Flowing Forward: A TCM Guide to Late Spring
Late spring carries a ripeness that feels different from the first tender days of the season. Buds have blossomed, the air holds more warmth, and there's an unmistakable hum of life returning all around us. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is still a Wood season — the time of the Liver — but the energy is stronger, more outward. It's a time of steady movement, action, and clearing space for the growth you planted earlier in the year.
As we approach summer, we continue to nourish the Liver’s need for flow while keeping an eye on the Heart, which will soon become the dominant organ of the Fire season. In late spring, finding balance between doing and being is key — moving with purpose, but still honoring rest and reflection.
TO PRACTICE
Late spring invites us to move with more consistency and lightness— without rushing.
+ Gentle jogs or long walks outdoors to open the chest and support circulation
+ Twisting movements in yoga to wring out stagnation and support liver function
+ Simple breathwork like deep belly breathing to regulate rising Heart energy
+ Light stretching first thing in the morning to keep Qi moving smoothly
+ Tuning into natural cycles: sunrise and sunset rituals to harmonize your energy
TO CONSUME
Focus on foods that keep the body clear, energized, and slightly cooled as temperatures rise:
+ Lightly sautéed or steamed greens: dandelion, spinach, pea shoots
+ Small amounts of sour foods: lemon, pickled vegetables, vinegar-based dressings
+ Tender spring vegetables: asparagus, artichokes, radishes
+ Heart-supportive herbs: hawthorn berries, chrysanthemum tea
+ Continue hydrating well with herbal infusions and warm (not cold) water
Late spring is a moment of clarity before the heat of summer pulls us into even greater expansion. Now is the time to tend to your inner landscape — clearing what still feels stuck, moving your body daily, and honoring your emotions as you ready yourself for what’s to come. There’s strength in steady growth.
xx Dr. Sam