Autumn's Release Workshop

Karen Giles Acupuncture Autumn's Release Workshop
Friday, October 21st, 7pm-9pm

The Late Summer is complete and it’s time to take in the harvest of Autumn.

How are you experiencing this seasonal change?  With the swings in climate, it may be a bit challenging.  And while some find the changing colors of leaves and crisp air inspiring, others find the shorter days and falling leaves rather somber.

In the Five Element philosophy, the season of Autumn is represented by the Metal element.  The Metal element governs our breath and how we eliminate waste in our bodies and lives.  It’s about the clarity of keeping what is valuable to us and letting go of that which does not serve.

Join me in my Port Jefferson office for an evening of in-depth discussion of Autumn’s Metal element, its gifts and challenges, and learn how it relates to your body and life.  The evening will include a gentle acupuncture treatment to help anchor your learning of, and transition through, this season.

Due to the unique nature of this workshop, space is limited.  Please reserve your space with me in advance via phone or email.  Registration is $25 which covers handouts and acupuncture treatment.

Tips For Fall

Autumn is in full swing! Hurricane Irene shuffled off the remnants of summer and hurried away the last stretch of late summer in September. But with that comes some beautiful times to still be outdoors. If you continue to be active outside, you may notice an increase in seasonal allergies this year.

In August, ragweed in particular started in full force. And with the hurricane rain and wind, along with a rainy stretch in early September, it has been growing, well, like a weed! The body’s reaction to this plant may seem like a slight cold or even flu but could actually be an allergic reaction. When faced with an allergen or pathogen that our body wants to rid, it goes into a histamine response, fighting to push it out. And with the falling leaves, mold can also trigger a similar physical response. For such allergic reactions, that can mean itchy eyes, sneezing, post-nasal drip, scratchy throat and breathing difficulties. Even slight nausea can occur as a result of post-nasal drip, which goes to the stomach, being added like corrosion to the delicate balance of digestion.

So how can you keep enjoying the outdoors with less of these symptoms? Sinus rinses are a good way to keep things washed clean after you have been outdoors. Several products are available but I use Neilmed Sinus Wash with its easy-to-use bottle. And an herbal supplement called Stinging Nettle is another tool to use. It acts as a natural anti-histamine in the body and also has anti-inflammatory properties for the respiratory system. So it can help open sinus passages and also alleviate some asthma symptoms. (Please consult your health care professional before taking any herbal supplements.)

At home, this time of year means that many people enjoy opening their windows as the cooler, drier air has arrived. But dawn and dusk are the most prevalent times for pollens to travel, so closing your windows for a bit around sunset till dark and then in the early morning may help. Keep this in mind with your riding as well, for those who ride early morning or later in the day close to dusk.
Science is reporting the potential for a longer “fall allergy” season this year. Being aware of your own body’s response to what’s blooming now can help you enjoy the crisp autumn days ahead.

A Thought About Flu Prevention

Early Autumn greetings.

As the last of Late Summer fades and we begin to welcome Autumn, it is time to think about flu prevention.  While acupuncture helps build the immune system, many people also turn to flu shots for additional protection.  I recommend people do their own research on flu shots, understand the pros and cons and then discuss their particular health situation with their health care provider before taking the shot.

An alternative to the flu shot is a homeopathic product called Triple Flu Defense (TFD).  Developed and reformulated each year by Dr. Steven Nenninger, a Naturopathic Doctor in Port Jefferson, TFD is used for flu prevention but also to fight off a cold or flu once infected.  And it can be taken as added support by anyone who has had a flu shot.  For more information on how it was developed and its effectiveness, please go to www.triplefludefense.com.

You can find the 2011 formula of TFD in many health food stores, but I will also have it available in my office.  One bottle, which will support you through the eight month flu season, is $25 ($5 off the retail price, as a courtesy to you).

Please let me know if you would like me to put a bottle aside for you here.

More news coming soon on Autumn’s seasonal gifts, as well as upcoming workshops!

Karen~

Five Element Acupuncture - Metal

Karen Giles utilizes the Five Element style of acupuncture which is based on the laws of nature. Diagnosis and treatments are derived from the movement in nature’s cycles and seasons, which correlate with the flow of meridians and points in the body. 

The elements are recognized as Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element has its strength in a season of nature and is represented in the body by specific organ systems and functions, as well as a person’s vocal sound, facial color, emotion and scent. Just as all the seasons make up the whole of nature, all the elements make up the whole individual.

Metal corresponds to fall and it represents the ability to keep what is of value and let go of what is no longer needed. The Metal element influences one’s values, rhythms and inspirations.

Healthy Metal energy allows for good self-worth, breathing, bowel functions, ability to grieve appropriately and let go of “stuff” in life and body. Out of balance, Metal can present as ENT issues, skin conditions, bowel issues, breathing difficulties, lack of respect for self or others, excessive grief.

For more information, please contact Karen Giles.

Late Summer Corresponds With the Earth Element

Five Element style acupuncture is based on the laws of nature. Diagnosis and treatments are derived from the movement in nature’s cycles and seasons, which correlate with the flow of meridians and points in the body.

The elements are recognized as Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element has its strength in a season of nature and is represented in the body by specific organ systems and functions, as well as a person’s vocal sound, facial color, emotion and scent. Just as all the seasons make up the whole of nature, all the elements make up the whole individual.

Earth: Corresponding to late summer, it represents the time to reap life’s harvest. The Earth element influences one’s ability to digest, process and store that which nourishes, along with the ability to nurture and care for self and others.

Healthy Earth energy allows for good appetite and digestion, clear thinking, strong muscles and blood vessels, feeling centered. Out of balance, Earth can present as excessive worry, digestive issues, bruising easily, lethargy, insatiable appetite.

Take time to nurture yourself so that you may nurture others. 

Linking Our Heart's Emotional Health and Our Overall Health

So much about Summer involves visiting with friends and family at the beach, picnics, and vacations.  In the acupuncture tradition, this time of year relates to our heart…the physical heart as well as its emotional or spiritual aspect.  As many of us have experienced, exercise strengthens our physical heart while lifting our spirits and helping us unwind from the stresses of daily life.  

Now there is growing scientific evidence linking our heart’s emotional health and our overall health picture.  In the book “The Instinct to Heal” by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, studies on the strength of the heart’s rhythm have been shown to have direct correlation to conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to immune diseases, cancer, backache and insomnia.  

The heart functions through electrical stimulation.  When that electrical stimulation is kept even, called coherence, our so-called emotional brain is balanced which keeps our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems working smoothly.  These two systems are the switches that turn on and off with stress, adjusting to highs and lows along the day.  Unfortunately, the fight-or-flight function of the sympathetic system is engaged more consistently in our modern world and has long-standing effects on our body’s whole health picture.   We need that parasympathetic system to settle everything down.  And for many of us, that means intentionally focusing on ways to allow it to do its job by adjusting our heart rhythm.

There are several ways you can develop coherence.  The Institute of HeartMath (http://www.heartmath.org/) has developed software called the emWave that is specific for this technique.  And biofeedback is another tool that a clinician can use to teach you about your heart’s rhythm.  Then the work begins to adjust that rhythm to one that is more balanced (assuming that it is not in perfect balance!).  By using a specific practice of meditation, you can learn to be aware of your heart, its rhythm, and how to adjust it.* 

 Physical exercise is proving to have better long-term results for depression than medications.  And that has a direct effect on how our bodies fight off illness.  A study conducted at University of Miami showed that the body’s Natural Killer cells (which protect us from a wide range of diseases) were inactive when emotionally depressed.  Participants who had a regular exercise practice kept their depression at bay without medication but also showed stronger ability to fight disease.  So even just a short work out can help you improve your emotional wellbeing while clinically strengthening your ability to be healthier. 

As we continue through Summer, notice what activities make you happiest.  Use these longer days outside to nourish your heart and strengthen your overall health by literally doing what you love.  

*To learn more about the coherence training method and its clinical benefits, see pages 52-62 of “The Instinct to Heal”, David Servan-Schreiber.

Restorative Yoga & Acupuncture Workshop

Kim Dick and I held one of our Restorative Yoga & Acupuncture workshops on June 30th.  Kim is the founder and director of Seva Yoga Studio in Port Jefferson. We received great feedback from the participants. Several people commented on the ease and peace they felt in their bodies during the class and that it has continued on.  It is deeply rewarding for me to have facilitated an evening of graceful healing.  Kim and I are scheduling our next workshop for the end of August...stay tuned!