Staying healthy this season (Fall)

With the sudden appearance of cool days and leaves piling up around us it's clear that autumn has arrived in earnest! In Chinese Medicine the climactic energy that governs the autumn is Dryness and the winter is governed by Cold. As we approach the mid-point between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice our bodies are now adjusting to both of these factors. We are more vulnerable in these times of transition. Now is a great time to give some extra love to your immune system, after all it's much easier to stay healthy than to recover after a bad cold or flu. My favorite tips for staying well this time of year revolve around a theme: Keep your body warm!

Keep your neck warm! Wear a scarf when outside from now until at least April. Cold wind on your neck contributes significantly to weakening your body's immune defenses. Don't be fooled by sudden warm days either, wear your scarf! Additionally it's important to keep your core warm, so button up that coat. All our bodies' energy is produced in our core (through our GI tracts and our lungs), if this machinery gets cold it gums up the works and leaves us vulnerable.

Eat cooked, warm food. Salads and fresh fruit are an awesome part of summer, but now that we are preparing to hunker down for the cold seasons ahead give your body the fuel it craves. Now is a great time for stews, bakes, and even the occasional fried food. Try adding some mushrooms to your broth like Maitake, Reishi, or Shiitake, or roots like Astragalus to get an added immune boost when you are well (NOT when you have an acute respiratory infection).

Ditch the ice water which effectively cools our core and slows our digestion. This impairs our ability to assimilate food and provide our immune systems with the fuel they need.

For more tips on staying healthy or to get Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Crystal Healing, or Vitality Coaching with me check out: https://www.jaredgreentherapeutics.com/

Nyssa Green, L.Ac. MAOM