Lunar New Year, Fire Energy, and Fertility: What I’m Seeing in Clinic Right Now
As We Move Out of Winter, the Body Changes
Around the Lunar New Year, there’s always a shift I notice in clinic, and it has less to do with resolutions or zodiac signs and more to do with what’s happening in the body as we move out of winter and into a more active season.
Winter is meant to be quieter.
More inward.
More restorative.
When we start moving toward spring, the energy naturally turns outward again. In Chinese medicine, this year carries a strong Fire and Yang quality, which means more movement, more stimulation, and more “go” energy.
That can feel motivating for some people, but for a lot of the women I see, especially those trying to conceive, it shows up as:
Feeling wired but tired
Sleeping lightly
Feeling more anxious than usual
Noticing that their cycle just doesn’t feel as steady
None of that means anything is wrong. It usually means the body is responding to a seasonal shift without quite enough support.
In Chinese medicine, Fire is connected to the Heart system, and the Heart isn’t just about circulation. It’s also tied to sleep, emotional regulation, and the ability to feel settled in your body. When there’s too much Fire or not enough grounding to balance it, I see things like racing thoughts at night, difficulty staying asleep, heightened stress around ovulation or the two-week wait, and cycles that feel a little more scattered or unpredictable.
From a fertility standpoint, that matters. Conception depends on good circulation, clear hormonal signaling, and a nervous system that feels safe enough to settle. When the body is living in a constant state of stimulation or low-grade adrenaline, it’s harder to get that sense of rhythm and containment that fertility really thrives on.
What I often have to remind people is that this season isn’t asking you to do more. It’s asking you to regulate better.
In clinic, acupuncture during this time of year is less about pushing anything forward and more about calming the system, improving circulation without overstimulation, and helping the body transition smoothly into a more active season. When stress hormones settle and sleep improves, cycles often follow. That’s not magic. It’s physiology.
There are also a few simple things you can do at home that support this shift without turning it into another project.
From a food perspective, this is a good time to keep things simple and light without skipping nourishment. Warm, cooked meals still matter, but you don’t need heavy winter stews all the time. Think clear broths, greens, lightly bitter foods, and enough protein to feel grounded without feeling weighed down. This helps cool excess heat while still supporting digestion and blood building, which is important for fertility.
Movement is another place people tend to overcorrect. Because energy is rising, it can feel tempting to jump back into intense workouts or packed schedules. For fertility, consistency matters more than intensity. Walking, gentle strength work, stretching, and movement that leaves you feeling clearer instead of depleted tends to be a better fit right now.
Sleep is non-negotiable, even though this is often when it gets disrupted. If your mind is racing at night, that’s usually a sign of too much Fire and not enough grounding. Lying down flat, limiting stimulation before bed, and not trying to “power through” fatigue goes a long way in protecting your cycle and overall hormonal balance.
And finally, there’s the emotional piece, which I don’t think gets talked about enough. Fire is also connected to joy and connection. This season does better when there’s some lightness in it, when everything isn’t treated like a problem to solve. Time with people you feel safe with, laughter, and pleasure without guilt are not extras. They’re part of keeping the system regulated.
If you’ve been feeling a little off, a little more anxious, or a little less steady in your body lately, this is often why. It’s seasonal. It’s common. And it’s something we can support.
Acupuncture works well during these transitions because it helps the body settle into the season instead of fighting it. If it’s been a while since you’ve been in, or if you’re in the middle of trying to conceive and feeling the strain of it all, this is a really appropriate time to check in and get some support.
You don’t need to push harder this year. You need a body that feels calm, supported, and steady enough to do what it already knows how to do.