As this solar term’s moniker “Clear and Bright” suggests, the weather is often clear and bright during this time (April 5 to 19) as we move into spring, but there is also plenty of rainfall to wash away the dust and dullness of winter.
After the rain inevitably comes rainbows. The ancient Chinese believed rainbows were the product of yin and yang energy meeting in balance, and that they could not appear if the energy was purely yang or yin. The solar term Clear and Bright is when rainbows first start showing up in the sky. Not incidentally, it is also a time of energy balance.
A perfect metaphor for the season, the rainbow with its brilliant arc represents balance, potential, and the promise of renewal when fresh sunshine appears.
As the yang energy rises in all living beings during this solar term, the qi energy also becomes clear and bright. This time presents boundless potential for our health if we harness it mindfully.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the spring season belongs to the wood element. This does not refer to the material of wood, nor to trees. Rather, it is the idea of growing upward and of a vaporizing quality. It is the power of improving, and it provides a foundation for the rest of the seasons to come.
Living in Harmony With the ‘Clear and Bright’
As the yang energy begins to rise and accumulate in one’s body, it is traveling from the inside to the outside of the body. If one eats overly greasy or heat-containing foods, such as hot spices, it may overload the body and cause congestion. The excess heat may also trigger allergic reactions, high blood pressure, or coughs.Seasonal Foods
Beneficial foods include barley, carrot, cucumber, eggs, melons, potato, rice and most grains, spinach, sweet potato, and yam. Avoid mushrooms, wheat, seafood, and plants that grow in water, such as watercress, as the nature of these foods is wet and can cause water retention in the body.Avoid grilled and deep-fried foods. Slow cooking is best for this time. Avoid foods that are overly hot in temperature, or spicy.
Recommended herbs include rose, coriander, chamomile, marjoram, calendula, lavender, and rosemary.