For many of us, Autumn is a time to regroup and restore after the expansive and externally focused fun of summer. Travels and family time, which certainly looked different this summer for many of us, are shifting and changing to a return to school for those of us with kids, hunkering down at work, all while still trying to make the most of the beauty the season has to offer us here in New England.

In Chinese Medical theory, fall is a natural time to re-organize, clean house, and let go of unwanted baggage both real and metaphorical. This transitioning and re-organizing energy can get to be a little too much, however, and it is sometimes hard to keep calm and grounded during this transition time. The state of the world is certainly not helping! You may be experiencing sleep problems, especially early waking, digestion and/or breathing problems, or feelings of grief or sadness- all associated with imbalances that tend to crop up in the fall.

Acupuncture to the rescue! Acupuncture, Craniosacral therapy, bodywork, breathing and relaxation guidance... all of these can help keep you sailing smoothly through the next few months. Feel free to reach out with any questions about how the practice is working these days with extra Covid protocols, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Hello to all, warm greetings during this challenging time. Below are links to videos I've made that are easy, fun, and super effective for staying relaxed and pain free while we are physically distant from each other. Please feel free to share.

Best,
Kate

Partner neck and shoulder massage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tCSbQIjyw4&t=3s

Self massage for neck and jaw:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_WzwgiNM9k&t=5s

Who doesn't love a good massage? Well, most of us do, but it turns out it doesn't just feel good, it's good for you! Increased immunity, better digestion, lowered stress levels, better sleep.. these are just a few of the benefits of therapeutic touch and massage. It turns out that babies benefit from it too, in ways that are even easier to see and measure because their little systems haven't seen as much wear and tear as our adult bodies. In addition, incorporating infant massage into your daily routine is a fantastic way to help the all important bonding that helps babies thrive and parents figure out what the heck is going on with their little one. Plus it's super fun!

JP Family Acupuncture is starting infant massage classes for babies approximately one month to crawling on Thursday mornings. Classes run the first 2 Thursdays of the month, $30 per class, series of 2 classes is suggested but less or more is also possible. Timing is flexible depending on demand, but generally speaking 9 am - noon on Thursdays.

Kate Ellsworth first got trained and certified through the International Association of Infant Massage in 1997, and is extremely excited to get back into teaching baby massage to parents and caregivers!

Fall is a special and magical time in New England, but it can also be a challenge in terms of fall allergies, skin conditions, emotional ups and downs, and even digestive issues.

In Chinese Medicine, each season has correspondences with the physical and emotional body. The organ related to Fall is the Lung. Lung conditions include nasal allergies, respiratory flare-ups such as asthma and bronchitis, and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

The emotion corresponding with Fall is sadness or grief. As the expansive nature of summer shifts to turn inward, it’s natural to become more introspective and somber. If you find yourself feeling extra melancholy at this time of year, or waking between 3 and 5 am, you can chalk it up to autumn’s slower, deeper pace and know that you are not alone!

Other “Fall” symptoms can be digestion-related, and can include upset stomach, constipation, or diarrhea. Turning from cold energy foods such as salads and smoothies and incorporating more warm energy foods such as root vegetables and roasted meats may help tonify the digestive energy and ease GI disturbances. If you’re having respiratory symptoms or constipation you can also incorporate moistening foods such as cantaloupe, pears, eggs, pork, figs, and honey.

What else can you do? (Besides getting some acupuncture to balance you out, of course!) Nothing earth-shattering or new:

Take time for yourself. Get out in nature. Breathe deep. Eat well. Don't skimp on sleep. Make time for connecting with friends and family.

Summer is Here!

Finally! The sun is out, the garden is growing, and the energy of summer tends to infuse many of us with extra pep, better digestion, and feelings of joy. In Chinese Medical theory, every season has correspondences with emotions, organs, tastes, even colors and sounds. In the summer you can expect to feel pretty good! The Yang quality of the sun’s energy has similar effects on us as it does on the earth: sunshine and warmth are translated into movement, growth, and expansion. Emotions like joy high and you may feel more motivated to connect with others and be more active in general.

How to get the most out of Summer?

Stay active and use the extra Yang energy to fuel fun outdoor activities like biking, hiking, and swimming. Be careful not to overdo, however. In Chinese Medicine too much exercise / activity is just as harmful as too little. Pace yourself, listen to your body when it tells you to rest, and make sure to balance the heat of summer with cool (not cold) foods like watermelon and cucumber and plenty of room temperature (not iced) water.

Ocean, rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.

The element associated with summer is Fire. In order to balance the fiery energy of summer it’s an excellent idea to incorporate time in and near water into your summer fun. Splash and play and spend some time immersed to get your body’s fire & water elements in harmony.

Connection is the Key

Summer’s extroverted energy is the perfect backdrop to what Western medicine is touting as the secret to longevity and Chinese medicine has known for a long time: connection with is the key to a long happy life. It’s easy in our modern lives to get so wrapped up in work and family that we forget how important community is. So greet your neighbors and find out their names, smile at strangers, call your parents, have that BBQ and invite your good friends and then invite some new people too. Laugh as much as much as you can. Then laugh some more.