Health tips for Autumn

Practical health tips for autumn

Welcome to my Autumn Newsletter and the beginning of a seasonal journey I’d like to share with you. I hope you’ll find it full of insights and practical health tips for autumn to help you ‘tune-in’ with the natural rhythms of life around us at this time of year.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s in this autumn newsletter:

• Energy of autum – metal, grief, and letting go
• Try this – qi gong to strengthen the lungs
• How to – connect with autumn
• Quick tips for autumn living
• Feel a cold coming on?

Autumn and the element of Metal

Autumn heralds the arrival of the yin half of the yearly cycle as the days shorten and we begin the journey from summer to winter.

In Chinese Medicine the season of autumn is associated with the element of Metal. Metal is the energy of autumn, giving us our sense of acceptance and ability to ‘let go’. Grief is the emotion of the Metal element. When the energy of Metal is blocked or imbalanced within us, our ability to ‘let go’ can become imbalanced, maybe a little stuck. As acupuncturists, we often find ourselves supporting and nurturing the Metal element in our patients to help release emotional issues, and autumn provides the perfect time to do it.

Other seasonal treatments and ‘tune-ups’ might also include…

• Protecting the body against getting ill during winter with coughs, colds, flu, and diarrhoea
• As a preventative treatment for spring hayfever sufferers
• For those who find autumn a difficult season, experiencing the loss of long summer days and warmth, acupuncture can help ease the transition

“I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 

L. M. Montgomery

Keep on moving for autumn health

The Lungs are the Yin organ of Metal and Autumn. This qi gong exercise helps the natural contraction and expansion of the Lungs, helping strengthen and nourish them at this key time of year as we gather our resources ready for Winter. A nourished Metal in Autumn also protects against over exerting its contracting nature on its opposite season of Spring, and can help in certain types of hayfever.

How to… connect with autumn

We should take care to harvest enough vitality to survive and thrive in the winter, beginning to nourish our yin and living more in tune with the season.

• As the nights start to draw in we start going to bed earlier. The ancients advised that people should retire early at night and rise with the crowing of the rooster during the autumn. We may have replaced the rooster with an alarm but the principle remains! (Hats off to you if you’ve got a rooster..)
• As the weather starts to lose the warmth of summer we need to add a layer or two and wrap up warm so that we don’t catch cold. Adding a neck scarf and warmer socks is a simple way to start. Old wives tale? Maybe, but key acupuncture channels run across the back of the neck and on the soles of the feet. We need to protect these areas
• If we get wet when out in mother nature then remember to remove damp clothes as soon as possible, don’t let the damp or cold seep in
• Not so good to sweat in autumn, as sweat is one way that precious yin resources (or vitality) can leave the body. We need that yin to support us in the winter. Consider favouring more yin-nourishing activities such as walking, yoga, qi gong and meditation
• Appreciate our yin aspects. Settle into ourselves, spending time on reflection, meditation, and contemplation

Feel a cold coming on?

If you catch it in time, acupuncture can help you shake off a common cold before it takes a hold. Don’t worry if it’s already set in, acupuncture can still help strengthen the body’s response, reducing the nasty symptoms and getting you back on your feet quicker.