The September issue of Real Simple magazine, which arrives at my office on August 4^th,  invites readers to write in their answers to the question:  “What do you stock up on now for fall?”  Likewise, Five Element acupuncturists are always looking forward to the next season or two when we plan our treatments, as part of our objective is to help our clients move seamlessly and effortlessly from one season into the next. 

Five Element Acupuncture sees the yearly cycle of nature as being composed of five different seasons (spring, summer, late summer, autumn, and winter), and understands that each of these seasons is represented by one of five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, respectively).  Everyone resonates with one of these seasons/elements more strongly than with the others.  Mary looks forward to the freshness and promise that comes with spring, but Tom is happiest when he can pursue the outside social activities that the summer  brings.  Debbie luxuriates in the thick and languid days of late summer.  Eric feels renewed and inspired by the crisp and clear autumn days, while Paul feels best as his batteries are recharged in the darker and more restful days of winter. 

Just as we all feel more “at home” in one of these seasons than we do in the others, certain seasons bring us particular challenges.  Five Element Acupuncture, in addition to addressing specific physical complaints, seeks to smooth the transitions we each face as we move from one season to the next.  For example, Mary’s joints are aggravated by the humidity that the late summer brings, while Tom battles with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as winter approaches and the days become shorter.  Debbie is resistant to autumn, dreading the exchange of long and lazy late summer days with her kids with the more structured scheduling that is required once school starts again.  Her digestive problems tend to worsen in the first days of autumn.  Eric is especially prone to skin rashes and allergies in the summer heat, and Paul notices that he experiences more exhaustion and blood pressure problems with the increased activity that the long summer days bring.

There are many ways in which a Five Element Acupuncturist can work with a client to ease these seasonal transitions.  First and foremost is, of course, by using the acupuncture needle and an herb called moxa, which is burned near the skin on particular acupuncture points.  These fundamental tools work to provide a better balance between a client’s strengths and weaknesses as defined by the seasons/elements.  Different types of food and food preparation are better in some seasons than in others, and often simple dietary changes can make a big difference in how one handles the challenges of a new season. Similarly, different types of physical activity and patterns of sleep and rest are called for as we move through the seasons of the year.

Most acupuncturists are experienced in a variety of these skills. If you find yourself resistant to a certain season, or notice that certain physical ailments tend to recur during specific times of the year, acupuncture may be of great help to you!  A skilled acupuncturist will be able to help you both become aware of how different seasons of the year may challenge you physically and emotionally, and assist you in meeting those challenges. 

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