The imbalances that are happening during the Clear and Bright Solar Term include – tired but wired, emotional but flat, energised but ungrounded.
This is due to the body doing up to three things at once:
Rising Fire = energy pushing upward too fast to the head. This is one of the most common Clear and Bright patterns.
What’s happening energetically:
Yang energy is rising strongly, but if Liver Qi is constrained (stress, emotional suppression, alcohol, poor sleep), it can “flare upward” as heat.
Common symptoms:
• Irritability, short temper, emotional reactivity
• Headaches (often temples or behind eyes)
• Red eyes or dry/gritty eyes
• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Waking early (3–5am especially)
• Tight neck/shoulders
• Skin flare-ups or itching
• Feeling “wired but tired”
How to help yourself:
• Soothing movement: walking, gentle running, tai chi (avoid over-intense training)
• Scalp brushing (running your fingers from front to back is very soothing)
• Cooling foods: cucumber, celery, pear, mint, chrysanthemum tea
• Liver regulation: acupressure points like LV3, LI4 (appropriate for you? check with your Acupuncturist at your next appointment)
• Emotional outlet: journalling or honest
conversation (this pattern hates suppression)
• Reduce alcohol, spicy food, late nights
Think of this as: too much spring energy, not enough release valves.
Spring Sleepiness = earth system being affected by damp bringing a heavy sluggishness. Even though yang is increasing, many people feel oddly tired or foggy.
What’s happening energetically:
The body is transitioning out of winter storage. If Spleen Qi is weak or there is residual dampness, the rising yang gets “weighed down”.
Common symptoms:
• Heavy limbs or “lead body” feeling
• Brain fog, poor concentration
• Afternoon energy crashes
• Excessive sleepiness despite enough sleep
• Bloating or loose stools
• Low motivation, procrastination
• Slightly sticky tongue coating (in clinical observation)
How to help yourself:
• Light sweating exercise daily (brisk walk, light jog, cycling)
• Eat warm, simple foods (soups, congee, steamed meals – particularly sweet root vegetables)
• Reduce damp-producing foods: sugar, dairy, excessive raw foods
• Morning sunlight exposure (very important for resetting yang)
• Gentle Spleen support points: ST36, SP6 (ask if appropriate for you, check with your Acupuncturist at your next appointment)
• Don’t oversleep — it actually worsens dampness in this pattern
This is essentially: the system waking up, but still has winter residue hanging around.
Open Gate = boundaries becoming porous and letting in aggravating elements – leading to Allergy type symptoms. This is a beautiful but sometimes destabilising season.
What’s happening energetically:
The Liver’s natural function is to “spread and open”. In Clear and Bright, this becomes very active — almost like doors opening internally and externally and letting in the pollen.
It can be healthy (creative flow, emotional release), but if ungrounded it becomes chaotic.
Common symptoms:
• Sudden emotional release (crying, nostalgia, sensitivity)
• Feeling exposed or “too open”
• Allergies flaring (wind invasion patterns)
• Hay fever symptoms starting early
• Dizziness or mild vertigo
• Emotional volatility but not necessarily anger — more “rawness”
• Strong urge to change life direction or clear everything out
How to help yourself:
• Grounding practices: slow walking, barefoot time on earth if possible
• Consistent routines (this is stabilising medicine in itself)
• Wind protection: scarf around neck, avoid strong wind exposure
• Going out for walks is good wear sunglasses and a face mask when outdoors or go out after the rain has settled the pollen.
• Acupuncture focus: LV3 + DU20 often used for centring and smoothing qi (ask if appropriate for you, check with your Acupuncturist at your next appointment)
• Emotional containment: avoid over-processing everything at once
• Keep meals regular — this anchors the Spleen and stabilises the “open system”
Think of this as: the doors are open — but you still need a frame so they don’t swing wildly.
Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—it is not a substitute for individual medical care.
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