sobbing, or crying. If I mention the word "catharsis" then this may seem to make more sense to you.  Crying is believed to be a great method of releasing the "trapped" liver energy as TCM believes liver is connected with eyes and tear. It can be considered as detoxing, especially liver toxin. For those who are under lots of pressure everyday, man or woman, crying can be a very good way for you to release the tension and prevent any further blockage in the body. If you are lucky enough to have some very understanding family member, friends or even therapists around you, they are your best support.

      As the universe is getting "clear and bright", accept the universal energy and make yourself clear and bright as well.