Seasonal Transition Self-Care
Time to Gather In
The Autumn equinox passed last week, a time of balance – dark and night, Yin and Yang. As summer fades and we draw inward towards Winter. A pause towards transition, a time of harvest and gathering in.
Step up care for your Immune System
The Autumn equinox is a reminder that we need to start taking care that our immune system is strong and balanced for the coming colder seasons. Turning inward into Autumn and Winter, the Yin seasons.
Autumn is the time to look at changing how we eat to more warming foods, to nourish your inner Body, Mind and Spirit. Nutritious foods such as soups and stews, with squashes and pumpkins, delicious root vegetables, and corn on the cob. Find your local farm shop and remind yourself which foods are in season. Gather some damsons, plums, and blackberries. These are all good for your immunity, as well as getting out in the crisp, bright days.
Drink Well
What you drink is important; your system needs to be hydrated, and every cell within you needs good fluid – water.
Drinking warm water: improves your digestion, detoxifies you, helps the kidneys eliminate effectively, promotes circulation, reduces nasal congestion, and it is easier to drink more warm water to hydrate yourself well. So keep away from freezing cold water loaded with ice.
Reduce caffeine: if you love coffee; just have one good-quality cup a day, in the mid morning; a little is good. With caffeinated teas as well only drink a little and in the mornings. Many herbal and fruit teas are delicious. Green tea is good, but it does have a small caffeine. Cocoa is also a drink with many health benefits, hot chocolate without the sugar! (It does have a little caffeine, so just a small cup).
Alcohol: There are health claims about alcohol. This is true about some of the ingredients, but the toxicity to your system mostly outweighs the benefits. So reduce or try to avoid.
Engage with your Body
The weather can still be warm with cooling mornings and evenings. Get out in the countryside, walk through the leaves, gather conkers, and clear your head. Embrace the fresh air and breathe through your nose. Do remember to keep warm and wrapped up in the cold moments.
Try to get outside in the mornings as the new light appears. This helps your system’s internal clock – circadian rhythms letting your system know it is the beginning of the day. Knowing this, your body also knows day and night (Yin and Yang), helping with your sleep.
Sleep Builds Your Inner Resources
Sleep is vital; it gives your Body, Mind, and Spirit time to rest, rejuvenate and strengthen your immune system. As the evenings are closing in, it gives you the triggers to slow down. Give yourself a wind-down time before bedtime, turn off TV, screens, talk, read, relax, drink some relaxing herbal tea or cocoa. Practice some gentle yoga, meditate, and slow down. So, when it is time to go to bed, you feel calmer and to get a good night’s sleep. More and quality sleep means a stronger Immune system; give yourself this gift.
Be Mindful
Take time to care for yourself and say no sometimes; this can help you achieve the time to give yourself time to relax and recharge. Sitting or lying and doing some breathing exercises and meditation. Walking meditation, a calm walk, taking in your surroundings and focusing on your senses. These practices are more powerful than many people realise – try it. A good app for meditation, breath, and self-help courses is Insight Timer (I have used and recommended this for years) – see link https://insighttimer.com/
Daily Practice
Be kind to yourself each day, give yourself a few minutes or hours to do something you enjoy. Reading, walking, being with those you love, being alone, practising yoga, meditating, tia chi or a sport or movement you enjoy. A little bit of self-care can remind you that you are important and loved.
Acupuncture treatment
In Traditional Five Element Acupuncture, the seasons play a significant role in our treatment approach. Each Element is connected with a season. The elements of Autumn and Winter are Metal and Water. We treat each person’s guardian element, which also relates to the treatments through the seasons. Holistically treating you with what you need in each season. For more information about the Five Elements, see link https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/acupuncture-five-elements/
For Traditional Five Element Treatment, contact Hannah Charles at –https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/
Hannah Charles is a founder member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)
The BAcC is an advocate for traditional acupuncture professionals and maintains the highest professional standards to protect the general public. BAcC members belong to an accredited register, regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA). For More information, see the website https://acupuncture.org.uk/
