Happy Lunar New Year!

February 1 is the 1st day of the Lunar New Year. In BaZi (8 pillars of Chinese Astrology) each pillar has an earthly branch and a heavenly stem. The year pillar's earthly branch is what is commonly known as the year of the animal. This year is the tiger, with yang water on top in the heavenly stem area and yang metal on the bottom as the earthly branch.

A water/metal relationship in Chinese medicine is a harmonious relationship, one of support and care as metal feeds water. Depending on your specific constitutional elements this water/metal relationship can be very supportive.

Acupuncture is a metal activity, using needles and precision. An imbalance of metal can give us controlling behavior and cause us to be nit picky. Water is our emotions and specifically fear, so we must be careful to not overly indulge in fearful and worrying thoughts. Water's ideal expression is flexibility.

No matter what your element and constitution, hopefully this is a year of calm and balance.

Wishing everyone a peaceful New Year!

Warmly,

Dr. Lisa Swanson DAIM, L.Ac.