Changing Seasons: How Can Acupuncture Help?
By Dr. Renae Haldeman · New to some of these words? See the glossary.
The Tupi people of South America have a name for a natural event that shows how nature is shaped by the sky. It is called the Pororoca, “the great roar.” It is a tidal bore, a wave that makes the Amazon River flow backward against its own current. It is named for the loud sound made when the ocean and the river crash together. This powerful event happens when the moon comes closer to the Earth and causes a very high tide, pushing the mighty Amazon upstream. The human body is about 70% water. So why would we think these shifts in the sky could not affect our insides the way they affect the Amazon?
The Earth is always shifting and changing, and so are our bodies. The seasons are important as we work to bring harmony to our bodies with acupuncture. In the United States, there are four key times when the pull of nature is strongest on the human body:
- Autumn equinox: September / October
- Winter solstice (low tide): December / January
- Spring equinox: March / April
- Summer solstice (high tide): June / July
And oh, how fast things can change! Problems can show up like back strain, trouble sleeping, headaches, a racing heart (tachycardia), anxiety, fainting, dizziness, numb arms or legs when we wake up, jock itch, skin rash, sudden sweating or hot flashes, nausea and vomiting, and flaring tempers of all kinds. Why do we suffer like this? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these symptoms are messages from the body asking for support.
A woman in her early 70s came to the office during the spring change of season with a fast heart rate and hot flashes that came on suddenly. The week before, she had even gone to the hospital because her heartbeat was so uneven. After just a few acupuncture treatments, her heart rate settled down.
A regular patient came in for acupuncture during the summer change. She had not needed acupuncture for several months, and then suddenly her nausea got so bad that she started vomiting. After just one acupuncture visit, her nausea and vomiting were completely gone.
A young man started having headaches at the back and front of his head, plus calf cramps, one week earlier. He had come for acupuncture regularly before, so he came back for a “tune-up” treatment. After just one acupuncture treatment, the calf cramps and headaches went away.
Acupuncture treatments are very helpful to support the body during the changing seasons.
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This article is educational and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. Please talk with a licensed healthcare provider about your own health.