Cypress Grove Almanac: Spring Edition
Seasonal Florida Living - Where wild meets well
The land is waking up. Time to sip bitters, plant seeds, and swat lovebugs!
Spring in Florida seems to happen suddenly.
It’s as if you wake up one morning and everything is blooming and buzzing. The jasmine is fragrant, the oaks quietly let go of their leaves to make room for new growth, and the bees hum over fresh blossoms.
In Chinese medicine, spring belongs to the Liver and the wood element. The Liver’s job is to ensure the smooth flow of qi: our energy, our emotions, our plans. When it flows well, we feel inspired, decisive, and steady. But when it stagnates, we feel stuck. Restless. Frustrated. Scattered.
One morning, I was sipping coffee on the porch, enjoying the early sun and the birds’ morning songs, when I started thinking about this connection between the Liver and our modern society’s relationship with dopamine, the neurotransmitter involved in motivation, reward, pleasure, and habit formation. It’s not the “happy chemical” like we often hear. It’s the wanting chemical. Too much, and you chase the wrong things. Too little, and nothing feels worth doing.
When our days are filled with overstimulation but little satisfaction, our dopamine rhythms fall out of sync. We chase input (screens, sugar, noise) but we feel unfulfilled. One of my mentors once said that unfulfilled desires are a root of Liver stagnation, and that always stuck with me. Left unchecked, it can cascade into deeper health issues.
That morning, sitting quietly without my phone, the news, or even music, I noticed the discomfort of just being with myself. And I realized: this is the work. This is the modern version of a “Liver detox.” It’s not about supplements or expensive tests. It’s about coming back to rhythm.
So this spring, let’s give ourselves the gentle reset our bodies crave. Let’s simplify, clear the noise, and return to our natural rhythm.
Plant fruit trees or shrubs. This is the ultimate delayed satisfaction, but the rewards are so sweet!
Signs of Dopamine Dysregulation
Let’s take a look at what a dysregulated system looks like:
Constant phone scrolling
Food cravings without real hunger
Overthinking or obsession
Can’t focus or finish anything
Lost your spark
Can’t enjoy simple things anymore
Do any of these sound familiar?
So why does it happen?
To put it simply, we live in a dopamine-drunk world. Screens. Sugar. News. Constant Noise. Your brain’s reward system gets hijacked and then it starts to demand more… and gives you less.
How to reset dopamine gently without forcing a “detox”
Do nothing. On purpose.
Create small spaces within your day where you intentionally do nothing. No phone. No multitasking. Just sit, watch the spanish moss sway in the breeze, listen to the birds, notice the bees hopping from bloom to bloom. Boredom is the soil where creativity and insight grow.
I often do this when I feel uninspired. I love to garden, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood to tend to it. So I just go out and sit in my garden. It never fails that I feel the spark to get a little done. Water the plant. Pull the weed. What felt like a chore before, suddenly becomes something… fulfilling.
Delay gratification
Pause before checking your phone, eating a treat, or buying something impulsively. Waiting just a few minutes can retrain your dopamine system and strengthen your will.
I read somewhere that if you wait about 20 minutes most cravings will subside. It’s advice I share often. Many people report that by just waiting, they lose interest or even forget what they were craving.
Move your body
Movement is medicine too. Stretch. Walk. Sway. Wood energy needs to move, but not in a forced, punishing way.
When going for a walk, try not listening to music or podcasts. Be present in the moment. You may be surprised by what your inner voice has to say when you make time to listen.
Do things with your hands
Garden, chop vegetables, brush your dog, create something. It brings you out of your head and back into your body.
Not a “creative” person? That’s okay. Try building a Lego set! I got a few for Christmas last year and spent some quiet afternoons putting them together. It sat in my living room with the TV off and just focused on the simple task in front of me. In the end, I was rewarded with a beautiful Lego flower.
Let desire breathe
Write down your true desires. Not the ones shaped by ads, trends, or urgency. What do you want? Writing down your longings, even unmet ones, helps to move Liver qi and realign with your purpose.
Over the last year, I’ve been jotting down little notes as ideas come. When I look back, I’m often surprised by how much I’ve followed through on, and how fulfilled my life really is. We forget the little things. But writing them down creates a kind of gentle commitment, a quiet psychological contract, that slowly brings our dreams to life.
Porch-Picked Lemon Balm Tea
A cheerful, calming tea made with one of spring’s easiest herbal allies.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a gentle nervine that soothes the mind, lifts the mood, and helps Liver qi flow smoothly. It’s perfect for springtime tension, especially the kind that comes from feeling restless or overextended.
Even better? It’s incredibly easy to grow. Whether in the ground or a pot on your porch, lemon balm thrives with little care and loves to be picked often.
To make:
Harvest a small handful of fresh lemon balm leaves.
Lightly crush the leaves in your hands to release the oils.
Place in a mug and pour 8–10 oz of hot (not boiling) water over them.
Cover and steep for 5–7 minutes.
Strain and sip slowly.
Optional: Add a few fresh mint leaves, a splash of lemon, or a drizzle of local honey.
This tea is like a sigh of relief in a mug, and in Chinese medicine, a sigh is more than just a feeling. It’s a sign that Liver qi is trying to move. That long exhale we sometimes don’t even notice is just your body’s way of creating space again. A daily cup of lemon balm tea offers that same gentle release, helping your mood soften, your breath deepen, and your energy flow a little more freely.
From the Cypress Grove Medicinary
Each of these handcrafted herbal remedies is made locally in small batches right here in our Cypress Grove medicinary. You can find them at the at our market booth, or by request through the clinic.
Online ordering coming soon - Stay tuned!
Loquat Herbal Syrup soothes unwanted lingering respiratory discomforts
Loquat + Honey Syrup
Crafted from loquat leaves, wild cherry bark, slippery elm, and other supportive herbs, this syrup is a springtime staple for lingering coughs and dry, irritated lungs. It’s especially helpful for easing those pesky tickles that hang on after winter colds or springtime pollen exposure.
Digestive Bitters
An herbal blend designed to awaken digestion, stimulate bile flow, and get qi moving. Take before meals to support detox pathways and ease post-winter sluggishness.
Elderberry Syrup Kit
A pantry staple to support the immune system during seasonal transitions. This DIY kit makes it easy to brew your own — just add water and honey. It’s not only nourishing, but also a simple, hands-on ritual that supports slower living and complements a dopamine reset.
Herbal Magnesium Mist
A calming topical spray combining magnesium chloride, lavender, and herbs that soothe spasms and restlessness. Ideal for tense shoulders, restless legs, or bedtime wind-downs.
Until next season…
At Cypress Grove, we honor Florida’s beautiful and natural offerings by turning to the plants, practices, and patterns that support the natural flow of life. From your Liver qi to your longing to feel well and whole, we are here to support your seasonal rhythms, your healing process, and your return to yourself.
Your coming home.
May this Spring Almanac offer you a soft invitation:
To reset. To find community. To remember.
If you need me, you can find me at the clinic, seasonal markets, or in the garden!
— Ashley Sidell, Cypress Grove, Where wild meets well
