Seasonal Wellness Tips for Jing Zhe - Awakening of Insects

Jing Zhe is the third of 24 solar terms that make up the ancient Chinese agricultural calendar. It begins between March 5th and March 7th each year.

The name Jing Zhe is usually translated as "Awakening of Insects" but the literal meaning of the words is quite different. Jing (惊) means "to startle" or "to frighten," while Zhe (蛰) means "hibernation."

In China, spring is traditionally associated with thunder and the image suggested by this name is one of hibernating creatures being suddenly awoken by a storm.

However, in reality, it is the increasing temperature that is responsible for the rapid reappearance of insects who have been overwintering in leaf litter and underground.

Either way, the weather is changing drastically now, meaning we must take extra measures to protect our health. Read on for my top wellbeing tips for Jing Zhe.

March Winds...

Here in the UK, we may not particularly associate spring with thunderstorms, but we do often see an increase in windy weather, hence the saying: "March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers."

In Chinese medicine, wind is one of six external pathogenic factors known as "evils" that can enter the human body and damage health.

Wind is said to penetrate the body via the skin and interrupt the circulation of our defensive wei qi, which is the Chinese medicine equivalent of the immune system.

Wind invasion is most often associated with coughs and colds, but many of the symptoms of allergies like hay fever could also be attributed to wind.

To protect ourselves against this pathogenic factor, we should continue to wear warm clothing outdoors, paying particular attention to the head, neck, and upper back, which are highly susceptible to wind. We should also ensure that we adequately nourish our wei qi.

Show Your Lungs Some Love

The yangsheng "nourishing life" tradition teaches us to nurture our Lungs in autumn as this is the season most strongly associated with these delicate organs. However, we should not forget about them in spring.

The Lung system is responsible for circulating wei qi around the body to nourish the skin and muscles and protect us from pathogenic factors, such as wind.

Therefore, it is beneficial to consume more Lung-nourishing foods at this time of year, including:

• Radish

• Cauliflower

• White cabbage

• Mushrooms

• Pears

• Almonds

• White sesame seeds

This will help to keep the Lungs happy and healthy and the wei qi circulating freely.

Get Nettled

In my article on Yu Shui - Rain Water, I discussed the value of wild food at this time of year, focusing on dandelion, which is used in Chinese medicine to clear excess heat and detoxify. Another really useful plant to forage at this time of year is the humble stinging nettle.

Although they are not commonly used in Chinese medicine, nettles are highly nutritious, being rich in vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds. They are a particularly good source of vitamin K.

Nettles also support immune system activity and have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Nettle extract has even been researched as a remedy for hay fever with promising results.

These plants grow abundantly in most places and are easy to identify, making them an excellent choice for foraging. Just snip off the top few leaves from a few plants and add them to soups and stews, or simply sauté them until well wilted to give your spring diet an extra boost.

For more personalised seasonal wellbeing advice, you can book a holistic health coaching session via the contact page.

References

• 买雯婷 (2011) 第一养生药膳 - Tangmark Publishing and Distribution, Beijing

• Leggett, D. (2005) Helping Ourselves (second edition) - Meridian Press, Totnes