Spring is a season of renewal — a time when nature wakes up, stretches toward the sun, and shakes off the stillness of winter. Across many traditions, like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western herbalism, spring marks a fresh start for both the earth and for us.

Learning how different cultures have honored this seasonal energy for thousands of years can offer simple, grounding ways to support your own well-being today.

Here's a quick guide to the energy of spring — plus a few key wellness practices you can weave into your rituals and routines.

Ayurveda: Spring as Kapha Season

In Ayurveda, spring is considered Kapha season, dominated by the earth and water elements. This can bring a sense of heaviness, sluggishness, and excess moisture in the body — think seasonal allergies, congestion, and dull skin.

To balance Kapha energy, spring calls for lightness, warmth, and movement.

Best foods: Leafy greens, sprouts, bitter and astringent foods, warming spices like ginger and turmeric.

Best practices: Dry brushing, warm oil massage (abhyanga), early morning movement, and deep breathing. To refresh and awaken the skin, incorporate gentle exfoliation and cooling botanicals to keep energy flowing and skin glowing.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Spring & The Liver

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the Liver — the organ responsible for detoxification, energy flow (Qi), and emotional balance. The transition from winter to spring can stir up anything that's been stagnant, both physically and emotionally.

To support the Liver during spring:

Best foods: Sour foods like lemon, apple cider vinegar, and fermented vegetables help clear excess heat and support natural detoxification.

Best practices: Gentle stretching, acupuncture, and breathwork to encourage circulation. Support your skin’s detox pathways by hydrating with lemon water or a splash of apple cider vinegar in water. You might also explore practices that aid lymphatic flow — like facial massage or gua sha while you moisturize, or brisk walking.

Western Herbalism: Spring as Nature’s Detox

In Western herbalism, spring is seen as nature’s built-in detox. Herbalists look to the first spring plants as guides for seasonal well-being. Many early greens — like dandelion, nettle, and burdock — naturally cleanse and energize the body.

Best foods: Fresh spring herbs!

• Dandelion supports liver function and digestion.

• Nettle is rich in minerals and helps with seasonal allergies and energy.

• Burdock aids skin clarity and gentle detoxification.

Best practices: Incorporate herbs internally as teas, infusions, or tinctures to support gentle cleansing from within.

Bringing Spring Into Your Routine

Spring invites us to embrace lightness, movement, and growth in every area of life. Here are a few simple ways to align with the energy of the season:

✅ Move daily — walk, stretch, or dance to get energy flowing, breathe deeper, and clear the mind.

✅ Spend time outdoors, especially in the early morning light, to reset your natural rhythms.

✅ Choose fresh, seasonal foods and herbs to support natural detoxification.

✅ Refresh your skin (your body’s largest organ!) with hydration-focused plant-based rituals and circulation-boosting practices.

No matter which tradition you draw from, the message is clear: spring is an opportunity to lighten, cleanse, and reconnect with the energy of growth — inside and out.

And when we move with the season (we are nature, after all), each small change sparks fresh energy and renewal. Here's to welcoming spring, one small shift at a time. 🌸

P.S. The flowers above (📸 photography credit: Annie Spratt) are one of my favorite early, spring-blooming perennials: hellebores. They're also known as 'lenten roses' and are said to symbolize resilience, new beginnings and hope.