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Health rhythms workshop coming to blueberry gardens

4/15/2014

Healthy Living in the fall

9/15/2013

Over the past couple of weeks in Maryland we have started to feel the emergence of fall, which officially started on August 7th according to the traditional Chinese calendar. We have had alternating periods of hot and humid with windy and chilly weather and a booming thunderstorm. I have noticed in my practice more patients suffering from nasal congestion, sneezing, general achiness and fatigue, mild sore throat, and headaches over the past 2 weeks. The fall and spring, both transitional seasons, tend to bring about these and other cold like symptoms, which range in severity and duration depending on the overall health and lifestyle habits of the patient currently and in the previous seasons. I would like to share with you all some of the wisdom from Chapter 2 of the Suwen of the Huangdi Neijing about the fall and some lifestyle choices that will make you healthy and prevent more illness in the winter.

The three months of autumn and called contained and balanced. The qi of heaven quickens and the qi of the earth becomes illuminated. Retire early and rise with the waking of the rooster. Allow the will to be calm and peaceful in order to moderate the punishing energy of autumn. Gather and collect the shen qi, to balance the prevailing qi of autumn. Do not extend the will outwards. Clear and purify lung qi. Nourish that which is gathering to act in accord with the qi of autumn. Going against these principles will harm the lung. In winter, there will be diarrhea with undigested food. The storing power of winter is diminished.

There is a lot of wisdom hidden within these passages, which may be unclear to those with little knowledge of Chinese medicine and philosophy. Here are some practical suggestions and meanings that I have learned and taken from this passage.

Go to bed and rise early, with the rooster. It is essential to get enough rest to obtain optimal health and longevity. During this time of year, it is ideal to sleep when the sun goes down and rise as it rises, or as close to this cycle as you can logistically achieve.
Nourish and cleanse the lung and large intestine. The energetic nature of the fall season is associated with the metal element, which relates to the lung and large intestine organ systems in the body. These organ systems, particularly the lungs, are often affected during the fall with symptoms of wind cold invasion, such as nasal and chest congestion, sore throat, stiff neck and body aches, sore throat, etc. It is also not uncommon to experience constipation or diarrhea when the body is having a difficult time transitioning between summer and fall. Energy can get stuck in the channels and lead to stagnant heat, which is why some people have symptoms every fall. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are a great way to help with seasonal transitions whether you are having symptoms or not, and support these organ systems.
Eat foods that are light, easy to digest, and slightly pungent and sweet. Eating this way will be beneficial to the lung and large intestine and will help prevent symptoms due to the stagnation of summer heat energy. Gentle cleanses are a good idea during this time of year to help the body get rid of excess waste products via the lungs and large intestine. (Check back for a favorite recipe of mine for lung and large intestine nourishment.)
Stay warm and always have a scarf handy. We are starting to notice an increase in the cool fall wind qi. Protecting the neck and body from chilly gusts wind is a good way to help prevent seasonal colds. This is especially true if you are already feeling run down and fatigued or tend to get sick a lot.
Spend time self reflecting and pulling your energy inward, do not extend the will outward. The energetic movement of the fall is descending, which is the opposite of the expansive quality found during the spring. It is beneficial to spend some time reflecting on the past year and on future goals and less time exerting yourself outward into the world, as the energy of the season supports inward motion. For those of you starting a business or big project, it would be more beneficial to reflect and prepare during the fall and winter, and execute those plans during the spring, which supports expansiveness and growth.
Practice forgiveness and letting go of grief and resentment, in order to moderate the punishing energy of the fall. The metal element is associated with the emotion of grief. This is a time for there to naturally be more feelings of grief and resentment in people who have stagnant energy in their lung and large intestine organ systems. Working with this energy of letting go in the fall will be of great benefit to your emotional and overall health. Holding on to these toxic feelings does nothing but disrupt the natural flow of energy in the body and will eventually make you physically sick if you are unable to release them. I have recently learned that in the Jewish religion, the two important holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are held during the fall season. This is very appropriate, as these two holidays are all about self-reflection, atonement of previous sins, and forgiveness of yourself and anyone else that may have wronged you, which are naturally practices to have during the fall.
Spend time out in nature enjoying the beauty and illumination of this season. Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The weather is cool, the leaves are decomposing and turning beautiful colors, and there is a stillness in the air that comes over me when I spend some time in the woods or near any body of water. Relaxing and reflecting in nature is a great way to bring some calmness and quietude to minds that are often constantly racing with thoughts, are over worked, and under rested.

I hope you all have a happy and healthy fall. Please feel free to share any questions or comments you may have and any tips you have to stay healthy during the fall season!

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Happy Spring!

4/17/2013

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Welcome everyone to my new website and blog! Spring is the perfect time of year for new beginnings, and I know this spring has been full of beginnings and growth for me so far!

Chapter 2 of the Suwen in the Huangdi Neijing, which is one of the oldest books about classical Chinese medicine, gives us some valuable insights for the most harmonious actions we can have in the spring time. According to the Neijing, when human beings act in accordance with the natural rhythms of heaven and earth and the cyclical changes of the seasons, there will be optimal health and disease prevention.

"The three months of spring are called 'emerge and display'. Within heaven and earth, all things begin their growth and the ten thousand things emerge to reveal their glory. Sleep when the night falls and arise early in the morning. Stroll around the courtyard with broad, easy steps, and loosen the hair to revive the form of the body. Align the will with the growth of what is new and refrain from killing. Be yielding in your nature, do not force your way. Admire the achievements of the world and do not punish. Nourish life so as to act in accord with the qi of spring. Going against these principles will harm the liver. In summer, there will be illness brought by cold (with improper conduct in the spring). The ability to receive what is maturing (in summer) will be diminished."

So what does this ancient Chinese wisdom mean for us in our modern lives? As this passage describes for us, the energy of the spring is full of new growth and prosperity, and the Neijing is telling us we should be living our lives within the flow of this natural, emerging energy. Here are some ideas for living along these principles for the spring:

Go with the flow of the spring! This is a great time of year to start any type of new project, like fruit and vegetable gardens, new businesses, cleaning out the garage, and new hobbies that promote your inner creativity and expression, to name a few.
Sleep in accordance with nature. Go to bed after the sky goes dark, and wake with the rise of the morning sun. The early morning has the most yang energy, and spring is the best time of year to take advantage of this. Getting adequate sleep is always ideal for good health.
Get moving! We are often over fed and under exercised in the winter months, when it is more natural to hibernate and conserve our energy. Use the energy of the spring to get moving again, and 'let your hair down'. Wake up a little early each morning, and start your day with some light exercise, such as walking, yoga, taiji, or qigong, or whatever activity you prefer to get your qi moving. Stretching exercises are particularly beneficial this time of year, considering that the tendon system is associated with the liver/wood energy of the body, which correlates with spring in nature.
Be mellow. Try to not be hostile or overly angry during the spring. This killing or punishing energy, which is associated with the fall season, is in direct opposition with the energy of the spring, and can cause your qi to become out of balance.
Nourish your body and eat well. Always try to eat in accordance with the seasons, as best as you are able to. Spring time meals should be less heavy and full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean (humanely raised) meats. Greens and sprouts are especially beneficial this time of year. Visit your local farmers market and see what delicious spring treats they have available for you. Don't know where your local farmer's market is? Check out the Eat Well Guide to find out!!
Get a seasonal 'tune up'. Acupuncture will help get your liver qi moving! Whether you are having any obvious symptoms or not, it is a great idea to get acupuncture seasonally to help keep your body in balance and to prevent minor imbalances from becoming more serious in the future if they go untreated. Traditionally, Chinese medicine was used in this way as a preventative medicine.
Look for signs of spring stagnation. The following symptoms indicate that you are suffering from stagnation of your liver qi, and are not flowing with the energy of the spring: congestion in nasal passageways and lungs, laziness, fatigue in the mornings, overeating, stuck in the same old routines and bad habits, addiction and reliance on drugs, including caffeine, restless sleep, mental or physical constipation, and headaches. These are some of the signs that acupuncture and Chinese medicine may be of great benefit to you this time of year.
Admire the beauty of life and the world around you.

What are you all doing to live in accordance with the spring? Stay tuned for my next blog post about spring cleansing for the body!

Here are some of the seeds we have planted this year so far. The emerging plant shoots are such a good image of what the energy of spring represents. Emerging potential. Happy spring everyone!!

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Hello patients and friends!! I hope to use this blog to share valuable information and inspirations, as well as to start some lively conversations and collaborations! Thanks for visiting!

Health rhythms workshop coming to blueberry gardens

Healthy Living in the fall

Happy Spring!

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