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Late Summer into Fall - the Turning of Yang into Yin
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Rachel Condon, Lic. Ac.
In Chinese Medicine, we recognize five seasons, the usual four, plus the season of
Late Summer
. In actuality, the energetics of this season refers to this time of
late August thru September
, as well as the transitional energy of ALL of the seasonal changes, which occur at the equinoxes and solstices.
It makes some sense if you think about how, for example, in March at the spring equinox, it hasn't usually thawed much yet, and there is still a cold bite in the air and maybe snow on the ground. But the days are getting longer... there's
a transitional time from one season to the next
, and THIS is what the energy of the earth element refers to.
And so here we are - the time of Late Summer, and by the end of the month with the fall equinox, we will be entering into fall, and the energetics of the Metal element begins to take hold. This is also a pivotal time for the energetics of our bodies, in accordance with nature - to shift from the more outward, active, travel, and growth-oriented time of
spring and summer, where Yang energies dominate
, to the time of turning inward, slowing down, letting go, putting gardens to bed, tending to our homes, getting back into daily routines of self-care, as
fall and winter approach, and the yin energies become stronger
.
As with much of Chinese medicine, these theories usually have a very practical side to them, a way to apply this understanding to your life and your health, and find ways to live more in harmony with the cycles of nature, rather than fighting against them.
Last month we talked about the energetics of the Earth element in our
August newsletter
, with a focus on digestion and gut health, the spleen and stomach organs, as well as an interpretation of the concept that "the spleen houses thought." As we move thru Late Summer and into Fall, the energy of Metal begins to take hold - Anne Louise will be offering the
Constitutional Metal Element Treatment
early in the morning of September 21st, which you can read about below. The Mood or emotion most associated with the Metal element is
grief and sadness
, and this time of year, with the shortening days, leaves falling off trees, etc, can be challenging for many, though it is part of the natural cycle.
Notice how you feel at this time of year -
and of course, this particular time of year is not only the calendar time of Late Summer, but it is also a seasonal transition from summer to fall, which makes its energetics even stronger.
Do you feel a growing sadness and discomfort around the ending of summer and the cooler nights returning?
Or perhaps you feel more energized and focused, with the hint of crispness to the air...
There's
no right or wrong way to feel
about these changes in nature; they all have their purpose. And I know that we ALL have those transitions we love and can't wait for, and the ones we really don't like and resist! But maybe having another way to think about this constantly shifting and changing cycle of seasons and nature, can provide a new or deeper perspective on
finding balance and harmony
, even when it's uncomfortable.
And so,
as Yang turns into Yin
, that endless cycle of change, as depicted in the familiar symbol, may we honor and pay attention to the changes unfolding in nature, as well as what our bodies are trying to tell us, and find ways to support this ongoing process. Along with self-reflection, dietary and other lifestyle adjustments and tweaks, coming in for one or a series of acupuncture treatments during these transitions can be a wonderful support.
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The Constitutional Fall Metal Element Treatment on Sept 21st
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Saturday, September 21st, between 4:30-6:00AM
Limited to 6 participants, so book early!
Cost is $35, or one off a package
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Anne Louise Smallen, Lic. Ac.
The Metal element, ruled by the
Lungs (breathing, taking in) and the Large Intestine (getting rid of, eliminating),
will be at its height on Saturday, September 21 between 3 am. and 7 am. Treating these meridians with Metal points at the highest time of year for the Metal element helps bring and keep in balance our abilities of taking in, sorting, choosing, and eliminating, what comes to us through our environment (from the air we breathe, to the emotions we entertain).
Imbalance in the Metal element
can manifest with
respiratory diseases
: asthma, allergies, bronchitis, COPD, sinusitis, chemical or environmental sensitivity. It can also manifest in
elimination diseases
(constipation, IBS, diverticulitis) or in
skin disorders
(psoriasis, eczema, acne) as well as many
auto-immune diseases
, like fibromyalgia.
The Metal element is the most exterior element and protects us
from invasions by viruses and bacteria. It keeps us healthy when we are surrounded by contagious people.
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The Mood of the Metal Element, Grief, and its Signficance
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Anne Louise Smallen, Lic. Ac.
The predominant emotion for the metal element is
sadness and grief
.
The
time of year where much of nature dies is a great example of loss and grief. The leaves fall and the plentiful gardens of late summer are no more. Missing the lusciousness of summer and the bounties of the harvest is a normal and healthy part of life. Even nature seems to grieve.
We all experience loss
and it is normal and human to grieve. We can do it consciously and accept that what we liked and valued (people we loved, possessions, personal abilities and gifts and even our own existence) come to an end.
We are born, live life to the very best we can and leave this world.
This is what being human entails and it is normal and healthy to grieve the many losses we go through during our time on earth.
However,
we can become imbalanced
when we are stuck in our own grief indefinitely, or are avoiding it (and thus a connection to all of our feelings) altogether, and unable to also fully enjoy the pleasures of life, or when we are unable to feel anything at all. Depression, low self-esteem, rigidity, hate and blame, abusing drugs and alcohol, or losing ourselves in bad habits, are often
signs of imbalance in the metal element
. So are compulsive and obsessive behaviors, difficulty in letting go, prejudices, problems with authority or intimacy, etc.
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The Metal Points Used in the Constitutional Treatment - the Metal Points of the Metal Channels - Lung 8 and Large Intestine 1
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Lung 8
(Jing qu in Chinese) is sometime translated as
Channel Gutter in English
. It is located on the arm above the wrist. As its name says, its main function is to be the outside gutter for many ailments affecting the lungs: cough, wheezing, asthma, breathlessness, dyspnea (difficulty inhaling or exhaling). Because the lung meridian also governs the skin, in addition, it is used in the treatment of excessive sweating and fever. It is also good to treat pain in the soles of the feet or in the wrist.
Large Intestine 1
is located on the dorsal aspect of the index finger at the base of the nail. Both its Chinese and English names are
Shang Yang
. Jing well points located on the fingers and toes are sensitive and meant to wake up the body and the consciousness of people. LI 1 is sometimes used for to revive someone who fainted or just had a stroke. Because of the location of the meridian, it is also used in the treatment of fever, swelling in the upper body, toothache, throat pain, and pain in the shoulder.
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Updated Feature on Website!
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Have you ever thought of something you'd read in a previous newsletter and wanted to refer back to it? Or just curious to read more of these short articles, discussing everything from what acupuncture treats to the meaning of acupuncture points, to recipes and seasonal advice?
Here are some of the topics we've written about:
*Adaptogens
*The Art of Fermentation
*Make Your Own Candles
*Lung 10
*Fire Cider Recipe
*the Magic of Lemon Balm
*The Big Heat Point in Acupuncture
*Managing GERD and Heartburn
and plenty more!!
Please click
HERE
to go to our monthly newsletter page on the website. Happy Reading!
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