In the West, we consider the start of Autumn to be the Autumnal Equinox; which this year is September 22. Chinese medicine views things differently: Autumn Begins on August 7 this year. This is based on the Lunar calendar and is roughly six weeks before the equinox. The year is broken down into a series of roughly two week long periods, each with its own name/energetic/function. Why is this important? Well, during this time of transition, there are some things that we need to take into account from a Chinese medical perspective!
First: As the weather gets cooler, and there is more dew on the grass in the mornings, it is wise, as WuTang would say, to protect your neck! Wear a scarf! They are not just a fashion accessory, they can help protect you from getting a cold during this time. Is this a foolproof method? No; and that’s because getting sick is such a multi-factorial process that to say that this *one thing* will prevent you from getting sick is somewhat silly. But! That doesn’t mean that it won’t help!
Second: Look at your diet! Watch for foods that are considered cooling and perhaps begin limiting them! This includes (but is not limited to): Raw vegetables – like salad for example, raw sushi and sashimi, iced drinks (I am bad at this one… I love a good iced coffee…), raw fruits, cooling teas (unless recommended!) such as mint teas, and many more! If you’re interested in understanding more about this, reach out to your local acupuncturists (that’s us!) to learn more about the idea of cooling foods! But don’t worry, there are some foods that you can work into your diet as well during this time. Things like green onions, broths of various types, ginger, warming spices (yes that includes your favorite – pumpkin spice!), lightly salted nuts and seeds, and beginning to delve into darker colored root vegetables – such as beets, sweet potatoes, and the like.
Third: This one seems like a no-brainer, especially coming from acupuncturists, but get some acupuncture! I know that I personally aim to see people through the major transitions in their lives, and a seasonal transition is not excluded from that! Getting an acupuncture session to help your body ease into the next season is absolutely something you can do!
What do you do to help you transition into a new season? Let us know!
-Dr Charles
