seasonal acupuncture
The practice of acupuncture originated in China approximately 3500 years ago, and is more recently being practiced in the United States alongside Western medicine. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine see the human body as an energy system where mind and body are unified, each influencing and balancing the other.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine there are five main elements within our environment and each is connected to a particular season: Wood-Spring, Fire-Summer, Earth-late Summer, Metal-Fall, Water-Winter. The ancient Chinese looked to the natural ebb and flow within the natural world around them and applied this knowledge to define balance, health and well-being within the body. Energetically it is easy to see how each of these elements differs from one another. For example, the cooler, quieter energy of the Winter moving into the noisy explosion of new life and energy of Spring.
Have you ever noticed that people often get sick with a cold or allergies right around the change of Seasons? It takes energy to shift from one season to the next and if the body’s immune system is already slightly weakened, a cold, virus or allergy has a better chance to take hold. Seasonal Acupuncture treatments boost the immune system and assist the body in making the transition from one season to the next. These treatments have a cumulative effect on the body and with each seasonal treatment the immune system becomes better able to fight off colds, viruses and allergic reactions. Specific acupuncture points are selected on the body to boost the “element” or season that we are transitioning into. The treatments are relaxing and energizing at the same time.
The Summer season is upon us…Can you feel it in the air? The energy is excited, fun, playful, joyful and expansive! It’s Summertime! This is the time of year when the sudden burst of energy from Spring expands into the full bloom of Summer. It is during the next three months ~ June, July and August ~ that the flowers and trees and life all around us become more active and energetic. Just as we started our new beginnings in Spring ~ now we can utilize the energy of Summer to bring these plans to fruition and then harvested in the Fall.
Appropriately so, the season of Summer is associated with the element of “Fire” in Chinese Medicine. The color is “red”, the sound is “laughter” and the emotion is “joy”. A person with a “Fire element constitution” is outgoing, friendly, energetic and you often hear laughter in their voice. The Fire element governs the Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium (“heart protector”) and San Jiao. San (triple) Jiao (healer) is viewed in purely energetic terms and roughly corresponds to heart/lungs (upper), stomach/liver/digestive (middle), and intestine/kidney/bladder (lower). The balance of these areas is critical to good health and well being. When the “Fire” element is in balance, the heart is strong and healthy, the mind is calm and sleep is sound. When there is an imbalance, we may experience a lack of joy (depression) or have excess joy (mania). Some other imbalances may include agitation, nervousness, heartburn, and insomnia. During the Summer months the energy is more active or YANG in nature, and therefore a perfect time to “fire up” your weight loss or exercise plan. The energy of the season will support your efforts with rapid results ~ so keep moving! Some suggestions to remain in harmony with the season of summer:
- Awaken early in the morning.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Add pungent flavors to your diet (cilantro, dill, mint).
- Eat foods that are cooler in nature and that have a higher water content ~ fresh fruits and veggies abound ~ watermelon, cucumber, salads, asparagus, juicy fruits, fish and shellfish.
- Eat in moderation and often throughout the day ~ over consumption of any food can create an imbalance leading to indigestion and sluggishness.
The Summer season energy is also very hot ~ so it is very important to be conscious of the daily use of sunscreen liberally and proper hydration (150 lb adult needs to drink approximately 75 oz of water daily, and more when exercising). So get out there and enjoy the beautiful energy of Summer ~ stay cool and have fun!
Please join us for the Kenneally Acupuncture Seasonal & Healing Light Event, June 19th from 9 am to 6 pm. Please call for an appointment ~ and check out our vendors!
Blogger Bio
Kathleen received her B.A. from U.C.L.A. in 1988 and her Masters degree in Oriental Sciences from Samra University of Oriental Medicine in 1999. She has completed advanced training in Classical Five Element Acupuncture, NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique) and is a Reiki Master practitioner. She is a California State Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbologist. Kathleen comes from a family of Doctors and medical professionals and has been involved with many areas of health care for the past 25 years.
Kathleen has lived in the Santa Clarita Valley for over 20 years and has been in practice here for almost 10 years. She has been voted “Best Acupuncturist” in SCV for the past 5 years.
Kathleen’s objective as a practitioner is to facilitate health and well being through treating the whole person versus just their individual symptoms. In her practice she incorporates Traditional Chinese Medicine with other aspects of her training to create a treatment plan specific to the individual’s needs. Her specialties include but are not limited to: allergies, infertility/women’s issues, chronic/acute pain and stress relief.
Contact information for Kathleen:
Kenneally Acupuncture & Healing Light Center
661-252-4100
acudoctr@sbcglobal.net
www.kenneallyacupuncture.com
I’m really looking forward to seeing my allergy symptoms diminish with acupuncture.