Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, making it the perfect season to focus on holistic wellness by harmonizing with the elements of Water and Wood. This season, let’s dive into ancient healing traditions from a fresh perspective, enhancing both our physical and spiritual well-being. Like nature, we should naturally flow from one phase to the next throughout the year. It's time we start to create balance and really hold ourselves to a wellness routine that becomes second nature... HUMAN NATURE!

If you've been following the evolution of LAYA, then you may be familiar with our product line Herban Afrivedic™ and how we formulate using ancient wellness protocols. We use a color coded system to make it easier to identify body systems and pair herbal medicine to them. In order to bring everything into perspective, let’s just lay it all out and we’ll dive into what it means later.

In Spring time, Wood and Water take precedence. The element of wood is associated with spring, a time of birth and new beginnings, while water resonates with the fluidity and adaptability necessary for holistic wellness. The energy center that we focus on is the Sacral. According to Yorubic methodology, the Sacral (Yemoja) is the Mother of Waters, Sexuality, Primal Waters. She is the amniotic fluid in the womb of the pregnant woman, as well as, the breasts that nurture. She is the protective energy of the feminine force. Read and click through the following to gain a deeper sense of the properties and how it plays out in the human experience.

• Colors: Orange, Sea blue and crystal

• Power Animal/Totem: The Eel. It symbolizes versatility, wisdom, and creativity, inviting an embrace of change with creativity and grace​​.

• Senses: Taste and touch are typically heightened.

• Qualities:

  Qualities of the Water Element:

  • Adaptability and Flow: Water is versatile and adaptable, capable of fitting into various shapes and paths. This quality is reflected in the human ability to be flexible and adaptable in life situations.

  • Depth and Introspection: Water is often seen as deep and introspective, associated with wisdom and the subconscious mind. It invites a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.

  • Calmness and Resilience: Like a deep, still lake, the Water element embodies calmness, but also the resilience to withstand challenges, similar to how water carves its own path through obstacles over time.

  • Conservation and Resourcefulness: Water can represent the conservation of resources, corresponding to how the kidneys conserve vital substances in the body. This quality encourages efficient use and management of life's energies.

  • Fear and Courage: Emotionally, Water is associated with fears, but when balanced, it fosters courage and the ability to confront challenges with a steady mind

    Qualities of the Wood Element:

    • Growth and Vitality: Wood symbolizes new beginnings and expansion, reflecting the vigorous nature of spring, which is the season associated with this element.

    • Flexibility and Strength: Just like a tree, the Wood element embodies flexibility and strength, essential for adapting to changes and overcoming obstacles.

    • Decision-making and Planning: Associated with vision and planning, the Wood element influences our capacity to make decisions and plan for the future, reflecting a strategic aspect of mental functionality.

    • Anger and Assertiveness: On an emotional level, Wood is connected to feelings of anger and frustration when out of balance, but when harmonized, it supports assertive and constructive expression.

• Climate: Humid

• Season: Spring

• Emotion: Nurturing

• Body organs: Female Reproductive System, Urinary Tract, Lower Intestines, Liver, Gallbladder, Kidneys, Bladder, Adrenal Glands

• Therapies: Interstitial Hydrotherapy, Yoni Steams, Creative Expression Activities, Nutrient Dense Detoxification, Fertility treatments, Emotional Healing and Nurturing practices

• Nourishment: Herbs like Kelp or our dynamic blend of 3 sea herbs - Seamoss, Dandelion, and Shatavari; also, foods that promote hydration and fluid balance

• Governing Orisha: Yemoja

Our "Human Nature" campaign weaves a rich narrative by integrating insights from Afrivedic™ Wellness that incorporates TCM, Ayurveda, Yoruba and African healing traditions, focusing on the elements of Water & Wood, and the Sacral Energy Center within the context of modern wellness. In Afrivedic™ wellness, we focus on balancing the internal elements that correspond to this focus during March and April. Here’s an overview for the campaign:

1. Water Element (Sacral System): This element resonates with the fluidity and adaptability necessary for holistic wellness. It encompasses kidney health, bladder functions, adrenals, female reproductive, fluid balance, and immune responses, pivotal for fostering life's essence and vitality. Emotionally, Water symbolizes deep introspection and psychological flexibility, vital for emotional well-being and resilience.

2. Wood Element: Wood is linked to liver and gallbladder health, essential for detoxification and the smooth flow of physical and emotional energy. This element supports muscle strength and tendon health, which are necessary for physical vitality and endurance. Spiritually, Wood inspires growth, renewal, and rejuvenation—key themes in spring and in beginning new wellness journeys.

3. Spiritual Insights: Drawing from African traditions, spiritual wellness involves aligning with nature's rhythms and using herbal medicine for internal harmony. Ayurveda contributes practices that balance the doshas (bodily energies), particularly through dietary adjustments and herbal treatments, enhancing both physical and emotional health. Think of your body as a garden, and the Sacral energy center as the water source that nourishes this garden. Yemoja represents the life-giving properties of water, essential for the growth and health of the plants (your body and emotional well-being). Just as a garden requires the right balance of water—not too little and not too much—your Sacral center needs balance to foster health, creativity, and emotional stability. If the water flow is blocked or excessive, it can lead to a garden (body) that is either parched and unproductive or flooded and overwhelmed, mirroring physical ailments or emotional disturbances related to this center. By caring for this water source, ensuring it flows freely and nourishingly, you cultivate a vibrant, flourishing garden, symbolizing a balanced and healthy life.

Embracing Water: Flow with Flexibility

As the season of renewal and rebirth, spring invites us to embrace the fluid, adaptable essence of water. This element teaches us to flow with flexibility, an essential trait for navigating the fresh beginnings and transformations that spring heralds. By integrating therapies like Interstitial Hydrotherapy and engaging in emotional healing practices, we tap into water's cleansing and rejuvenating energies, mirroring the natural renewal occurring all around us. Spring's vibrant backdrop encourages us to dissolve old patterns and nurture growth, just as rains replenish the earth, awakening dormant seeds. Embracing the flow of water this season means moving with grace through transitions, allowing the fresh, dynamic energy of spring to guide us toward renewal and vitality. This harmonious dance with water not only revitalizes our physical and emotional landscapes but also aligns us with the rhythmic pulse of nature, teaching us to adapt with resilience and flourish in the face of change.

Wood: The Foundation of Growth

Spring, a time of awakening and growth, resonates deeply with the Wood element, which embodies expansion, vitality, and renewal. As we observe the stirring of life around us—buds turning into leaves and flowers blossoming—we are reminded of Wood's inherent qualities of strength and flexibility. This season, let us channel the Wood element’s dynamic energy to foster our personal and professional growth. By nurturing our decision-making abilities and strategic planning, akin to the robust yet adaptable nature of trees, we enhance our capacity to grow and thrive. Practices that support liver health, such as Tai Chi and dietary adjustments to cleanse and invigorate, further align us with Wood’s energizing spirit. Embracing Wood this spring means setting strong roots while reaching upwards with resilience and grace, perfectly poised for new beginnings and fresh opportunities.

Physical Wellness in spring

Spring heralds a period of renewal and rejuvenation, making it an ideal time to focus on physical wellness by supporting the body's natural detoxification processes and enhancing overall vitality. The organs most associated with spring are the liver and the kidneys, which correspond to the Wood and Water elements respectively. The liver is crucial for detoxification, metabolism, and blood purification, while the kidneys are vital for filtering waste and balancing body fluids.

To support these organs, incorporating specific herbs and nutrients into your diet can be particularly beneficial. For liver health, herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, and burdock are excellent due to their detoxifying and liver-supportive properties. These herbs help in cleansing the liver, improving its function, and aiding in the smooth flow of bile. Nutrients important for liver health include silymarin found in milk thistle, which is known for protecting liver cells, and chlorophyll-rich greens which enhance the liver's detoxification processes. For kidney health, hydration is paramount; drinking adequate water is essential. Herbs like nettle and parsley, which have natural diuretic properties, can support kidney function by promoting fluid elimination without depleting essential minerals. Cranberries are also beneficial for kidney health due to their bacteria-inhibiting properties that can help prevent urinary tract infections. Including these herbs and ensuring a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins (particularly B vitamins and vitamin C), and minerals like magnesium and potassium, supports the body’s overall vitality and wellness during the dynamic spring season.

Based on the nutrients and phytochemicals recommended for supporting liver and kidney health during spring, the following supplements from the Herban Afrivedic™ line would be highly considered:

1. AlkALIGN Capsules:

   • These capsules contain ingredients like alfalfa leaf, dulse, chlorella, activated charcoal, and lemon, which support detoxification and nutrient supply—key for liver health. Chlorella, in particular, supports liver detoxification by removing heavy metals from the body​​.

2. Blood Flow Tincture:

   • This tincture includes herbs such as dandelion root, burdock root, and red clover blossom, which are known for their blood-purifying properties and support for liver and kidney health. Dandelion root is particularly beneficial for liver support and detoxifying properties​​.

These supplements align with the suggested nutrients and phytochemicals such as chlorophyll from chlorella, silymarin from milk thistle, and the detoxifying effects of dandelion and burdock, making them suitable for enhancing physical wellness in spring.

You should use this time to detoxify and renew and nurture!

ASK YOURSELF... Which people in your life do you consider your tribe?

Holistic Practices for Balancing the Sacral, Wood, and Water Elements

Spring is an ideal time to focus on rebalancing our elemental energies—specifically the Sacral, Wood, and Water elements—through holistic practices that foster renewal and growth. Here are tailored strategies to incorporate these elements into daily routines, enhancing overall health and vitality during this vibrant season.

Balancing the Sacral Element

The Sacral element, associated with water and emotional flexibility, benefits from practices that enhance creativity and emotional flow:

• Yoga and Dance: Engage in movements that focus on the hips and lower abdomen to stimulate the Sacral energy center. Yoga poses like Cobra and Butterfly are particularly beneficial.

• Hydrotherapy: Regular warm baths or visits to natural hot springs can soothe and balance the Sacral area, promoting relaxation and cleansing.

• Emotional Journaling: Spring is a great time to start a journal for expressing feelings and emotional experiences, which can help manage and balance emotional energy.

Balancing the Wood Element

The Wood element, symbolizing growth and vitality, is aligned with liver health and can be balanced through:

• Morning Stretching: Incorporate stretches into your morning routine to stimulate liver function and enhance blood flow, helping to wake up the body and mind.

• Green Foods: Add more leafy greens to your diet. Foods like kale, spinach, and broccoli support liver health and embody the renewing energy of spring.

• Strategic Planning Sessions: Dedicate time each week to planning and goal setting, which nurtures the Wood element's qualities of vision and decisiveness.

Balancing the Water Element

The Water element, associated with the kidneys and adaptability, can be supported with:

• Adequate Hydration: Increase your intake of fluids during spring to support kidney function and help cleanse the body’s systems.

• Moderate Salt Intake: While maintaining hydration, be mindful of salt intake to avoid putting extra strain on the kidneys.

• Reflective Meditation: Use meditation practices that focus on fluidity and adapting to life’s changes, which can help cultivate the calming properties of the Water element.

Seasonal Integration

Spring is a powerful time to integrate these practices as nature itself mirrors growth, renewal, and fluid movement. By aligning our routines with these elemental energies, we can enhance our resilience, foster personal growth, and maintain emotional and physical balance:

• Connect with Nature: Spend more time outdoors. Nature walks or gardening can help align with the renewing energy of spring and support all these elements.

• Seasonal Cleaning: Engage in spring cleaning not just physically in your home but also mentally and spiritually, shedding old patterns to make room for new growth.

• Community Interaction: Spring is a social season, and engaging with your community can help stimulate the Sacral's emotional energy and Wood's growth-oriented nature.

By adopting these holistic practices, you can effectively harmonize the Sacral, Wood, and Water elements within you, tapping into spring’s dynamic energy for personal rejuvenation and wellness.

Embracing nature's bounty offers profound nourishment for our bodies, minds, and spirits. As we immerse ourselves in the revitalizing energy of spring, let us draw upon the natural world for sustenance and healing. From the fresh greens that detoxify our bodies to the serene waters that soothe our souls, every element of nature carries a gift of wellness. By connecting with these elements, we enrich our lives with holistic health and a deep sense of renewal that only nature can provide. Let this spring be a reminder of the endless nourishment nature offers, nurturing us as we grow and flourish in harmony with the world around us.