One of the main concepts of Traditional Acupuncture is that we exist not just in nature, but also as a part of nature. Just as the changing seasons affect the animals, insects, and plants of the earth, so do they affect us. The difference is that animals, insects, and plants naturally shift as the seasons change: a bear doesn't have to be reminded to come out of hibernation in the Spring, and a tree doesn't have to be told to let go of its leaves in the Autumn. Humans in the modern industrial and computer age, however, have strayed far enough away from the natural cycle of the seasons, that we have become out of synch with the natural seasonal rhythms.

We have machines to help us stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We have strawberries and melons in our stores in the middle of winter. We even have lights that keep the outside and the inside lit up during the night.

Some people would say that many of the diseases most prevalent today in industrial societies are, in part, a byproduct of this lack of attunement to natural rhythms.

You can get deep rest and practice stillness in any season, but to make it more of a "theme" in the winter is beneficial because during that season, deep rest and stillness is happening all around you (seeds, plants, animals, ect.). When you practice the qualities of a particular season ("attuning") during that season, you accentuate the power and effectiveness of that practice.

The following is an offering.......a list of practical suggestions from an integrative health perspective, that can help you attune to this glorious season of summer.

Use them in, and for, good health!

• Allow yourself to play! Summer is a time of greater amounts of light. Be like the season, and allow your light to shine more brightly, through play and having more fun.

• Laugh often. Cultivate the ability to appreciate the humor in the human condition.

• Take care of your relationships. Reach out warmly to family and friends, beyond any disagreements and old hurts.

• Delight in the little joys: linger awhile over a beautiful flower, a star filled summer night, fireflies at twilight. Watch little children at the beach.

• Be generous. By giving and sharing, our hearts open like the flowers do in the summer. This spreads warmth and beauty, in much the same way as an open flower does.

• Be outdoors and enjoy outdoor activities as much as you can. Soak in the sun (not too much), the smells, the beauty of the blossoms and ripeness of the season.

• This is the time of year to exercise and sweat. Remember to stretch before and after exercising. For post exercise muscle soreness, soak in an Epsom salt bath or take homeopathic arnica to relieve sore muscles.

• On hot summer days, its best to do your outdoor exercises in the morning, when the air quality is at its best.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Use the season as an opportunity to get in touch with your intuitive eating skills. Our bodies naturally crave fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables, and we generally have decreased cravings for rich, fatty foods.

• Eat lightly: select more locally grown fruits and vegetables, organically produced whenever possible.

• Find a pick-your-own orchard, and pick some fruits and vegetables. Give some to your friends.

• Going on a long trip? Stretch every two hours to relieve neck and back stiffness.

• When gardening, avoid bending over with legs straight. Instead, squat or sit whenever possible. Change positions often.

• Make new friends. Talk to the people riding with you in the elevator, standing in checkout lines, and in service areas. Reach out more to others.

• Buy a bunch of beautiful or funny postcards and send them to your friends and family, just to say hi.

• Go outside and get soaked in at least one summer rain.

• If you don't do it enough, practice smiling more. It can help to open up your heart.

Practitioner Profile
 Jeff Millison, M.Ac., L.Ac.