Spring And Chinese Medicine

Spring Is Here!

Yes of course this is Melbourne, and the weather is changeable but if the increase of patients into the clinic with Hayfever are anything to go by, Spring has sprung! As mentioned in our previous Article ‘Chinese medicine tips for Autumn’, historically recommendations for each of the seasons were made in the Huang Di Nei Jing Suwen (AKA Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon or the Su Wen).

The three months of spring,
they denote effusion and spreading.
Heaven and earth together generate life;
the myriad beings flourish.

Go to rest late at night and rise early.
Move through the courtyard with long strides.
Dishevel the hair and relax the physical appearance,
thereby cause the mind [to orient itself on] life.

Give life and do not kill.
Give and do not take.
Reward and do not punish.

This is correspondence with the qi of spring and
it is the Way to nourish life.

Opposing it harms the liver.
In summer, this causes changes to cold, and
there is little to support growth.

— (Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen Ch. 2)

Chinese Medicine Tips for Spring

The above quote from the Su Wen provides advice of how to live in accordance with Spring. It advises us that unlike in winter we can go to bed a bit later and rise earlier and begin going outside and move around.

We should consider starting some gentle exercise such as walking, bending and stretching. Yoga is a great example of an activity that would be appropriate. In winter we rug up to protect us from the bitter cold but as the season changes to spring the weather begins to warm and we can begin wearing looser clothing.

In addition to the suggested physical activity, we should also be mindful of our emotions and avoid anger and conflict, we should let things go and avoid holding onto bitterness and resentment. 

Common Illnesses in Spring

Spring is also the time when many people begin experiencing hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. Pollen levels can increase as plants begin flowering, and symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and nasal congestion can become a familiar part of the season.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the changing seasons were understood through concepts such as wind, cold and heat. These were ways of describing patterns observed in nature and the body, rather than the biomedical explanations we use today.

Hay fever is an allergic condition, and there are established approaches to managing symptoms, including reducing exposure to allergens where practical and discussing suitable treatments with a pharmacist or GP. If you're interested in acupuncture, you're welcome to arrange a consultation to discuss your circumstances, the available evidence and whether it's appropriate for you.

If you'd like to ask a question about Chinese medicine or arrange an appointment, feel free to give the clinic a call.

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Call us on ☎ (03) 90416569 to arrange an appointment or book online below

Chinese Medicine Tips for Autumn

Ancient Chinese Medicine Tips for Autumn

As the summer fades and the warm sunny days become fewer, It becomes appropriate to look at the ancient Chinese wisdom for the Autumnal Season. The most revered books about Chinese medicine is the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen (AKA Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon or the Su Wen). This series of collected works was composed sometime between 2200 and 2400 years ago and contains the principles of Chinese medicine. Within its pages it provides many treatments for a variety of diseases and illness, as well as advice of how to prevent illness and support health and wellbeing. 

Chinese Medicine and Yin And Yang

Chinese medicine will often make reference to yin and yang, seemingly opposing forces used by the ancient Chinese to describe phenomena

Examples of Yin And Yang

• Light is yang and dark is yin,

• Male is yang and female is yin,

• Heat is yang and cold is yin.

The seasons also can be broken into yin and yang. 

• Summer is yang because it is warm and sunny

• Winter is yin because it is cold and dark

The relationship between yin and yang is relative, for example a hot summer days is considered yang but when compared to the heat of surface of the sun it is yin. When we look at the symbol above for yin and yang we see that the image is in movement, Moving from utmost yang to utmost Yin, and each yin and yang tadpoley thing has a little nucleus of yin or yang contained within. What this image is trying to convey that yin and yang is in a state of flux and movement. It is this cycle of  yang becoming yin and yin becoming yang that the Chinese used as a way of understanding not only the outward environment but also the mysteries of the body.

Chinese Medicine and Autumn

Chinese medicine discusses 5 seasons, the typical Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring and an additional long summer, which is a warm damp season. Although we will only be referencing the 4 main seasons it is worthwhile noting there has been Season models proposed for Melbourne of 6 or more distinct seasons. Autumn is considered a season where the yang of summer is turning into the Yin of Winter, Autumn is associated with the Chinese understanding of the lungs and the element of metal. Below we have included a section from the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen (Su Wen) regarding advice for autumn.

“The three months of autumn,
they denote taking in and balance.
The qi of heaven becomes tense. 
The qi of the earth becomes bright.

Go to rest early and rise early,
get up together with the chicken.
Let the mind be peaceful and tranquil,
so as to temper the punishment carried out in autumn. 
Collect the spirit qi and
cause the autumn qi to be balanced.
Do not direct your mind to the outside and
cause the lung qi to be clear.

This is correspondence with the qi of autumn and
it is the Way to nourish gathering.
Opposing it harms the lung.
In winter this causes outflow of [undigested] food and
there is little to support storage.”

— Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen Ch.2

Self Care Tips for Autumn

Here are our Chinese medicine top 3 tips for autumn

1. Go to Bed Early and Wake Early

In the Su Wen you are advised to retire earlier to avoid the chillier air and wake with chickens, or more accurately at dawn. Yang is beginning to decline so you are encouraged to begin conserving not only qi but also your yang by avoiding the cold and the rain of the evenings. Also there is nothing better than getting a good restorative sleep to help keep the mind calm.

2. Calm the Mind

The importance of keeping a a calm mind and oneself focused and balanced is referenced a few times. Autumn is associated with metal and in ancient days, capital punishment was advised to be undertaken in the autumn. In the modern Australian context this is not a relevant concern,  but certainly being able to have a calm mind to be able to make considered and cool decisions is. We regularly recommend mindfulness apps as a way to maintain balance and a calm mind. Have a look at our article for our Top 3 Guided Meditations

3. Eat Warmer Foods and Wear Warmer Clothes

As the weather begins to cools the main advice is to dress and eat foods appropriate to the season. In this case we mean for you to not only eat the fruits and vegetables that are available seasonally but also to consider changing your cooking method for the season. In general we suggest you to have much less raw food, and more cooked breakfast and lunches. Also as the weather cools it may be a good idea to consider a scarf and hat before heading out into the elements

These suggestions reflect traditional Chinese medicine's approach to the changing seasons. They're offered as general lifestyle ideas rather than treatments or guarantees of better health, and you can decide which, if any, are useful in your circumstances.

OUR CLINIC

Based in Melbourne, the Coburg Acupuncture clinic is located in the heart of Coburg on Sydney Rd and provides Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage and cupping services. The Coburg Clinic services people from Coburg and surrounding Northern suburbs such as Brunswick, Pascoe Vale, Preston, Fawkner, Thornbury, Northcote.

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Call us on ☎ (03) 90416569 to arrange an appointment or book online below