Living in Attunement with the Seasons: Preparing Your Body for Spring With Tonic Herbs

A change in seasons from winter to spring is more than just a time for cleaning all the nooks and crannies of your home and tidying up your outdoor spaces. According to Taoist tonic herbalism, eating in attunement with the seasons can support your body toward longevity, vitality and vigor. Each season is associated with specific organs to nourish to optimize your health.

The Organs of Spring: The Liver and Gallbladder 

In Herbalism, the organs of spring are the liver and gallbladder. By eating the foods that support  these organs, we can invite more healing energy into our bodies. 

The Role of the Liver in Tonic Herbalism and Signs it May Need Extra Support 

The liver is a Yin organ responsible for the flow of energy and blood throughout the body. While  the Liver regulates detoxification, it is responsible for several hundred other separate and  distinct functions! You need your Liver to live!  

In Chinese medicine the Liver is dubbed the organ of 100 dis-eases – shedding light on how  important proper liver function dictates optimal health. We do not live in a world that our great  grandparents grew up in – where now in 2021 we are faced increased pollution, higher amounts  of chemical additives/fragrances in our food/environments, longer work hours, more ‘blue’ light  spectrum and increase amounts of stress – which ALL burden our poor little Liver.  

When the liver isn’t functioning optimally, some of the first signs of deficiency are manifested in  secondary organs affected by liver health: 

  • Stiff and sore tendons

  • Muscles and joint pain (overall stiffness)

  • Brittle, dry, cracked nails

  • Weak/poor eyesight, changes in vision

  • Problems with waking at night

  • Digestive issues such as reflux and indigestion symptoms 

Emotional signs the liver may need more support could include feelings of: 

  • Anger

  • Resentment

  • Depression

  • Frustration

  • Irritability

  • Bittnerness

Your Gallbladder and its Connection to Your Emotional Health

The gallbladder, a Yang organ, works in partnership with the liver by aiding in bile secretion and detoxification as well as supporting the digestion of fats.

If the flow of bile becomes stagnated (slowed or blocked), this is often manifested by changes to our emotions related to Qi (pronounced “chi”) energy. These feelings may show up as indicators:

  • Feeling unable to cope / lacking courage

  • Struggling to find motivation

  • Low initiative

Though emotional signs tend to precede physical complaints associated with a gallbladder in need of support, there are a few physical signs we look for to identify by as well:

  • Belching

  • Vomiting/regurgitation

  • Hiccups

  • Gallstones

  • Bloating/constipation/IBS

For centuries foods have been used as ‘medicines’ to strengthen, tonify, detoxify, and purify both the body (including the liver and gallbladder) and mind. Some of our most important foods come to us in the form of edible/preparable fungi and herbs.

Three amazing Herbs for Spring Cleaning Your Body Gently and Naturally

  • Liver Life 5 Mushroom Blend

  • American Schizandra Powder

  • Wild Sea Buckthorn Fruit Powder

Liver Life 5 Mushroom Blend

One of our top go-to’s for spring seasonal eating is New Earth Organics Liver Life 5 Mushroom Blend. It’s a synergistic blend of Turkey Tail, Reishi, Shiitake, Mesima and Poria Cocos mushrooms.

The gentle yet powerful nature of these important mushrooms help regulate overall liver and  immune function while attaining both coherence and harmony within. Medicinal mushrooms are  one of our greatest allies in the modern-day world. They are gentle yet effective in action as the majority of their components (polysaccharides) make YOUR body work better – allowing our  own body systems to get a software upgrade to the latest iOS of health so to speak! They truly  are a medicinal food source that I encourage you to embrace. You can explore the world of  Fungi through medicinal mushrooms powders (that can be added to your favourite blender drink for example), or even pick up some organic culinary mushrooms from your local organic grocer – they are ALL medicinal in activity - making them the ultimate safe and gentle tonic food. 

American Schizandra Berry Powder 

Known and the quintessence of Chinese Tonic Herbalism, Schizandra, also known as ‘Wu Wei  Zi’ (Five Flavour Fruit), has been highly revered since the dawn of Chinese civilization for its  amazing ability to develop and protect the primary energies of life.  

Containing the essence (flavours) of all five elemental energies (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal,  Water), Schizandra acts to deeply nurture these elements along with all of the ‘Three  Treasures.’ Schizandra enters all 12 meridians helping benefit all organs of the body- a rare feat  for any herb indeed- earning its place as one of the top Superior Super tonic herbs.  

One of the premiere tonic herbs for the ‘mind’ with a ‘Shen stabilizing’ activity, Schizandra  brings balance and calmness to the nervous system while enhancing the ability to concentrate  and focus. 

Traditionally Schizandra has also been shown to clear and beautify the skin, strengthen and  protect the liver (Phase I & II Detoxification), nurture the kidney and restore sexual depletion  while tonifying the body.  

Our American-grown Schizandra comes from some of the finest highly mineralized nutrient rich  soil in the world. Picked at peak maturity and flash frozen right in the field after harvest to retain  its important flavour profile, phytochemistry and pristine energetic signature as you would find in  

FRESH berries – it’s gentle proprietary drying process works to both preserve and enhance all  of the amazing attributes of this powerful tonic herb. 

Wild Sea Buckthorn Fruit Powder 

The ‘Holy Fruit of the Himalayas’ - Sea Buckthorn fruit, leaves and bark have been used as food  and medicine by both humans and animals for over 1,200 years.  

Although mostly known for its fatty acids and Omega 7 content (for skin, hair and nails), Sea  Buckthorn is dubbed “nature’s most balanced fruit” with a rich array of Carotenoids, Flavonoids,  Phenols, Terpenes, 20 mineral cofactors & 5-HT. 

This is wonderful and nutritive spring tonic herb as its sour nature helps to cleanse the liver of  stagnant buildup that can accumulate during the winter. Similar to lemon water in action – it can  act as a gentle ‘squeeze’ to the liver emulsifying buildup and tonifying the livers immense  number of functions.  

Wildcrafted from Tibet, our whole freeze-dried fruit powder captures the nutrition you would find  in fresh Sea Buckthorn fruit while allowing the convenience you would find in any other dried  superfood powder. 

We hope you enjoy these tonic herbs as much as we do and are empowered to  experience what the gentle force of food can do for you! Here are 3 easy recipes to get  you started!

Derek Fleming, Master Herbalist

-New Earth Organics

Brendan Klatt