2025 Wuyun Liuqi: 乙巳 — Year of the Wood Snake
Artwork by High Wild West
Welcome to the year of Yi Si 乙巳 - the year of the Yin Wood Snake.
Today we will be examining the Climate and Health vulnerabilities present in the year of the Wood Snake through the lens of the Wuyun Liuqi climate system. For a more symbolic reading of the Wood Snake year, check out this blog, which is geared towards the general public. This piece is intended for students and practitioners of East Asian Medicine. A recap of last year’s Wuyun Liuqi can be found here.
I hope you enjoy this yearly installment in the Wuyun Liuqi series and find something useful for your personal life and practice in this overview. Thank you for reading and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
五運六氣 Wuyun Liuqi:
Appearing in the later chapters of the Huangdi Neijing Suwen, the Classical Chinese system of the Wuyun Liuqi considers two components that determine climate and health outcomes in a given year. These are the Wuyun, governing overall yearly energetics, and the Liuqi, governing seasonal weather patterns and resulting health pathologies. We will examine both of these in depth below, moving from a general outline to specific seasonal recommendations for the year.
As a system helping us to understand the health impacts of climate variance, the Wuyun Liuqi has precious information to convey to us in our modern, global climate crisis. As climate continues to change, this system offers not so much a prediction for exactly what will happen in our local environment, but more of a global look at what climate and health trends are likely in a given year. The chaotic climate patterns of our world, just like illness in our body, manifest at points of vulnerability, which can be understood through the Wuyun Liuqi. The information here may be useful this year, or sometime in the future — whenever the kinds of climate variance described below take place in your local environment. Like the Snake, we must be flexible and adapt to meet the needs of our body and environment; ready when the time comes to put into action what we have learned and have prepared for.
With that said, before getting into the climate, ecological and human health effects that are likely in the coming year, I want to begin with a quote - often misattributed to Laozi - that summarizes Wood Snake energy across the board:
“Watch your thoughts, they become words
Watch your words, they become actions
Watch your actions, they become habits
Watch your habits, they become character
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny”
More than anything else, it is important to recognize this as a year when small, subtle changes can have a profound impact when allowed to naturally unfold and play out over time. This is a year to take seriously our own inner thoughts and attitudes in how they affect relationships and the world at large, as well as paying close attention to even slight changes in seasonal weather and our own wellness to stay healthy through some turbulent times to come. As will be explored below, the Wood Snake year is defined primarily by Wind, which can create sudden, drastic changes, and Heat, which can inflame any latent pathogen or vulnerability. Small shifts — in seasonal climate, physical or psychological health — can suddenly turn into a crisis if we are not careful. This is a year when we can easily get “blown off course” and inflamed — both literally and figuratively — so maintenance of physical and mental health through routines of preventative care is important. As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and that is especially true in the coming year.
With that said, let’s dive into the year of the Wood Snake by examining the Wuyun more closely.
Artwork by High Wild West
五運 - Wŭ Yùn
The “Atmosphere” of the Wood Snake
The Wuyun system describes the celestial dynamics of energies for a given year through a series of Tones that symbolically resonate throughout. These tones, manifesting as either an excessive or diminished vibrational quality, are pervasive and encompassing, determining much of the energetic “atmosphere” for a year. Imagine the Wuyun like a song playing in the background for the whole year. The genre, tempo and mood of the song will inevitably influence the activities and feeling of the year. While its effect might be hard to pinpoint, its impact on the entire year is undeniable and plain to see.
The tones used in the Wuyun system have a long history of being used to “ring in” the seasons of the year through a series of bells and pipes played in ancient Chinese courts. Played at the correct time, these instruments helped to create resonance on Earth with the dynamic movements of Heaven, and bring the two into harmonious alignment. When the tones were not played at the appropriate time, or played out of order due to a breakdown of ritual protocol, this symbolized a discord between the seasonal cycles of Heaven and Earthly activity, with corruption of social order inevitably ensuing.
So, while the tones certainly have climatic as well as health implications, the Wuyun tonal system can also be used as a lens to view the collective psyche and socio-political activity as well. Like the song playing in the background all year, the tones affect all domains of life in a similar way through resonance, although climate and health are what we are primarily concerned with here.
Which tone predominates in a given year is determined by the Heavenly Stem, which this year is 乙 Yi — the “Wood” in the Wood Snake Year. This year, the tone governing the “Annual Period” is the Metal tone: 商 shang, which appears diminished throughout the year. Since 商 shang is diminished or weakened, the Wuyun energy of the year is described as Deficient Metal.
“The nature of metal is hardness. When metal qi is inadequate, it submits to transformation caused by fire and is changed.”
As this quote suggests, the weakness of Metal ⚓️ in the coming year creates the conditions for Metal’s controlling element - Fire 🔥 - to come and “dominate” the deficient element. In turn, to balance the now-excessive fire, Water 💧 will “take revenge” on fire to restore proper, harmonious dynamics to the cyclical flow of elements. Going back to the idea of a “yearly soundtrack” playing throughout the year, Deficient Metal is suggestive of an unstructured, directionless song like a free-jazz jam session. To correct this lack of clear structure, Fire comes in with a passionate, intense overtone to compensate and provide direction, but this intensity eventually needs to be tempered itself by something softer and more fluid, which is where water comes in. This symbolic interplay of elements in the tonal system can be applied to any domain in the coming year, from our personal lives to geopolitics to climate and health. I encourage everyone to consider how this tension and resolution is playing out in their own life and use the recommendations below to smooth these frictious transitions to consciously harmonize these forces that are at play everywhere.
Exploring this symbolic interplay though the lens of natural metaphor, we see climate and health abnormalities follow this same pattern of “domination and revenge.” Because of Fire’s “dominating” influence, Yin Wood years are classically described as being hot, which can dry out the land and leads to damage of the Metal organs of Lung & Large Intestine, which are especially weak this year due to the diminished 商 shang tone. Yin Wood years also have an abundance of “spring” energy, which contributes a windy nature in the year. Along with excessive heat, wind can cause further health complications and climate abnormalities.
Below are the specific health and climate effects for the year according to the Wuyun. Keep in mind that these are symbolic more than predictive. This information is best used to proactively support our personal health through supporting our Lungs, Large Intestine and Liver (the “Yin Wood” organ associated with 乙 Yi, which can also be affected by wind-heat) with preventative measures. Also, be on the lookout for the kinds of sudden shifts in weather as described below, taking care with your health if and when they occur in your local environment.
Health Effects of Yearly Wuyun: Organs affected are the Metal organs of Lung and Large Intestine. Symptoms can include wind-heat patterns of painful aching pressure and congestion in the chest, tightness across the shoulders, back and nape of neck. Sinuses are prone to congestion and sneezing due to airborne irritants. Mouth sores, bloody noses or even blood in stools possible due to excessive heat. Counterflow symptoms of impotence, headaches (at vertex/top of head especially) with sensations of heat in the face are all indicated as possibilities.
Climate Effects of Yearly Wuyun: Heat and wind combine to create fertile conditions that are nevertheless hot and dry. Later in the year, water qi surges - cold rains arrive suddenly and early, which can result in flooding and other natural disasters. Ice, hail, frost and snow arrive early as well, killing creatures and any plants that are not hardy.
Snow on the Sahara - symbol of a dry, windy climate prone to sudden cold and ice.
Wuyun as Geopolitical Force
Another way to view the Wuyun tones that is of particular interest is considering them as outlining dynamics at play in society and politics, which is unavoidable to consider this year and also directly impacts our mental and physical health to various degrees.
The Confucian classic “The Book of Rites,” predating the Wuyun Liuqi system, uses the same tonal system, but views the tones through the symbolism of governmental offices. The Metal 商 Shang tone of this year represents "Ministers,” which is to say the collection of officials in charge of daily management of the government. A “diminished” 商 shang tone, as we see this year, implies a weakness or inefficacy of government officials, making them unable to carry out their mandates. This is not entirely surprising given that last year (which culminated on Inauguration Day, January 20th) was characterized by an excessive 宮 Gong tone, representing excess and overreach by the Ruler, which in turn has gives way to a situation of local officials being disempowered.
“ 商為臣…商亂則陂其官壞
Shang tone represents ministers... If Shang tone becomes irregular, chaos follows; the officials of the state are corrupt/their official responsibilities are broken”
Gonkar Gyatso - Shangri La (2014)
Perhaps even more interesting and timely is what the “domination and revenge” of Tones described above indicates will happen in response to this situation of politically ineffectual officials. Just like the Five Element example of Fire dominating Metal and Water taking revenge on Fire, the Wuyun tones seen through the Confucian lens of government operations signals that weakened 商 Shang tone, implying diminished power of ministers and officials, will result in their “domination” powerful socio-political movements and global affairs, symbolized by the Fire Tone 徵 Zhi. These greater, decentralized forces are seen to overpower the weakened officials & offices, appropriating their mandate to different ends. In response, the Water Tone 羽 Yu will rise up to slow the momentum of these movements, where 羽 Yu represents material conditions. In other words, this is a year when local politicians do not have the power to represent their constituents and must give way to the overwhelming momentum and pressure of political movements outside their control, and the only thing that will stop these cascading social and political changes will be the material conditions becoming such that things are forced to slow or halt.
In every reading of the Wuyun for the year, the message is the same. This is a time when we can all - individually and collectively - be caught up in sudden “windy” changes, and inflamed by “fiery” passions when we try to push against these unexpected changes. This frustrating struggle can give way to a “watery” nihilism, since we cannot control the way the wind blows. This template can be an opportunity to recognize that the inflammation of polarization, sudden winds of change and the exhaustion that can ensue from both are all damaging to our personal and collective health if we are caught up in them unconsciously. We must not forget to nurture the well-being of ourselves and those closest to us, as this is a year when we can easily be blown off course and end up ill. Our own actions can either add momentum to the energetic pendulum swings, or moderate their effect and impact by remaining grounded in our own work and capacity to effect change. I encourage everyone to look out for these dynamics playing out in their own lives, communities, and environments this coming year. Now that we have the general overview of the Wuyun, let’s move to more specific descriptions of Climate and Health this year, as described by the Liuqi.
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六氣 - Lìu Qì
Practical Guidance for Health
The Liuqi, or six seasonal climates, describe a regular movement of yearly weather — from the alternating hot/cold and wet/dry nature of spring, to the heat of summer, to the dryness of fall and the cold of winter. These regular seasonal climates play “Host” to a series of “Guest” climate patterns. As the name implies, the “Guest” climates do not follow the normal procession of seasonal climate from spring to summer to fall etc. Instead, the Guests are climate patterns that occur out of their usual season and as such create adverse ecological and health effects due to the inability of the environment and our bodies to adapt to irregular or extreme weather patterns.
Each year, there are two principal Guest climates that determine overall climate variance for the first and second half of the year, respectively. Snake years are governed primarily by the Guest Qi of Jueyin Wind — which covers the entire year but is more prevalent in the first half — and Shaoyang Heat, which governs the second half of the year. This might sound familiar, as the Wuyun of the year is also characterized by Wind and Heat. The doubled influence of the Wuyun and Liuqi combine to create conditions for an increase of adverse climate and health events.
As a Windy year, the Liuqi indicate a that climate patterns will change rapidly and unexpectedly. Heat arriving in the second half of the year results in a late, unseasonably warm winter. In terms of health, the combination of wind and heat creates conditions for internal heat, stagnation and dryness, along with “windy” symptoms of dizziness, tinnitus and other disruption to the sensory orifices. In the latter half of the year when warm weather arrives out of season in fall and winter, it may feel comfortable and welcome, but unseasonal warmth creates conditions for seasonal contagions to spread much faster than normal, and for novel epidemics to arise (2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, had the same Liuqi as this year). What is important for both climate and health is that things will happen suddenly this year — for example, summer may be late, then all of sudden a “heat dome” sweeps in. These kinds of sudden, dramatic climate patterns accentuate the potential for health impacts as the body does not have time to adapt to the usual flow of seasonal weather. Protocols for seasonal health in the next section can help establish balance in these situations.
Below is an outline of the entire Wood Snake year, broken into its six Liuqi component periods. While each of the six “Qi Periods” has Host and Guest climate, the two principal Guest climates in bold, Jueyin Wind and Shaoyang Heat, that have the greatest overall effect on climate and health throughout the year. Note that the Liuqi year begins on January 20th, not the Lunar new year of January 29th or the Solar New Year of February 5th.
Wood Snake Liuqi Climate Calendar
1st Qi Period: Jan 20th - March 20th
Host Climate: Jueyin Wind | Guest Climate: Yangming Dryness
Effect on Climate: The Guest (Metal) dominates the Host (Wood), leading to autumnal conditions even though it is spring. Plants and animals suddenly die as though it is fall.
Health Effects: Dryness and wind mix to damage the Liver and tendons (also potentially the Lungs and skin). People may feel cold in the abdomen, tendons can be desiccated, tight and painful, and circulation can be diminished.
Remedy: Be mindful of exposure to the elements during this time period. Wear a scarf, avoid the wind and eat plenty of warm, “wet” foods such as porridge, congee, and stews. This will both warm and hydrate the body. If your joints feel stiff, soak your feet in warm epsom salt, or include vinegar in your meals.
2nd Qi Period: March 20th - May 21st
Host Climate: Shaoyin Fire/Light | Guest Climate: Taiyang Cold
Effect on Climate: The Guest (Cold) dominates the Host (Fire), and the cold of winter persists through late spring. Buds and blooms may die due to late frosts, or appear “scorched” and blackened due to freezing and thawing. Cold rains arrive frequently, even as the days grow longer.
Health Effects: As the seasons change, yang qi expands and the body naturally becomes more vigorous. This is blocked, however, by the late and unseasonal cold. The inability to circulate qi can lead to constraint and heat sensations in the chest (vexation) and digestive issues.
Remedy: This is usually the time of year to exercise and be outdoors more. The presence of Cold makes this a challenge, so find ways to get your circulation moving while not exposing yourself to cold. When it’s warm enough, spend time in the sun (still wearing that scarf!). Continue with warm, wet foods, and include digestive bitters such as digestifs to prevent vexation or digestive disruption.
3rd Qi Period: May 21st - July 22nd
Host Climate: Shaoyang Heat | Guest Climate: Jueyin Wind
Effect on Climate: The Guest of Jueyin Wind dominates the entire first half of the year, and comes to the fore here in early-mid Summer. During this period, winds rise up and dry heat characterizes the seasonal climate.
Health Effects: Wind and Heat cause conditions of counterflow and yang rising, leading to disease of the head: watering eyes, ringing in the ears, dizziness and vertigo.
Remedy: Pungent and cool flavors keep the liver circulating qi smoothly without getting overheated. Lung health is also important as heat combined with wind creates conditions for airborne irritants and dryness. The second half of the year carries a potential for contagious disease to spread, so caring for your lungs throughout the year is important to support immune health. See “Herbal Strategy” below for more.
4th Qi Period: July 22nd - September 23rd
Host Climate: Taiyin Damp | Guest Climate: Shaoyin Fire/Light
Effect on Climate: The humidity of late summer combines with additional warmth to create a “tropical” atmosphere of heat and dampness.
Health Effects: Classically, it is said the people are likely to suffer from yellowing of the skin and swelling — possibly Jaundice — in this period. This could be an indication of stagnating Liver qi, and also could allude to a proliferation of insects due to the damp climate conditions, which can lead to bug-borne illnesses like malaria that cause liver damage and Jaundice.
Remedy: Though summer and early fall, the sour flavor is indicated to prevent illness. Over the entire year, Wood qi is strong which can cause exhaustion of the Liver. The sour flavor consolidates Liver qi to prevent this situation. Additionally, in this period there is excessive dampness and heat, which can lead to sweating and dehydration. Sour foods, especially fruits, tonify and astringe fluids to prevent dehydration. In the extreme case of jaundice, sour citrus fruits also support liver function and can prevent stagnation and damage to the Liver network.
5th Qi Period: September 23rd - November 22nd
Host Climate: Yangming Dryness | Guest Climate: Taiyin Damp
Effect on Climate: Dampness and Dryness alternate, creating storms, wind, rain and clouds of dust in turn. Alternations of weather patterns, such as great rainstorms and long periods of dryness/drought are likely. This is the time period most likely associated with the classical description of this year being prone to 黃起水迺眚，土用革 “yellow water calamities causing the earth to transform.” This cryptic passage seems to imply landslides, flooding or other conditions where dry soil can be swept away by excessive water, and in our modern day also water pollution.
Health Effects: Damp and cold affect the body, creating feelings of heaviness, atrophy and diminished appetite. Despite the presence of dampness in the body, the mouth will feel dry as the body is unable to transform water.
Remedy: The bland flavor can transform water in herbal remedies, and mushrooms are another way dietarily to benefit water metabolism. Eating a diet that is not overly spiced, contains plenty of moisture and adding mushrooms to meals can help percolate excessive dampness and improve fluid metabolism to prevent combined damp/dryness described above.
6th Qi Period: November 22nd - January 20th 2026
Host Climate: Taiyang Cold | Guest Climate: Shaoyang Heat
Effect on Climate: Fire qi is strong out of season, creating conditions of unseasonal warmth, which delays hibernation or even bring creatures out of hibernation early, to disastrous results. Water does not freeze as usual, the ground remains soft and spring buts begin to sprout prematurely.
Health Effects: People feel relaxed and comfortable with the unseasonably warm weather. However, these conditions are likely to give rise to epidemic “warm” diseases.
Remedy: Since Fire Qi dominates both this Qi period, the entire latter half, and also is the element that takes “revenge” on deficient metal in the Wuyun of the year, heat is the environmental factor that is perhaps most impactful to health this year. To prevent depletion of yin, eating organ meat, beets, dark leafy greens, mineral-rich foods. Resting and avoiding excessive activity can help us remain in a state of winter rest despite the activity of the outer world. As the “storage” function of the winter season is energetically disrupted, we must conserve our own energy to prevent the same from happening internally.
The Regulation of Ministerial Fire is Paramount - the Neijing cautions very strongly against overlooking the importance of Ministerial Fire in the latter half of the year. While it is unseasonably warm and Shaoyang energy may appear stronger, it is also at risk of being exhausted, leading to damage of Kidney Yin and Essence, which is the source of fire in the body. There is also the risk of Ministerial Fire becoming constrained and stagnant due to the unseasonal arising of heat when the body should be conserving energy on the interior. In both cases, it is important to not promote or drain fire strongly, as both might lead to degenerating health conditions. If there is the sensation of cold (ie. stagnation of ministerial fire), exercising vigorously or using an herbal strategy to “unblock” stuck qi might provide temporary relief, but goes contrary to the seasonal dynamic and risks exhausting the body’s resources. Excessive sweating should also be avoided as this will also damage yin at a time of year when we want to be preserving our body’s resources. Slow, gentle corrections are best.
Year of the Snake Herbal Strategy
In the Neijing, each year is given a pair of herbal flavors and temperatures that govern treatment strategies in the first and second half of the year. This can be helpful for creating low-dose formulas to be take throughout a season, or as a dietary directive for ourselves and patients to include these flavors as part of a seasonal diet. In Snake years, the protocols are as follows:
In the first half of the year (January through July): acrid and cool herbs are indicated to resolve Wind pathogens. Chaihu is perfect as an example, as it is both cool and acrid, and its effects of harmonizing Shaoyang is in keeping with the expectation of volatile Spring climate leading to qi stagnation as outlined above. Acrid and cool foods can be helpful dietarily in the first part of the year: this can look like adding small amounts of cardamom and other pungent (but not overly hot and drying) spices to food, or a dish like cucumbers in chili oil that is acrid as well as cooling, and so protects the interior from dryness stagnation.
For the second half of the year (July - January 2026): the salty flavor and cold temperature are recommend to clear excess heat and support the Kidney in the autumn and winter. Ministerial Fire is likely to be circulating strongly in the winter, due to unseasonal warmth, which goes against the natural seasonal gesture of storage and as such affects the Kidney. In the Neijing, the salty flavor is variously described as benefiting the Kidneys, the Bones and also Blood via the Liver. Salty herbs primarily come in the form of minerals, either from animal bones/shells or a raw mineral. Sea plants such as kelp also have a salty flavor. Muli (Fossilized Oyster Shell) for example, anchors rising yang, and as such is helpful to reign in ministerial fire. Haipaoxiao (Cuttlefish Bones) astringe Jing/Essence and can be used to tonify the Kidneys, which can suffer damage from the warm weather leading to circulation of Ministerial Fire in the winter. In terms of diet, this is a little more tricky, as most modern diets have high salt content already, and cold-nature foods are not well tolerated by those with weak digestion. Making broth from fish bones/carcasses and kelp can be a good way to get the nourishing, anchoring gesture of this flavor/temperature pairing. Also, taking minerals supplements such as magnesium and zinc to help sedate flaring Ministerial Fire and help the body move into a Yin/storage state can be helpful later in the year.
Finally, there is a Song Dynasty text, 三因極一病證方論 “Discourse on the Ultimate Source of Disease and It’s Treatment,” which outlines yearly formulas based on the Liuqi. Below is the yearly formula for Snake years with commentary.
Yearly Formula with Seasonal Modifications
Formula Name: 敷和湯 Fuhé Tang
Ingredients: All ingredients are used in equal amounts (8g each)
Bànxià (半夏) - Acrid and Warm
Zaozi/Dazao (棗子) - Sweet and Warm
Wuwèizi (五味子) - Sour (w/all other flavors) and Warm
Zhishí (枳實) - Bitter, Acrid and Cold
Fúlíng (茯苓) - Bland and Neutral
Hezi (訶子) - Bitter and Neutral
Ganjiang (乾薑) - Acrid and Warm
Júpí (橘皮) - Acrid Bitter and Warm
Zhi Gancao (甘草) - Sweet and Warm
Formula Architecture
This formula primarily targets the Taiyin Spleen and Lung networks, presenting with a mixed picture of deficiency and accumulation/stagnation. Taking this as a constitutional remedy would potentially maintain a healthy respiratory and digestive system while clearing phlegm and stagnation that might arise. This is in keeping with the overall windy nature of the year, that can disrupt the Lung and impact digestion, but the absence of cool and salty is curious, as is the lack of a specific modification for the 6th Qi Period, when warm diseases are indicated.
Preparation and Dosage:
Grind all ingredients into coarse powder. Boil 15g in 1.5 cups of water, until only 1 cup of liquid remains. train out dregs and take before meals.
Seasonal Modifications
1st Qi Period: Add one part Shu Niánzi 鼠黏子 (Bitter and Cool). A folk herb that dispels wind, reduces swellings and treats the skin.
2nd Qi Period: Add one part Màiméndong 麥門冬 (Sweet and Cool), and one part Shanyào 山藥 (Sweet and Neutral). Both herbs tonify the Taiyin Lung/Spleen network and clears heat to unblock vexation.
3rd Qi Period: Add one part Ziwan 紫菀 (Acrid and Warm) an herb for strengthening Lungs and clear wind pathology.
4th Qi Period: Add one part Zéxiè 澤瀉 (Neutral and Cold) and Shanzhirén 山梔仁 (Bitter and Cool). Possibly meant to be Zhizi, the fruit Shanzhiren comes from, but either way these herbs regulate water metabolism to balance out the alternating damp/dryness of the season. The cold flavor is present here when the influence of Heat in the Autumn and Winter begins to create unseasonal weather.
5th and 6th Qi Period: Use the original formula without modifications. Overall warming, dispersing phlegm and stagnation while tonifying and supplementing Taiyin Spleen/Lung and clearing heat via the Bladder.
