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What do you want to let go this fall?

let go this fall

What are you ready to let go this fall?

Fall is a beautiful time of year, and a great time to release what no longer serves you. The weather shifts, giving a break from the summer heat. Cool breezes gently loosen leaves from the trees. The leaves start to change color, in beautiful shades of gold, orange, and red. Then, the leaves start to fall.

 

This is the time of year when many people start feeling a little sad, or even a little stuck or unfocused. This can result in depressed feelings or digestive issues, for example. In Chinese medicine, our organs are associated with phases or elements. In the fall, the metal element is dominant, and the associated organs are the lungs and the large intestine. Feelings of sadness and needing to let go are right in line with the energetic shift of the changing seasons.

 

Alignment with the seasons and phases

People are often fascinated to hear about how their organs are associated with the different seasons and how this relates to symptoms they experience in their bodies.

 

In Chinese Medicine, there are five phases of transformation: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. While in Traditional Chinese Medicine these are called elements, Classical Chinese Medicine refers to them as phases because they develop and change into one another. The five phases or elements correspond to the seasons spring, summer, fall, and winter. Chinese medicine further divides summer into two parts: summer and late summer. Late summer refers to the transformation between the warmer summer weather and cool fall weather. The seasons and phases (or elements) are associated as follows:

 

  • Spring: Wood. This is when nature starts stirring from winter’s dormancy. Trees and plants blossom. New branches grow out of old wood, and new growth begins.

 

  • Summer: Fire. This is the time of warmth and activity. Nature is moving actively, and as a result is growing and flourishing.

 

  • Late summer: Earth. This is the time of harvest. It is also is the pause between the rising of the warming and active phases of wood and fire and the declining and cooler phases of fall and winter.

 

  • Fall: Metal. This is when nature lets go of what is not needed. Leaves fall from the trees. The compost from dead leaves enriches the soil so it can prepare for the next cycle of growth in the spring.

 

  • Winter: Water. This is a time of rest. Animals hibernate, the days are shorter, and nature gets still and goes within to build up reserves.

 

How the fall season influences the lungs and large intestine

As I shared earlier, the lungs and large intestines represent the metal element and fall. Just as the trees let go of their leaves in the fall, this is the perfect time to let go of what we no longer need. When we hold on to grief rather than letting it move through us, we can feel depressed and sad. When our large intestine does not let go of waste the body does not need, we can feel bloated and uncomfortable. Additionally, we can feel foggy and unfocused when our lung and large intestine energy are weak. The metal energy is not strong enough to cut through to reveal what’s really important.

 

In Chinese Medicine, the skin belongs to the metal element. This is a time of year where people frequently experience dry, itchy, skin. There can also be an increase in acne and rashes, among other skin conditions. A dry, itchy condition can indicate an energetic deficiency. On the other hand, a hot and red condition can indicate excessive energy.

 

 

Help your lungs and large intestine release what no longer serves you

Every individual is unique, and no two people will experience the same symptoms for exactly the same reason. When I see a new patient, I make the time to ask a lot of questions and review their health history. This allows me to determine what is going on with their energy. For example, it is important to determine whether their energy is getting stuck or is deficient. I develop a customized treatment to address their specific needs and restore the balance of energy. This might involve acupuncture needles, ear seeds, qigong exercises, and diet and lifestyle advice.

 

What are you ready to release this fall? Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you let go of what no longer serves you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directionsClick this link for a listing and description of services offered.

Ease into the transition of late summer with Chinese medicine

late summer

Late summer – the fifth season

Chinese medicine recognizes five seasons: spring, summer, late summer, fall, and winter. Late summer is important because it is the shift between the warm seasons to the cool seasons. It is the time when the hot yang energy of the summer starts to shift into the cool yin energy of autumn.

 

Chinese medicine associates our organs with phases or elements. In late summer, the earth phase is dominant. The organs associated with earth are the stomach and spleen. The earth element is all about transformation. It signifies the turning point between the peak of summer and the gradual change into fall. The earth element demonstrates an inflection point, just like the space between an inhalation and exhalation.

 

Alignment with the seasons and phases

People are often fascinated to hear about how their organs are associated with the different seasons and how this relates to symptoms they experience in their bodies. In Chinese Medicine, there are five phases of transformation: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. While in Traditional Chinese Medicine these are called elements, Classical Chinese Medicine refers to them as phases because they develop and change into one another. The seasons and phases (or elements) associate as follows:

 

  • Spring: Wood. This is when nature starts stirring from winter’s dormancy. Trees and plants blossom. New branches grow out of old wood, and new growth begins.

 

  • Summer: Fire. This is the time of warmth and activity. Nature is moving actively, and as a result is growing and flourishing.

 

  • Late summer: Earth. This is the time of harvest. It is also is the pause between the rising of the warming and active phases of wood and fire and the declining and cooler phases of fall and winter.

 

  • Fall: Metal. This is when nature lets go of what it no longer needs. Leaves fall from trees. Compost from the dead leaves enriches the soil so it can prepare for the next cycle of growth in the spring.

 

  • Winter: Water. This is a time of rest. Animals hibernate, the days are shorter, and nature gets still and goes within to build up reserves.

 

How the late summer season influences the organs

As I shared earlier, the spleen and stomach are the organs associated with the earth element and late summer. This is a good time of year to focus on digestive health, centering, and stability. Ancient classical Chinese texts share that spleen and stomach energy are the foundation of health. The stomach takes in nutrition and works with the spleen to transform the nutrition into qi (energy) and blood. Spleen energy then transports the qi and blood to various organs.

 

Spleen energy is also responsible for holding and ascending energy. It holds the blood in the vessels. It helps keep organs like the bladder and uterus lifted. Weak spleen energy can result in prolapse of these organs, or varicose veins, for example. Stomach energy, on the other hand, is a descending energy. This energy helps food descend into the body to be transformed and utilized. When stomach energy is weak, the energy is said to rebel and go upward, which can result in indigestion, burping, etc.

 

Additionally, earth energy is responsible for the digestion of thoughts and emotions. Energy stagnates when we don’t express ourselves. As a result, we can feel mentally stuck. We may have a repetitive thought that we can’t get out of our head. We might even feel physically stuck with issues like constipation and bloating.

 

Help easing into the transition of late summer

Every individual is unique, and no two people will experience the same symptoms for exactly the same reason. When I see a new patient, I make the time to ask a lot of questions and review their health history. This allows me to determine what is going on with their energy. For example, it is important to determine whether their energy is getting stuck or is deficient. I develop a customized treatment to address their specific needs and restore the balance of energy. This might involve acupuncture needles, ear seeds, qigong exercises, and diet and lifestyle advice.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directionsClick this link for a listing and description of services offered.

 

Embrace the joy of summer

embrace joy

Make time to embrace the joy of summer

Summer is a time of abundance, and it is a great time to cultivate and embrace joy. It is the time to harvest the fruits of our labor. We are at the peak of fiery yang energy, and then the season shifts into one of transformation. Chinese medicine associates our organs with phases or elements. In the summer, the fire and earth elements are dominant. The organs associated with fire are the heart and small intestine. The stomach and spleen belong to the earth element. The fire element brings in a quick and lively energy associated with joy. The earth element is all about transformation. It signifies the turning point between the peak of summer and the gradual change into fall. The earth element demonstrates an inflection point, just like the space between an inhalation and exhalation.

 

Alignment with the seasons and phases

People are often fascinated to hear about how their organs are associated with the different seasons and how this relates to symptoms they experience in their bodies.

 

In Chinese Medicine, there are five phases of transformation: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. While in Traditional Chinese Medicine these are called elements, Classical Chinese Medicine refers to them as phases because they develop and change into one another. The five phases or elements correspond to the seasons spring, summer, fall, and winter. In Chinese medicine further divides summer into summer and late summer. Late summer refers to the transformation between the warmer summer weather and cool fall weather. The seasons and phases (or elements) associate as follows:

 

  • Spring: Wood. This is when nature starts stirring from winter’s dormancy. Trees and plants blossom. New branches grow out of old wood, and new growth begins.

 

  • Summer: Fire. This is the time of warmth and activity. Nature is moving actively, and as a result is growing and flourishing.

 

  • Late summer: Earth. This is the time of harvest. It is also is the pause between the rising of the warming and active phases of wood and fire and the declining and cooler phases of fall and winter.

 

  • Fall: Metal. This is when nature lets go of what it no longer needs. Leaves fall from trees. Compost from the dead leaves enriches the soil so it can prepare for the next cycle of growth in the spring.

 

  • Winter: Water. This is a time of rest. Animals hibernate, the days are shorter, and nature gets still and goes within to build up reserves.

 

How the summer season influences the organs

As I shared earlier, the heart and small intestines are the organs associated with the fire element and summer. Just as the flowers are bursting with vitality and many crops are at their peak in the summer, this is the perfect time to celebrate the gifts we have in this life and enjoy the fruits of our labor. It is a time to find things that make your heart happy. Do things that you love, and have fun. Plan enjoyable activities like taking a vacation with loved ones. Hike in the woods. Play at the beach. These are great ways to cultivate and embrace joy and bring yourself in line with the fire element and the energy of the season.

 

The sensory organ associated with the fire element is the tongue. This is a good time to speak your truth and share what is in your heart. Also, expressing ourselves and moving our body facilitates the heart’s ability to circulate blood throughout the body. Since the fire element and heart are also associated with love, try to express yourself in the most loving way possible. Sometimes, it’s most important to direct that loving energy toward yourself.

 

Additionally, the earth element is all about digestion. This refers to literal digestion as the stomach digests food and the spleen transforms and transports the energy to be used by the body. It also refers to the digestion of thoughts and emotions. When we don’t express ourselves, the energy can get stuck and we can feel mentally stuck. We may have a repetitive thought that we can’t get out of our head. We might even feel physically stuck with issues like constipation and bloating.

 

Help learning to embrace joy this summer

Every individual is unique, and no two people will experience the same symptoms for exactly the same reason. When I see a new patient, I make the time to ask a lot of questions and review their health history. This allows me to determine what is going on with their energy. For example, it is important to determine whether their energy is getting stuck or is deficient. I develop a customized treatment to address their specific needs and restore the balance of energy. This might involve acupuncture needles, ear seeds, qigong exercises, and diet and lifestyle advice.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directionsClick this link for a listing and description of services offered.

 

Acupuncture for painful periods

painful period

Background on painful periods

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be a great support for painful periods. This condition is called dysmenorrhea. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists shares that more than half of women who menstruate have some pain for 1 to 2 days each month. For some women, this pain can be mild. But for other women, the pain can be so severe that it keeps them from doing their normal activities for several days a month or more. Women have many options to get support for dysmenorrhea. One of those options is acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

 

Why acupuncture and Chinese medicine are a great option for supporting painful periods

Here are some of the many reasons why acupuncture and Chinese medicine are a great option for supporting dysmenorrhea:

  • It is oldest recorded medicine and is thousands of years old
  • It focuses on whole body wellness
  • It takes a holistic approach – body, mind, and spirit
  • An emotional or mental event is just as important as a physical one
  • It focuses on the individual
  • It is complementary to other healing modalities, including western medicine, massage, chiropractic, therapy, and others

 

Getting to the root cause

When I’m working with a patient who has painful periods, it’s important to understand the root cause. Chinese medicine is individualized. There is no one size fits all treatment strategy. For example, we might have five women experiencing painful periods. But each one may be experiencing pain for very different reasons, and it’s important to understand why and what’s going on with each woman at a foundational level so I can understand the root cause and give her the specific support she needs.

 

I ask a lot of questions about menstrual cycles, including:

  • Average cycle length
  • How many days of bleeding
  • The quality of the blood (color, thickness)
  • Where is the pain, how many days does it last, and when in the cycle does it occur
  • Are there any premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or post-menstrual symptoms that are noteworthy
  • Is there spotting before or after the period
  • Has the patient had any diagnoses of cysts, endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

 

Diagnosing from a Chinese medicine perspective

In addition to the menstrual cycle questions that I shared above, I ask questions about all facets of the patient’s overall health, health history, and lifestyle. I start to form an opinion on the root cause of the pain, and then when I see the patient in my office, I also feel their pulses and look at their tongue. This gives me additional insight into what is going on in their body.

 

Dysmenorrhea can result from a number of different kinds of disruptions to the body’s energetic pathways and energy flow. For example, painful periods often result from qi stagnation, cold stagnation, or blood stagnation. Qi refers to energy, or life force. We have channels of energy that flow through our bodies just like we have arteries and veins. One thing that’s key for optimal health and wellbeing is the free and smooth flow of qi. When our qi stagnates, pain can result. Additionally, if we have too much cold energy in our body, in particular in the uterus, the accumulation of cold can result in painful periods. I gather all of this information to create a diagnosis to treat the root cause and balance the patient’s energy so that their body can then heal itself and restore smooth menstrual cycles.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you with painful periods? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

 

The Chinese organ body clock

Chinese organ body clock

Background on the Chinese organ body clock

Often when I start working with with a new patient, I’ll ask them if they’ve ever heard of the Chinese organ body clock. Typically, the response is an interested, “No, what’s that”? What I’m referring to is an important part of Chinese medicine that is firmly rooted in nature. The Chinese organ body clock refers to the projection of organ system function to our 24-hour clock. Every two hours a different organ system is either at its peak function of activity or its lowest activity or time of rest, just like the tides in the ocean. Aligning our activity to the organ clock can help maximize our health and wellbeing. It can give us clues into the root of illness or dis-ease. At times, it can also provide a simple explanation and solution to health issues.

 

How the Chinese organ body clock works

In Chinese medicine, the organ cycle starts with the Lungs from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. and cycles through a different organ system every two hours. It ends with the Liver from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. After that, the cycle starts all over again. Follow this link for a visual of an organ clock created by Health CMI. Here is a listing of the times for each organ system:

 

3 a.m. – 5 a.m. : Lung

This is the time when the lung organ system is at its peak. The lungs are associated with the emotion of grief. Often, people who are grieving will find themselves waking up at this time as the lungs process grief. This is a good time to stay in bed and rest to nourish the lung organ system.

 

5 a.m. – 7 a.m. : Large Intestine

This is the time when the large intestine organ system is at its peak. The large intestine is associated with letting go.  We literally let go of what the body does not need when we have a bowel movement. This peak time for the large intestine is when it is easiest to have a bowel movement, and why people who’s bodies are in tune with nature have a bowel movement during this time after they wake up.

 

7 a.m. – 9 a.m. : Stomach

This is the time when the stomach organ system is at its peak. This is the ideal time to eat a big meal, as the stomach is best able to digest food at this time. Interestingly, the worst time for the stomach to have a big meal is 7 p.pm or later in the evening when the stomach is at its energetic low point. This is why it is recommended to have dinner by 6 p. m. and stop eating for the night by 7 p.m.

 

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. : Spleen

This is the time when the spleen organ system is at its peak. The spleen helps with the assimilation of nutrients from food to build energy in the body. This is an ideal time to work and tackle your most difficult tasks. Conversely, during 9 p. m. and 11 p. m. the body should be winding down for the night and going to bed.

 

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. : Heart

This is the time when the heart organ system is at its peak. The heart pumps blood and nutrients throughout the body. This is a good time to eat lunch, and ideally, a lighter meal than eaten at breakfast. When the heart is performing optimally, the shen or spirit is bright, and thinking and speech are clear and effective.

 

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. : Small Intestine

This is the time when the small intestine organ system is at its peak. The small intestine separates the pure from the impure. In other words, it separates what serves us that we want to hold on to from what does not serve us that we should let go of. This is both physical and mental / emotional. We hold on to nutrition from food, and pass waste material to the large intestine. The small intestine also governs our discernment with thoughts and emotions and helps us sift through what serves us and what does not.

 

3 p.m. – 5 p.m. : Bladder

This is the time when the bladder organ system is at its peak. The bladder excretes liquid waste from the body. It is important to drink water throughout the day to help the bladder function optimally. Conversely, the weakest time of the the bladder organ system is 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. If the bladder organ system is weak, you may find yourself waking up during this time to urinate.

 

5 p.m. – 7 p.m. : Kidney

This is the time when the kidney organ system is at its peak. The kidneys filter fluids and maintain a healthy chemical balance in the blood. This a great time to have a walk after eating dinner to help with circulation and digestion. Gentle stretching is also helpful during this time. The weakest time of the kidney organ system is from 5 a.m. through 7 a.m. If you find yourself having trouble getting out of bed during this time, it may indicate that your kidney organ system is deficient from an energetic perspective.

 

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. : Xin Bao / Pericardium

This is the time when the xin bao or pericardium organ system is at its peak. In Chinese, xin bao translates to “heart envelope”, and it refers to the pericardium that wraps around the heart. The pericardium protects the heart, and in Chinese medicine it also relates to circulation. This is an optimal time of day for conception. The weakest time of this organ system is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m, and it has been shown that heart attacks are more likely to occur during this time. It is believed in Chinese medicine that this is because the pericardium, or heart protector, is at its weakest during this time.

 

9 p.m. – 11 p.m. : San Jiao / Triple Burner

This is the time when the san jiao or triple burner organ system is at its peak. In Chinese, san jiao translates to “three burners”, and it refers to the three places in the body where energy is transformed. San jiao is related to metabolism as well as circulation. In Chinese medicine, it is recommended to go to sleep by 10 p.m. This allows the san jiao to work on metabolizing everything that was taken in during the day and perform repair and regeneration functions.

 

11 p.m. – 1 a.m. : Gall Bladder

This is the time when the gall bladder organ system is at its peak. The gall bladder is responsible for storing and excreting bile which is used to break down fat. This is a very important time to be asleep so that the gall bladder organ system can focus on working with bile. If your gall bladder is having trouble dealing with a fatty meal, you might find yourself waking up and feeling restless or uncomfortable during this time. In Chinese medicine, it is said that the gall bladder pulls blood from the sinews and sends the blood to the liver to be detoxified. Aches and pains may be felt in the morning if the gall bladder is not able to complete this activity overnight.

 

1 a.m. – 3 a.m. : Liver

This is the time when the liver organ system is at its peak. A primary function of the liver is to store, cleanse, and detoxify the blood. In Chinese medicine, it also regulates the healthy flow of energy through the body. It is extremely important to be asleep during this time so the liver can focus on these important functions. If you wake up during this time, it could be because of something energetically effecting your liver organ system. The emotion associated with the liver organ system is anger, which is also frustration and rage. Often these emotions are held in rather than expressed and can affect the liver and sleep.

 

Influence on health and well-being

People are often really interested to learn about the Chinese organ body clock and how it can correlate to health and well-being. Understanding the details of what our bodies are focused on during different intervals of the day help us understand a lot of common advice, like why is so important to try to be in bed and go to sleep by 10 p.m.

 

An interesting case of night sweats

I saw a new patient recently who was having a lot of hot flashes and sweating at night that were preventing her from sleeping. An obvious conclusion might be that this was a symptom of menopause, but this was not the case. It turns out that she was eating dinner around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and she was eating spicy food during this time.  Just when her body wanted to wind down and rest, it was given a big task of digesting a spicy meal. This disturbed her sleep and made it difficult for her to rest. She altered her diet to have an earlier dinner without spicy food and found that her hot flashes abated and her sleep improved.

 

Alcohol and sleep quality

Many people believe that consuming alcohol in the evening helps them wind down and is beneficial to their sleep. They tell me they don’t understand why they wake up in the middle of the night. They can fall asleep easily but they have trouble staying asleep. I  ask them if they notice what time they are waking up. Their response is usually sometime between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. As you read earlier, this is “liver time”.  In many cases, while the alcohol might help them slow down and relax which may help them fall asleep, the liver then gets agitated with processing the alcohol and causes them to wake up.  Abstaining from alcohol for a few nights will usually show if this is what’s going on.

 

These are just a few examples of how fascinating the Chinese organ body clock is.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.