When Spring Begins
EARLY SPRING
Even though it still feels like winter, look out for early signs of spring. You might notice wavering temperatures and appearance of tender flowering buds such as Quince blossoms.
The ancient Chinese observed this transitional period and named it “Li Chun- 立春” (the beginning of Spring) when the sun reaches the celestial longitude at 315° every year.
As we slowly awake from the quiescence of winter, it’s the perfect time to nurture and circulate this emerging Yang Qi. We still advocate sleeping early (by 11PM!) but it’s also favorable to rise earlier. Bask in the early morning sun and catch the magical melodies of the songbirds.
Embrace this subtle Yang energy of early spring, let your hair down, and unfurl like a tender sprout of a cherry blossom tree. Scatter some goji berries in your tea to nourish your liver, a Yin organ which corresponds to the wood energy of spring.
This transition into spring is the perfect time to restart a healthy daily ritual. If you are feeling a little sluggish and stressed out, your skin probably needs some love as well. Good news is, you won't need to spend a lot of time and resources to bring back the bounce in your steps and complexion!
HOW TO REVITALIZE IN EARLY SPRING
Sleep
“My skin looks better when I sleep poorly” said no one ever! Lack of quality sleep leads to poor cognitive function, lower immunity, weight gain, dull complexion, among others. Practice good sleep hygiene for a better rest.
Diet
Warming stews are wonderful for winter, but it’s time to incorporate the light and fresh foods into your repertoire. In China, it is customary to eat fresh spring rolls to celebrate the arrival of spring. We also love rotating our herbal tea seasonally, check out this chrysanthemum goji tea to smooth Liver Qi and brighten eyes.
Emotions
We live in stressful times. When things seem to be out of control, ask yourself this: "What is the smallest thing I can do to minimize stress?" You can’t change the world but you can always shift your perception. Think positive and always remember to breathe.
Skincare
Sensitive skin tends to flare up during Spring. To soothe redness and protect tender skin, lookout for healing ingredients, such as Astragalus and White Tea, both found in our FORTIFY Botanical Serum.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
The FORTIFY Botanical Serum is formulated with a botanical complex that features skin-protective adaptogens such as Astragalus (Huang Qi) and Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi) berries. Indulge in the mood-lifting aroma of roses as you massage this luxurious botanical treatment onto your skin. Another amazing ingredient we use in this oil serum is Tremella (Yin Er aka Snow Mushroom), a gelatinous mushroom that’s anti-allergenic, rich in antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamin D. This skin healing ingredient can hold many times its weight in water, surpassing that of hyaluronic acid, to add a little “spring” to your skin!
INSPIRED BY
“春三月，此谓发陈，天地俱生，万物以荣，夜卧早起，广步于庭，被发缓形，以使志生，生而勿杀，予而勿夺，赏而勿罚，此春气之应，养生之道也。逆之则伤肝，夏为寒变，奉长者少。”
《黄帝内经素问·四气调神大论篇》
they denote effusion and spreading.
Heaven and earth together generate life;
the myriad beings flourish.
Go to rest late at night and rise early.
Move through the courtyard with long strides.
Dishevel the hair and relax the physical appearance,
thereby cause the mind [to orient itself] on life.
Give life and do not kill.
Give and do not take.
Reward and do no punish.
This is correspondence with the qi of spring and
it is the Way to nourish life.
Opposing it harms the liver.
In summer, this causes changes to cold, and
there is little to support growth.