Sure, we’ve dipped into the mid-70s here in Daytona Beach, but Jorge, Phoebe and I are ditching our flip-flops in search of some scarf and hat weather. Beginning next week, we’ll be in Washington DC for a much needed vacation.
The timing couldn’t be better, because just when you thought we’ve said all we could possibly say about transitions, we’re gearing up for another big one. We’ll tell you more about that when we return from our trip.
With fall in full swing, and in preparation for traveling, I can’t help but think about immunity, so we’re leaving you with 8 solid tips that will help you fend off those upper respiratory cooties.
We would never ask you to accept something we offer at face value. In fact, you’re more likely to make use of these suggestions if you understand WHY they’re so important, and not just because we suggested it. Let’s start with this…..
Each season corresponds with a different organ
Spring corresponds with the Liver
Summer corresponds with the Heart
Fall corresponds with the Lungs
Winter corresponds with the Kidneys
There is also a transitional time between seasons that is governed by the spleen. Ever gotten sick with the change of seasons? This could indicate a weakness in your spleen energy.
In Chinese medicine, the Spleen is Mother Earth, if you will. As Mother Earth, she is at the helm of the digestive system. She breaks down food and transforms our food into useable energy. Oh, and by the way, did you know that 70% of the cells that make up our immune systems are found in the walls of our intestines? Our GI health is directly linked to our immunity, and subsequently, so are our food choice.
And get this! There are emotions associated with each of our organs. The emotion associated with the spleen is “pensiveness,” or a state of dreamy, wistful thoughtfulness. Excessive pensiveness in the form of thinking, worrying or brooding over a long period of time can weaken the spleen, and subsequently, the digestive system (ever had to run to the bathroom before giving a speech?)
A weak spleen can lead to symptoms like fatigue, bloating, difficulty digesting foods, loose bowel movements, or insatiable sugar cravings. You’ll notice that many of the tips that we’ve included above help to nourish your spleen as we transition into fall.
And finally, fall is the season of the Lung, so this organ is more easily subject to imbalance at this time of year. You know this one already…bacteria and viruses can enter our system through the nose and mouth. In Chinese medicine this holds true, but we also recognize that they can enter through the skin, and a particularly vulnerable area is the skin on the back of the neck. In Chinese medicine, the lungs control the skin, including the opening and closing of the pores. Something you can do to protect yourself from invasion of external pathogens is to wear a scarf or a turtleneck during the colder months, especially on windy days.
So with all that in mind, we’ll be packing our scarves, our herbal travel kit and our acupuncture needles. We’ll also be posting a few of our vacation photos on Facebook and Instagram, so be sure to follow us so we can keep in touch!
In health,
Maggie
