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Traditional Chinese medicine connects spring with the liver. This quick checklist covers seven experiences TCM associates with liver energy, plus practical next steps.

A quick seasonal checklist

As spring arrives across the North Shore and the Northern Beaches, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) turns its attention to the liver. In TCM theory, each season is ruled by an organ system, and the liver's lively, goal-driven energy matches the burst of activity that spring brings. When that energy is thought to be stuck, people may notice certain changes. Here are seven that TCM traditionally links with the liver.

The seven signals

1. Crown headaches. Headaches at the top of the head that seem to worsen when you have been inactive are associated with the liver in TCM theory.
2. Unsettled digestion. Bloating, or alternating constipation and loose stools, and hard stools that look like small stones.
3. A shorter fuse. Feeling restless, irritable and out of sorts, with irritation flaring into anger more quickly.
4. Premenstrual changes. More bloating, breast tenderness or sensitivity, or periods that are more painful or clotted, which TCM attributes to stagnant liver energy.
5. Irritated eyes. Red, itchy or sore eyes, since the liver and the eyes are linked in TCM.
6. Upper-body tightness. Tight shoulders, neck or jaw, clenched or grinding teeth, explained in TCM as liver energy rising upward.
7. Allergy-season eyes. Itchy, watery eyes when pollen is about.

What to do next

Step one: talk to your GP

Each of these experiences can have a range of causes, so the checklist is not a way to diagnose yourself. Make an appointment with your GP if anything is new, severe or getting worse, especially headaches, bowel changes, eye problems or changes to your period.

Step two: everyday habits

Traditional advice for spring includes staying active, getting outdoors, eating plenty of fresh greens and finding healthy outlets for frustration. Simple stretches for the neck and shoulders and a conscious effort to unclench the jaw are easy to fit into a work day.

Step three: optional extra support

Some people choose a seasonal acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine appointment as part of looking after their wellbeing, at our Lane Cove or Freshwater rooms or elsewhere. Responses vary from person to person, and it is meant to sit alongside your doctor's advice, so let your GP know about any therapies you use.