Feeling the Autumn Blues? It’s not just you, there is a reason

Many people at this time of year are feeling tired and drained as autumn changes come in. Whilst in our modern culture we fight it feeling like we should be able to maintain peak performance and flow consistently, this is not how we are as human beings.

Far back in antiquity in the ‘Yellow Emperor’s Cannon of Medicine’ it talks about how, in the autumn, it is best to go to bed early and get up early at daybreak like the rooster to keep your mind comfortable and calm. This will preserve our lung energy now and in the coming seasons.

It makes sense that with modern culture that so many people fall ill and or feel low in the autumn and winter when we our at odds with what we need to do to preserve our health.

Autumn is a time of harvest. and with harvest comes keeping and preserving what we need and getting rid of and cutting away what is not beneficial for us. Our energy has started going inward like it does with deciduous trees and it can become a time for reflection and contemplation.

Revisiting and storing memories from our more energetic summer activities to see us through the winter. Deciding what worked for us and what didn’t. These contemplations serve us well as we are heading towards winter. Later in January and February they will be the source that fuels us into action that is right for us for the following year.

To add to the current autumnal energies we can also look at the effect of the moon. The moon is powerful enough to move our greatest bodies of water as the tides ebb and flow across our huge oceans. For anyone who knows about the tides will know that at certain times high and low tides are higher and lower at certain times of the moon. These are at new moon (sometimes called the dark moon) and at full moon. This is because the moon is slightly closer to the earth at these times due to the sun’s gravitational force.

So, knowing these effects on our planet it is possible to understand that this is likely to have some effect on us. In Chinese Medicine the energy is said to rise up the spine to the top of the head at full moon and be at the bottom of the spine at new moon.

When we feel excited it feels like our energy is going upward and outward and similarly when we are feeling sad our energy goes inward and downward.

It is hardly surprising that at times in the autumn that we may feel like we are sad or low at times for no particular reason as our energy draws inwards due to autumn and at new moon our energy goes downwards as well mimicking energy that we have been taught to view as sadness.

However, if we can shift our perspective slightly then we can embrace these energies in a way that is both useful to us and pleasant.

We can embrace that inward draw of the energy by quietly sitting in nature and allow ourselves to contemplate and or meditate which will bring a sense of quiet and peace to our hearts. Think of sitting by a cosy fire watching the flames eating seasonal foods that are very nourishing and beneficial for us at this time like pumpkins and squashes.

When the moon enables us to experience the natural downward energy stronger then it helps us to connect with the earth that supports us and helps us quieten down our energy ready for the winter.

Sometimes we struggle to adapt to this change of season gracefully. In ancient times people used to get treatments four times a year at the change of season in order to stay healthy. Now when it is so much harder due to our society, culture and way of life to stay in balance with nature’s cycles acupuncture can be of great help and support to maintain and improve our health and feelings of wellbeing. Especially if external factors like loss and bereavement, over work and feeling over scheduled are also taking their toll. Acupuncture can be a way to find your equilibrium again.

If you interested in finding out if acupuncture can help you, you can book a free 15 minute call by messaging 07393902807. Then come with your questions and what you would like to improve with your health and wellbeing. In the call I will answer your questions so you have more information. Then you will be able to make a decision. Where you are deciding what is best for you in your own time. Working towards health is always done in partnership with you. As one of the people I work with said:

 “It is great to feel as if I am involved in the process. I am part of the solution. With the NHS and Western medicine, it felt like I was abdicating responsibility for my own health to others. So often doctors or consultants would only spend a few minutes talking to me on the phone, make a decision regarding my health, that would result in some horrendous side-effects”

Client suffering from migraines for 30+ years

Wishing you all a graceful autumn with peace and contemplation in your hearts