TCM and seasonal changes

[Guest guest]

Dear Victoria,

 

Thank you so much for the information on the effects of seasonal

changes. It was really fascinating. Besides the seasonal changes,

I've always had an intense reaction to light, and when the

weather

gets warmer, and the light brighter, I feel much worse.

My depression seems to take on a real feeling of fear, dread, and

panic about the future, that's somehow connected to the brighter

light.

 

My TCM doctor said when the seasons change it causes internal wind,

and that disturbs the shen. Since I have a shen disturbance causing

depression and anxiety, he felt that was the reason it's worsened

with the change of season to Spring. However, I really feel it's

more the change in the outdoor light than a seasonal change. I live

in Southern California, so the end of February (winter) is not all

that much different from the end of April (spring), but with

daylight savings time coming into between those months, the change

in light is dramatic.

 

I also spoke with a Chi Gong healer who said that spring is the

liver time of year, so in tends to bring up emotional issues. He

also said the liver opens into the eyes, and if your eyes are

adversely affected by the light, it may be a reflection of liver

problems.

 

I tend to pull the blinds, keep things dark, quiet and shady, as I

just find bright light in general to cause feelings of panic and

dread. In addition to the shen disturbance, I've been diagnosed

with liver qi stagnation, and severe kidney and spleen qi deficiency

with phlegm, so my emotions are always out of whack, but summer

really intensifies everything, and I just wondered from a TCM

standpoint, if the light factor in itself was an indication of

anything else.

 

Thanks so much to all for any input.

 

Linda