Spring is here, but you don’t feel great?
The trees are blossoming, the days are getting longer, everyone around you seems happy. And you? You're irritable. Or exhausted. Or there's a tightness in your head that you can't quite explain.
If spring doesn't feel as energising as you expected, there's a good reason for that. And it has everything to do with what happens inside your body when the season changes.
Why spring doesn't always feel like a fresh start
We have a romantic image of spring: fresh energy, new plans, finally getting outside again. And while that's certainly part of it, the reality for many people looks quite different. Headaches that come from nowhere. A restless, driven feeling without a clear cause. Allergies flaring up. Emotions sitting closer to the surface than usual.
Your body responds to the season. It always has, long before we had words for it.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), spring is the season of the lLver. And once you understand what the Liver means in TCM, a lot of things start to make sense.
The Liver in TCM: movement, growth and letting go
In western medicine, we know the liver as an organ that filters blood and processes toxins. In TCM, the Liver has a much broader role: it's responsible for the free flow of Qi (vital energy) throughout the entire body.
When Qi flows freely, you feel supple, clear-headed and resilient. When Liver energy becomes blocked — through stress, suppressed emotions, too little movement or the inward-turned rhythm of winter — stagnation sets in. And you feel it.
Typical signs of Liver-Qi stagnation in spring:
Tight muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders
Headaches or pressure at the temples
Irritability or a short fuse without obvious reason
The feeling that you want to get going but can't quite break free
Does any of this sound familiar? Your Liver is doing its spring work and it could use a little help.
The Amsterdam spring: beautiful but demanding
In Amsterdam, the seasonal shift is particularly pronounced. After months of grey skies, rain and little daylight, everything changes quickly. More light, more stimulation, more social pressure to enjoy yourself and be productive.
Your body — which has been living at a slower, more inward-facing pace all winter — suddenly has to shift gears. That takes energy. And if your liver-Qi was already a little stagnant after a long winter, that sudden change can hit hard.
This also explains why so many people get headaches in March and April, feel more irritable than usual, or find themselves exhausted when they were actually looking forward to spring.
How to support yourself through the transition
Spring calls for movement, literally and figuratively. Here's what can help:
Move more, but start gently. The Liver loves movement. Walking, cycling, stretching, yoga: anything that gets your Qi moving without immediately overloading you. After a winter of less activity, it's tempting to throw yourself straight into intense exercise, but that can actually worsen stagnation.
Eat lighter and greener. Winter calls for warm, nourishing food. Spring asks for something lighter: more vegetables, sprouts, and sour flavours like lemon and apple cider vinegar, which support the Liver in TCM. Less heavy, rich food.
Give your emotions space. In TCM, the Liver is closely connected to emotions, particularly anger, frustration and unprocessed tension. If you notice you're quicker to snap than usual, that's not just a mood. That's information. Writing, moving, talking — anything that helps it shift.
Keep a regular sleep rhythm. Now that the evenings are lighter, it's tempting to stay up later. But the liver recovers best between 11pm and 3am. Getting to bed consistently early enough is especially important in spring.
And then there's acupuncture.
Why spring is an ideal time to start acupuncture
In TCM, spring is the season to invest in your health. Your body is already in the process of renewing and releasing. Acupuncture helps support and ease that process.
In my Amsterdam practice, I see it every year: people coming in during March or April with complaints they can't quite name. Tense, tired, irritable, full of hay fever and visibly relieved to hear that their body is doing exactly what it's supposed to do, it just needs a little support.
Acupuncture helps move Liver-Qi, release tension and calm the nervous system. Many people notice after just one or two sessions that they feel more supple, clearer and calmer.
Finally
Spring is a season of movement, growth and letting go. But that doesn't happen automatically — especially if your body is still in winter mode after a long, grey few months.
Give yourself the space to start slowly. Listen to what your body is telling you. And if you find you could use a little support through the transition, know that you're welcome to reach out.
Curious whether acupuncture might help you this spring? Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation conversation, or book an appointment directly at my practice in the centre of Amsterdam.
