Surviving Autumn & Winter with Five Element Acupuncture
I am a Five Element Acupuncturist and I’m currently celebrating Autumn, the season associated with the Metal Element.
We have entered the time of short days, damp, wet weather and longer hours of darkness. Many people struggle at this time of year but I’ve found that acupuncture, alongside some lifestyle changes, can really help support us through this time and can even help us enjoy it.
The overriding premise of Five Element Acupuncture is to treat the primary element within us and by doing so this helps bring balance across our systems both physically and emotionally. It is a wonderfully simple approach based on an alignment with nature and I’ve found it can help support a patient through the most complex of symptoms. During this season, your practitioner will often treat you with Horary points (points used to align the patient with the rhythm of the season).
According to acupuncturist Nora Franglen, ‘Metal waits until the bustle of Spring and Summer is past before setting to work to pare away all that is insignificant, retaining only that which it considers worth keeping if the future is to gain any value from the past.’ [The Handbook of Five Element Practise 2004, pg25]
Autumn is a time of reflection, of shedding the debris of our lives, looking inwards, taking things more slowly, donning our favourite chunky sweaters and getting out in nature to kick leaves and feel the sunshine on our faces. We must then store these moments, as a squirrel does its nuts, and they will get us through those long dark days. Light more candles, invest in soft blankets, eat soups and stews and schedule time for mini hibernations.
Experts as to how to navigate this season are the Danish and their philosophy of HYGGE [pronounced hooga]. Meik Wiking, author of ‘the Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well’ suggests ‘10 principles for the Hygge Manifesto: Atmosphere, Presence, Pleasure, Equality, Gratitude, Harmony, Comfort, Truce, Togetherness and Shelter.’ What wonderful guiding principles for us to give some focus to at this time of year instead of directing our attentions to the negative. Be more mindful to take moments away from the daily rush of life to be either together with the people you care about or by yourself, to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures.
