The air is getting cooler and the days are starting to get shorter. Fall is making its arrival! As we enter into the season of Autumn, the Metal element is now dominant. The element of Metal governs organization, order, communication, the mind and setting limits. It’s a good time to finish projects that you started and begin to organize your life for the winter season ahead. The Lung and Large Intestine are the internal organs related to Fall and the Metal element. The Lung is considered to be a “tender organ” because it is susceptible to temperature changes, especially wind and cold. The lungs control the circulation of the Wei-Qi, which is the defensive Qi that protects us from invasion of flues and colds (similar to our immune system). If the Wei-Qi is weak, a patient can be susceptible to colds and allergies.

Lately, we have been seeing quite a few patients coming in with a disruptive sleep cycle due to the Lung meridian being weakened.  According to TCM, one type of imbalance in the body involves the time of day. The energy flowing through the acupuncture meridians of the body has a specific time cycle. If this energetic cycle becomes disrupted many things can be affected but commonly patients will observe that they wake up consistently during the night at a specific time.  The Lung meridian dominates between the hours of 3am to 5am. If you find yourself waking consistently between these times it is time to come in for an acupuncture treatment to get you balanced. To correct this imbalance, points on the Lung meridian are stimulated to “tonify” or nurture the lung. In doing so, most patients report that their sleep is returned to normal after just one treatment!

Autumn is here! The leaves are starting to change colors, the temperatures have dropped and the mornings have become quite crisp here in Columbus, OH. The surrounding nature is teaching us about the cycle of creation and letting go; the leaves are turning a vibrant combination of yellow, orange and red before falling to the ground and any remaining fruits or vegetables from the summer harvest are coming to an end. In this season, nature releases its abundant creations and all that was flourishing in the spring and summer have come to a close. Just as nature starts to release and let go of the past, it reminds us that we too need to let go. Many times a day I am telling myself to “just let it go”- whether it is over an argument, how I might have done something differently or over that old pair of pants that I tell myself I will wear again but never do. In the end, we must follow nature by letting go and moving forward. So many of us try to defy the cycle and hold onto what we’ve collected. So take a look and see what you no longer need or want in your life and set it free. This may be a grudge you been holding, old clothes that no longer fit or are out of style or toxic relationships or attitudes. Whatever it is, ask yourself what you are unnecessarily holding onto and release the waste and fears in order to uncover all that is meaningful and possible!