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Spring is beginning to show its signs even in Toronto.

In Eastern medicine, spring is considered the season of the liver.

Yes—that means it’s the season for detox.

It’s the time to cleanse the body of toxins accumulated during the winter.

As the weather warms up, we naturally feel like moving our bodies more.

However, it’s also the season for allergies and hay fever.

Before we dive into spring detox, let’s take a moment to reflect on overeating.

⚫️Do seasonal changes increase appetite and lead to overeating!?

Japan experiences four seasons, which means there are four seasonal transitions throughout the year.

In Eastern philosophy, the 18 days before the beginning of each season—Risshun (start of spring), Rikka (start of summer), Risshū (start of autumn), and Rittō (start of winter)—are known as Doyō periods. These are referred to as Winter Doyō, Spring Doyō, Summer Doyō, and Autumn Doyō. In 2025, Risshun fell on February 3rd, making the Winter Doyō period from January 16th to February 2nd.

In Eastern medicine, the Doyō period is believed to be a time when appetite increases. It’s a time when the feeling of fullness is harder to achieve, so people tend to overeat. On top of that, physical activity tends to decrease during winter, so increased food intake can easily lead to weight gain.

Additionally, during the Doyō period, the function of the spleen is said to decline, causing poor fluid circulation in the body. When spleen function begins to weaken, symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion may appear. It can also cause itchy or bloodshot eyes, and excessive tearing. For some, symptoms may include fatigue, a low-grade fever, irritability, itchiness in the throat, face, or neck, and trouble concentrating.

In such states, Eastern medicine describes the body as being invaded by Jaki (evil energy). There are different types of Jaki, including Fūja (wind pathogen), Kanja (cold pathogen), and Shitsuja (damp pathogen). If the period of overeating lasts for one to two weeks, digestive function may decline and symptoms resembling Fūja (wind-related illnesses), an Eastern medicine concept, can appear. This is why extra caution is needed during the Winter Doyō period.

After Risshun, cedar pollen begins to spread in the Tokyo area. Especially after Valentine’s Day, pollen levels increase significantly. If someone’s digestive function is already weakened and they consume too many sweets like chocolate, it can disturb the immune system, worsening symptoms in the nose and eyes.

Symptoms of Fūja can resemble those of seasonal flu, COVID-19, or seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

For people who don’t find relief from medication, it’s possible that weakened digestive function from overeating is a hidden underlying cause.

⚫️ Is there anything we can do to prevent a decline in digestive function?

To prevent symptoms like nasal congestion and itchy eyes, it’s important to avoid putting unnecessary strain on the digestive system.

When it comes to eating habits, the following points are essential:

1. Chew thoroughly

2. Eat while sitting down

3. Avoid snacking

4. Avoid cold food and drinks

5. Limit raw foods such as salads and sashimi

6. Finish eating by 8 p.m.

(1) Eating too quickly can impair digestive function. Chewing white rice at least 10 times and brown rice more than 30 times helps support digestion and reduces the burden on the stomach and intestines.

(2) Eating while standing puts stress on the digestive process. Sitting down stabilizes the position of the internal organs and allows digestion to work more effectively.

(3) It’s important to give your stomach time without food. Avoiding snacks as much as possible allows the digestive system to rest.

(4) Cold foods and drinks can fatigue the stomach. Whenever possible, choose room-temperature or warm items.

(5) Raw foods take longer to digest, so overconsumption of items like salads or sashimi should be avoided.

(6) Eating late into the night prolongs digestion time. It’s best to avoid eating after 10 p.m.

For those with weak digestive systems, reviewing and adjusting daily habits is crucial.

⚫️Yoga and nasal rinsing can be effective for nasal congestion!

It’s often said that practicing yoga poses (asanas) can provide immediate relief from nasal congestion.

In addition, yoga helps restore digestive function, making it beneficial for overall health.

As a measure against hay fever, nasal rinsing can also be very effective.

Rinsing the nose after waking up or returning home can help reduce sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Doing nasal rinses two to three times a day is key.

This is especially recommended for people who are prone to allergic reactions.

⚫️Acupuncture and moxibustion are effective for improving digestive function and managing hay fever.

Acupuncture and moxibustion treatments are effective for restoring digestive function and enhancing digestion.

They are also highly effective for alleviating a range of symptoms, including:

Eye symptoms: Itchy eyes, redness, and excessive tearing

Nasal symptoms: Sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion

General symptoms: Fatigue, a slight feverish feeling, irritability, itchiness in the throat, face, or neck, and difficulty concentrating

Acupuncture and moxibustion are considered integrative treatments that can influence internal organ function from the outside of the body.

For those who haven’t seen results with medication (internal medicine) or who continue to experience discomfort even after surgery (external treatment), acupuncture and moxibustion—integrative internal-external therapies—are well worth trying.

When symptoms appear, receiving acupuncture and moxibustion treatment on the same day can help the body regain balance. In many cases, symptoms are noticeably reduced or even disappear after just one to a few sessions.

If you’ve been struggling with these symptoms for years, we encourage you to consult a nearby acupuncture clinic or a medical facility that offers treatment from licensed acupuncturists.

For those looking to strengthen their digestive system, yoga is also highly recommended.

Learning both the physical movements and breathing techniques of yoga can help prevent and treat hay fever.

I look forward to seeing you all again at The Centre for Japanese Acupuncture.

Take care,

Tak Tsurusaki R Ac.