Connecting with the Seasons
I find the way acupuncture and Chinese medicine connects in with the wider environment- seasons, weather and cosmological influences so fascinating. In times past we would have no choice but to be connected in to the seasons. We relied on this deep connection with nature and the turning of time to inform our ritual, rites of passage, farming, birthing, building and survival skills. And while many of us no longer have such a relationship with the natural world, we would be foolish to think that we are not affected by it. Even the most cloistered city dweller may notice that their appetite increases in the depths of Winter and their energy levels increase as Spring and Summer beckon.
Transition into Autumn
In Chinese philosophy it is the time for letting go, for harvesting what we have learnt from the last few months and ‘composting’ what is no longer useful.
How it impacts immunity
Benefits of treatment at this time of year include support for the body-mind to adjust to what is considered the harshest transition. From the highly expansive, energised and outward quality of Summer, we turn right around and start to come inwards. This can cause stress, illness and for some, low mood and depression in the struggle to adjust.
The Autumn however is typically the time for people to get their first flush of colds and flu. All parents know this as their children go back to school- but we see it in a much broader sense than there simply being more ‘bugs’ around. If you have looked after yourself well in Summer, and not run yourself ragged, you will have a more robust immune system coming into Autumn.
In contrast, Winter into Spring is much easier on our bodies, there is a natural growth from small and quiet to gently opening, waking up to Spring; the energy is rising and there is a natural yearning to gently come out of hibernation, we start to feel more energised as the days get longer. This is an easy transition.
Time for reflection?
Support for this tricky transition can include taking more time for stillness and reflection, daily journalling, writing out what you want to let go of in your life. Making this space gives us the opportunity to clarify the last few months, to catch our breath. We tend to not stop and think in the Summer, and this is absolutely fine, it’s in tune with the wild ecstatic energy of Summer. However, if we continue with this unfocussed energy into Autumn we will all too soon be bitten on the bum as bills start to pile up; appointments go unmade, and we don’t give the due attention to the upcoming projects that are tugging on our metaphorical sleeves.
A few tiny needles can make a big difference
Acupuncture treatments offer an incredible support in so many ways, you may not think a few teeny tiny needles can offer this! In my experience regular treatment with a good practitioner offer benefits ranging from improved immune health, reduction of stress and anxiety, improved sleep patterns, restored energy levels, and improvement of aches and pains as the weather turns colder. It can be a very useful ‘reset’ and if you only have treatments four times a year, make them at the transition times between seasons.
Acupuncture is traditionally a preventative therapy, and so having treatments in Autumn will build your ‘Qi’ and Kidney energy; you can think of this like your life force and adrenals. This will strengthen you for deepest darkest Winter, when we really do get a battering if we haven’t prepared ourselves adequately or ‘harvested well’.
