Finally! It’s September and spring is here. You can feel it in the air – the sun feels warmer, the days are longer and even the water dragons have emerged from hibernation to sunbake around Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point cliffs.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes the change of season and its effect on your health quite seriously. We see the transition to be a time when your energy is shifting and if it is not managed well, can make you more susceptable to ill-health and picking up allergies, colds and flus, and generally not feeling at your tip-top best.
So in spring, like the water dragons, we emerge from the cold of winter. Many of us find winter the hardest time to get motivated and active. This is because it is natural for us to want to stay indoors wearing our ugg boots and eating casseroles to stay warm during the cold weather. Cold contracts and has an inward nature, reflected in our winter behaviour.
But as the season changes, spring arrives and so the Yang, the aspect of our body that warms and gives us energy, rises letting us know that it’s time to get moving. Like a seed that is sprouting we too need some sunshine (think of it as a vitamin D hit) and a clean environment with fresh air (hence the term ‘spring’ clean) to be invigorated. Add to that some exercise and some lighter foods (think stir frys with lots of fresh seasonal vegetables). You can even take the spring clean further and do a short detoxification diet. Spring is the best time of year for this and it may help you to shed a few extra kilos you added to keep you warm over the winter.
Spring is a great time to shift your exercise program outdoors. Think about walking, hiking, jogging, cycling (here’s a great website for finding safe cycling routes around Brisbane), canoeing or even personal training in a park. Research has shown that exercising outdoors and in amongst greenery is good for our mental health too.
A word of caution for spring, whilst the weather is warmer, the summer has not arrived yet, so be prepared with clothing to protect you from drafts or cold winds that may still be lurking around.
And by following this advice you should be radiant and full of vitality for enjoying the delights of summer.
To book an appointment at the clinic or further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health.
