BALANCING YOUR ENERGY IN THE CHANGING SEASONS

Chinese medicine considers only 3 categories of disease causation. They are the internal causes, or the emotions; the external causes, or the weather; and the neither internal nor external causes, or diet, lifestyle, and trauma. The external category is the subject of this article.

Almost every person I treat has heard me speak of wind, heat, fire, damp, dry and cold. These are the six pernicious influences, or the external causes of disease. People are most likely to contract illness during times of inclement, extreme or changing weather patterns. I observe this almost daily in my practice. We are connected to and influenced by the environment we live in, and are not fully protected by climate controlled indoor-living. Chinese medicine is the science of energy flow, both in the body and in the external environment. Chinese medicine carefully describes the changing energy in the environment, and uses this information when considering treatment.

Over the past 5 years I have worked to compile this chart, graphing some of the major external energy flows recognized in Chinese sciences. These reflect cycles, the most familiar to westerners being the changing seasons. Each column represents a specific cyclical category, described primarily through the 5 phases, 6 qi, 12 heavenly stems and 10 earthly branches, and the lunar months. They are arranged from left to right in descending order of magnitude – that is, from most universal to most local.

Changes in phase, qi, season, etc. represent times of energy flux. These are the times when people are most likely to become sick. My own experience in watching these cycles over the years is that they are extremely accurate predictors of patterns that the majority of people will feel. Classical Chinese medicine includes acupuncture and herbal strategies designed to balance a person’s energy during these times of transition, thus helping to ward off disease.

HERBAL TREATMENT
The Season cycle is one of the most useful for utilizing herbal strategies to balance one’s energy. During the first 2 weeks of each season, I am recommending the use of a particular formula designed to balance the energy of that season. Also, the Chinese consider the last 18 days of each season to be related to Earth. This is also a time of change and illness, and I am recommending a formula during this period as well. In summary, 4 times per year there will be 2 formulas used – one for the first two weeks to balance the energy of that season (Wood for spring, Fire for summer, Metal for fall, or Water for winter), and one for the last 2 weeks to balance the Earth transition into the next season. Please note that the Chinese seasons, which can be viewed as part of the 24 Seasonal Nodes cycle, are dated roughly 6 weeks before ours. In the West we recognize solstices and equinoxes as the beginning of the seasons, while the Chinese consider these to be half-way points.

The dates for the 4 Seasonal cycles in 2011 are February 4 for spring, May 6 for summer, August 8 for fall, and November 8 for winter.

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
It is also appropriate to use acupuncture to balance the energy of the body when the seasons or other cycles change. The most important cycle to utilize for this purpose is the 6 Qi. For 2011, the relationship between the guest and host qi is unfavorable all year, making the transitions particularly difficult. I am recommending acupuncture treatments on the first day of each cycle, or during the following 5 days if scheduling prohibits this for anyone. These appointments will utilize traditional acupuncture point selection systems, which are carefully charted to each hour of the day, rather than being based on discussion, symptoms, pulse, etc.

The dates for the 6 Qi cycles in 2011 are January 20 for Jueyin / wind, March 21 for Shaoyin / heat, May 21 for Shaoyang / fire, July 23 for Taiyin / damp, September 23 for Yangming / dry, and November 23 for Taiyang / cold.