Similarities of Fall Wisdom in Judaism and TCM

By |2023-09-27T13:51:41-04:00September 26th, 2023|Categories: Seasonal Changes|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Judaism and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are two distinct systems with different purposes and cultural backgrounds. However, they do share some conceptual similarities, especially when considering certain aspects of their teachings in the context of the fall season. In particular, the High Holidays and TCM concepts associated with fall have some interesting overlap. Both the High Holidays in Judaism and TCM emphasize the significance of seasonal transitions and its influence on emotions, as well as "taking stock" of ourselves. In TCM, the transition from summer to fall is seen as a time of change as well as a time [...]

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Finding Balance During the Fall Equinox

By |2023-09-23T10:59:54-04:00September 20th, 2023|Categories: Seasonal Changes|Tags: , , , |

The autumn equinox, which typically occurs around September 21st-23rd in the Northern Hemisphere, represents a moment of balance. On this day, Earth is in balance, evenly split between north and south, warm and cold, light and dark. With the Earth, in effect, straight up and the sun not taking sides, we have an equinox. During this event, twice a year, the world rebalances itself, representing Universal harmony. Some say that if we connect to that wisdom, anything is possible. Finding balance during the autumn equinox is a symbolic and often spiritual practice that aligns with the changing seasons. For [...]

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Seasonal Depression in the Fall

By |2022-11-15T14:04:41-05:00November 2nd, 2022|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: , |

In the clinic this time of year, we often hear from our patients about wanting help for their "seasonal depression." Many people feel a sense of depression in the Fall vs. other times of the year. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, this article may help. As you've probably read before in one of our emails, Chinese cosmology places great importance on each season, and its impact on our health. There are also 5 seasons in Chinese reckoning--Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Winter. Each season not only has a pathogenic environmental factor that impacts us (e.g. [...]

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Ancient Ghosts and Ghost Points

By |2023-10-23T16:06:07-04:00October 26th, 2022|Categories: History of Acupuncture|Tags: , , , , , |

One of the earliest forms of literature in ancient China were ghost stories. They are believed to be part of the oral tradition during the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE) and continue to be popular in today’s China. However, ghosts were a serious matter to the ancient Chinese. According to traditional Chinese belief, when a person dies their soul travels across a bridge to the afterlife. On this crossing, they are judged as either worthy or unworthy. If considered “good,” they continued on; if deemed “evil,” they plummet from the bridge into hell. Depending on one’s beliefs, if they reach the [...]

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Fall Ritual and Recipe

By |2023-09-10T14:03:20-04:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: Nutrition, Seasonal Changes|Tags: , , |

One of the many gifts I’ve received as a student and practitioner of East Asian medicine is connecting to the cycles of seasons. I have a deeper understanding that nature is not something out there, but that I am nature and can feel the movement of seasons within me. As we transition from the season of Late Summer with its abundant harvest to the cooler crisper Autumn, I know some people have been craving this change, while others are dreading it. With the seasonal shift from the relatively more yang outward energy of outdoor gatherings and summer BBQs, to the [...]

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Cry! Sing! Scream! : Grief + The Lung in Autumn

By |2022-11-15T14:05:19-05:00September 28th, 2021|Categories: Mood, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , |

Since the start of the pandemic, grief is something we've been experiencing on such a large collective scale. The transitional season of autumn is linked to the Lung, which is the yin organ specifically related to the emotion of grief. The Lung’s corresponding yang organ is the Large Intestine, associated with physical and emotional ‘ letting go.’ In this season, we may carve out time to acknowledge and feel our grief, and perhaps find ways to help us process and release it. First of all, we have to let ourselves and others know, IT’S OKAY TO FEEL OUR GRIEF! [...]

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The Fundamentals of Fall

By |2023-09-14T09:44:40-04:00September 21st, 2021|Categories: Mood, Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , |

"The forces of Autumn create dryness in Heaven and metal on Earth; they create the lung organ and the skin upon the body...and the nose, and the white color, and the pungent flavor...the emotion of grief, and the ability to make a weeping sound." - The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine Fall is the season when the days become shorter and the leaves begin to change, presenting us with their beautiful colors before they fall off the trees to prepare for the coming winter. It is the time of year that we go from the relaxed and carefree attitudes [...]

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Winter Walks, What?

By |2024-01-08T13:56:20-05:00December 15th, 2020|Categories: coronavirus, Immunity, Organ, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Many Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners consider Fall to be the premiere season for taking walks outside. Afterall, Fall is the season of the Lungs and Large Intestines, and the act of releasing and letting go seems to go hand-in-hand with walking. However, outdoor walks are monumentally beneficial every season, every day. Walking outside is a great way to circulate qi, strengthen the lungs, aid digestion, promote circulation, and clear the mind. In fact, during times of “brooding,” stress or anxiety, it’s been shown that taking a tree-lined walk changes blood flow in the brain to improve and enhance mood. However, [...]

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Your First Line of Defense: Wei Qi

By |2022-11-15T14:06:20-05:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: coronavirus, History of Acupuncture, Immunity, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , , |

Immune function and strength from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective is historically fascinating as well as relatable, even after 2,500 years of medical advancement. Immunity in TCM is influenced by several factors, one of which is by our defensive Wei Qi (distinguished from other types of qi or energy thought to circulate in our system, such as nutritional qi or ancestral qi). In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body is thought of as its own microsystem, or more specifically its own “kingdom.” In the kingdom, every organ has a role and an assigned function. The Heart as the Ruler, [...]

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Lung 7: Broken Sequence

By |2022-11-15T14:06:21-05:00November 10th, 2020|Categories: acupoint, Acupressure, Allergies, Immunity, Mood, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Take Home TCM, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Photo by Pedro Figueras In this challenging and tender season of life, the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides an invaluable framework to finding balance within even the harshest climates. A core tenant of TCM is living in accordance with the seasons. We currently find ourselves in the Metal (Autumn) season during a Metal year (Metal Rat).  Metal is the element associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine and the corresponding emotional themes of grief and letting go.  Given this context, it seems no coincidence that we are experiencing a global respiratory pandemic. Many of us find ourselves processing [...]

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