Essential Tips for Fall
Seasonal transitions challenge our bodies to stay in balance despite changing weather conditions. Now, late September in New England, you notice the sun setting earlier and a chill in the air. Our kids are catching colds and people are starting to push the flu shot. What can we do to stay healthy?
First, **tune up your digestion** to improve your energy. A food based detox is an easy 7 day program to gently reboot your digestive system. Start with a week of pre-detox to prepare: eat cleaner, cut back on caffeine and sugar. (Keep an eye out for 7 day detox program details coming next week!). Eating in balance with the seasons means eating more cooked vegetables as the weather becomes cooler. Try adding warming spices like cinnamon to your roasted vegetables, ginger and apples to your cooked oatmeal, and wind down the frozen kale smoothies.
Stock up on **vitamin D**. It’s hard to get enough natural sunlight all year if you work in an office and even harder in the fall and winter if you live in the northern states. I take vitamin D all year but I like to up my intake to 3-4000 IU every day starting in September. I prefer the liquid drops for enhanced absorption and convenience. When I am consistent I notice a big improvement in my mood and my patients notice the same.
Keep **Gui Zhi Tang**, or “Cinnamon Twig Soup,” in your medicine cabinet. An ancient formula developed by a famous doctor 1800 years ago, this combination of herbs helps harmonize your exterior to allow your immune system work optimally. For most people, this is an excellent remedy for the first time you feel a tickle in your throat, a stiffness in your neck, or a chill after being exposed to the cool fall winds. At Emerging Energy Acupuncture, we keep this formula stocked in a liquid tincture or granule tea. It’s delicious and safe for the whole family!
Don’t forget about your **skin**. The dryness in the fall and winter air and forced hot air inside dries our skin. To keep your skin healthy, it’s important to remember to moisturize every day-- and not just your face! Use products with rich oils and butters, and remember to avoid parabens since your skin “drinks” everything that you put on it. Have your tried our Pearl Apothecary Centella Multi-Balm (was Essential Balm)? This beautiful balm sits beside my bed so I can put it on my cuticles and lips every night. It’s also great for dry skin patches, elbows and feet. Centella asiatica, or Gotu Kola, heals the skin and can help scarring. Check it out at our [etsy shop][1] or in the office next time you're here.
[1]: https://www.etsy.com/shop/emergingenergy
Enjoy the weather and bundle up!