According to Chinese medicine, winter is the time to rest and recuperate in order to be ready to reactivate in the spring. Fall helps us to be ready for that long rest.
What are some things you can do to help you become ready for the winter both physically and emotionally?
- As the weather gets cooler, switch to easy-to-digest foods such as soups and stews. Because they've been cooked, the nutrients are ready to be absorbed by your body. This can give your body the building blocks to rebuild so that you'll be ready for spring when it comes!
- Everyone talks about spring cleaning and how it can be useful for shaking off the dust after a long winter of "hibernation," but I'd argue that "fall cleaning" is just as useful, energetically. Autumn is the season associated with the metal element. The metal element likes for everything to have its place.
- It is said in Chinese medicine that if you can avoid catching a cold in the late summer/early fall that you'll be healthier through the winter. Take extra special care of yourself during this time. Drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and try to keep stress to a minimum. If you do start feeling the first inklings of a cold, get to your acupuncturist ASAP to make sure it doesn't stick around.
Autumn is a season of change from the liveliness of summer to the rest of winter. If we can recognize the importance of each of the seasons and live our lives to match, we'll be much happier and healthier!