Transition into Fall
Bring on the Pumpkin Spice and Apple Picking! Fall is upon us. I know tons of us love fall, and I also know that so many of my patients struggle through the transition of warm to cool (and back and forth a few times). Chinese Medicine shines when it comes to connecting ourselves with seasons and understanding our bodies and minds through it all.
Step 1 – Slow down!
Nature is slowing down, going to bed early, conserving it’s energy for the winter and so should we. One big reason so many of us are exhausted or with a cold or flu is because we fail to heed the calling rest at home, conserve our energy at work and get to bed earlier.
Step 2 – Eat with the Season
You may already be noticing the cravings for warmer foods (especially when the temperature drops), and that is your smart instincts doing their job. Or bodies need different food throughout the seasons, so skip the salads and smoothies and reach for some warm soups and stews! You’ll notice feeling more satisfied, calmer and digesting better. Foods especially good this time of year are onions, garlic, apples, pears, and root veggies so load up!
Here is a Chai recipe made by my brother in law that I’m obsessed with right now. The herbs and spices are perfect for this time of year!
Scott’s Chai
24 Cups H2O
Add the following to the H20 and slow boil for 30-45 min:
Add the following and steep for 8 min:
1 ½ cups of Rooibos Tea (loose)
or
Filter out the spices and then sweeten with:
Stevia, Maple Syrup, Agave or Sugar
Step 3 – Let it GO
You’ll notice nature definitely doing this right now. This means that we should be letting go of what’s not serving us as well. If you have clutter in you home, personal life, or even work emails, nows the time to get rid of it! Nature knows it doesn’t have the energy to conserve for winter when it’s still holding onto stuff. Its so important to make space for clarity and peace of mind right now. So fall cleaning instead of spring!
Step 4 - Vitamin D
So many of us are vitamin D deficient and really start to notice it when we get less sunshine in our day to day. If you tend to have a mood and energy drop in the fall and winter, now is the time to start supplementing with Vitamin D. Not all vitamins are created equally, especially with this one. I recommend one particular liquid Vitamin D with K2 because it absorbs effectively and easily. If interested, message me and I’ll send you a link!
