The Lungs & the Spirit of the Po

In Chinese Medicine, our lungs are more than just organs for breathing- they govern the body's Qi (life force) and connect us to the world around us. The lungs are also deeply tied to the spirit of the Po, which represents our corporeal soul, our connection to the physical world and our senses.

The Po gives us the ability to experience life through the body. It helps us appreciate beauty, feel deeply, and live fully in the present moment. However, when the lungs are out of balance, we may feel disconnected, stuck in grief, or have trouble letting go.

As the energy of fall surrounds us, we may notice old grief or feelings of sadness surface. This is a natural part of the Metal element’s energy of letting go and transformation.

How to support your lungs and the Po this season:

Breathe mindfully. Practice slow, deep breathing to anchor your spirit and clear stagnant energy.
Let go. Release emotional and physical clutter that no longer serves you, just as the lungs help us release carbon dioxide.
Nourish. Foods like white pears, daikon, and almonds help strengthen the lungs and support healthy Qi flow.
Get acupuncture. An acupuncture treatment gently taps in to the energetics of the lung meridian system to regulate the qi and support physical and emotional wellness.

Take this time to connect to your breath, honor your emotions, and nurture the spirit of the Po. 🌬️

Support the Po with Acupuncture Point Lung 3 (Tianfu, "Heavenly Palace")

Lung 3 is a beautiful acupuncture point for nurturing your spirit and supporting emotional well-being. The name Tianfu translates to "Heavenly Palace," symbolizing its connection to higher consciousness and spiritual clarity, and speaks to its classification as one of the Window of the Sky points.

Located on the upper arm, Lung 3 is not only beneficial for emotional health but also helps alleviate physical symptoms. Benefits include:

- Helps ease grief, sadness, and emotional overwhelm
- Alleviates lung-related issues like coughing, wheezing, or asthma
- Relieves symptoms of shortness of breath and chest tightness
- Reduces throat swelling and clears heat from the lungs
- Helps release stuck energy, promoting emotional flow and clarity

In Chinese Medicine, the Lungs are associated with our ability to "let go." By working with Lung 3, we release what no longer serves us- whether it's unresolved grief or physical discomfort in the chest- allowing space for healing and peace.

If you're dealing with emotional heaviness or lung-related issues, this point can bring balance back to both body and spirit. Make an appointment with your acupuncturist for seasonal support and emotional balance this Fall <3

Contact us: (843) 790-4295

Affirmations for the Fall Season: Embracing the Metal Element in Chinese Medicine

As the vibrant energy of summer fades, we transition into the crisp, reflective season of fall. In Chinese Medicine, fall is associated with the Metal Element- a time for turning inward, letting go, and refining the essence of who we are. The Metal Element governs the lungs and large intestine, organs that help us breathe deeply, release what no longer serves us, and make space for clarity and purity in both body and mind.

This is a season of “harvesting what we have sown”, not just in the fields, but also in our lives. Just as trees shed their leaves, fall is the time for personal reflection, releasing negativity, and nurturing the seeds of what we want to grow in the future. To support this inward journey, affirmations can be a powerful tool for aligning with the natural rhythms of the season and harmonizing with the Metal Element.

The Importance of the Metal Element in Fall

The Metal Element represents structure, integrity, and the ability to refine and let go. It is connected to our ability to discern what is valuable and what can be discarded, both physically and emotionally. This process of refining helps us cultivate self-worth and inner strength. The Metal Element also rules the lungs and large intestine meridians, which are essential for processing both inspiration and elimination, symbolizing the act of taking in the new and releasing the old.

When the Metal Element is in balance, we experience:

- Clarity of mind

- Healthy boundaries

- A sense of self-worth

- Ease in letting go of grief or attachment

- Healthy respiratory and immune system

However, when it is out of balance, we may struggle with:

- Sadness or unresolved grief

- Rigidity in thinking or actions

- Inability to let go of the past

- Respiratory issues such as colds or coughs or low immunity

By nurturing the Metal Element within us, we can embrace the energy of fall and find peace in the process of transformation and refinement.

Affirmations for Fall and the Metal Element

Affirmations are simple yet powerful phrases we repeat to ourselves to encourage positive thinking and emotional balance. By integrating affirmations that resonate with the Metal Element, we can support the seasonal energy of release, clarity, and renewal. Below are a few affirmations specifically designed for the fall season:

"I release what no longer serves me and embrace change with grace."

This affirmation helps you let go of old habits, thoughts, or emotions that are weighing you down, making space for new growth.

"I breathe in clarity and exhale what no longer aligns with my highest good."

A reminder to focus on the breath and the importance of cleansing both physically and emotionally.

"I honor my boundaries and know that I am worthy of love and respect.”

The Metal Element governs structure and boundaries, both physically and energetically. This affirmation reinforces the importance of self-worth and personal integrity.

"I find strength in vulnerability and allow myself to feel deeply."

Fall is a time of introspection, and this affirmation encourages you to embrace your emotions, even those that may be difficult, like grief or sadness.

"As I let go, I make space for new opportunities and possibilities."

This affirmation aligns with the natural rhythm of fall and helps cultivate trust in the process of release and renewal.

A few more to get you started:

“I embrace the wisdom of fall, knowing that it is time to turn inward and honor my personal journey.”

"I am grounded, centered, and in tune with the rhythms of the season."

“I am grateful for the beauty of change and trust in the process of transformation.”

How to Incorporate Affirmations into Your Fall Routine

1. Morning and evening rituals: Set aside time at the start and end of your day to repeat your affirmations. These moments of reflection can help you align with the energy of the Metal Element as you prepare for the day or wind down.

2. Incorporate breathwork: Since the lungs are the organ of the Metal Element, try repeating your affirmations during deep breathing exercises. Inhale deeply, affirming your intentions, and exhale fully, releasing any tension or resistance.

3. Write it down: Journaling is a wonderful way to integrate affirmations into your daily routine. Write down your affirmations each day and reflect on how they resonate with you throughout the season.

4. Combine with acupuncture: Enhance your affirmations by incorporating them into your seasonal acupuncture treatments. These practices can help strengthen the lung and large intestine meridians, supporting the physical and emotional aspects of release.

Aligning with the Season

Fall is a season of introspection and transformation. By tuning into the wisdom of the Metal Element and using affirmations to support our journey, we can navigate this period of change with grace and clarity. Whether you're seeking to let go of past emotions, refine your sense of self-worth, or simply align with the natural rhythms of the earth, these affirmations can be a powerful tool for cultivating balance and harmony this fall.

At our clinic, we understand the importance of aligning with the seasons and supporting the body’s natural cycles. If you’re interested in learning more about how acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help you transition into fall with ease, contact us to schedule an appointment! Together, we can harmonize your mind, body, and spirit with the energy of the Metal Element, supporting your overall health and well-being.

Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Tidy Up

(as published in Dao Labs’ “The Way”, Sept. 2021, by Lauren Becker, L.Ac.)

We’re all familiar with spring cleaning, but from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, fall is a perfect time to de-clutter and tidy up! Here’s why.

Fall welcomes the Metal Element phase. In Five Element theory, each element (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood) has special associations with particular areas of life, certain emotions, personalities, shapes, colors, seasons, and organ systems in the human body. Understanding the five elements allows us to bring harmony in our home and in ourselves. The Metal Element is all about a lesson in letting go. 

THE METAL ELEMENT REPRESENTS TRANSFORMATION

Fall is a season of transition, the time in between summer and winter, when Yang transforms to Yin. You can see this transformation happening in the environment: leaves fall off the trees and the days are shorter and cooler. Resonating with the energy of the season, it’s natural to feel that urge to transform our own living space, as well.

THE POWER OF METAL IS TO DECREASE

After the growth of spring (Wood), the abundance of summer (Fire), and the harvest of late summer (Earth), we come to fall (Metal), a time to decrease. When summer transitions to fall, we can feel the weight of excess accumulation in the form of mental and physical clutter. Decluttering our space will help to let go of excess and find levity in our space.

THE METAL ELEMENT LIKES STRUCTURE

Following the endless summer days, fall brings back routine and structure. The school year begins, summer travel ends, and its back to the day planner. The Metal Element thrives with structure, organization, and methodical planning. Now is the time to bring that metal energy into your home!

In her book The Holistic Home, Laura Benko explains that fall is a time of harvesting and gathering your ideas: “Use this time to prepare yourself for future goals like researching for a book, collecting ideas for redecorating, or planning a wedding or trip.” Decreasing clutter invites space that fosters ideas, planning, and preparation.

Note: if you need some organizational or decor ideas, consider incorporating some Metal Element feng shui. The color of metal is white, and its shape is a dome. Incorporate items made of metals, rocks, and minerals into your home. Examples are bronze picture frames, stainless steel kitchen containers, white desk organizers, and geode bookends.

GRIEF IS THE EMOTION OF METAL

Fall is the season when the Qi (energy) moves inward, and days become shorter and darker. Grief is part of the Qi of the season: there is decay in nature, and a strong sense of letting go as nature prepares for new life.  Cleaning out our closets can allow feelings of sadness and loss to move through in a healthy way.

THE METAL ELEMENT ORGAN SYSTEMS INSPIRE AND LET GO

The lungs and the large intestine are the organ systems associated with the metal element and the fall season. The lungs are about inspiration, and the large intestine is about elimination.  Our lungs take in cleansing breaths and exhale carbon dioxide. The large intestine eliminates waste from digestion.  Both organs let go of toxins and absorb essential nutrients needed for life. 

Staying in sync with the seasons, we should bring this theme of discernment into our home come fall.  What is valuable, what is not? Consider the energetics of the lungs: cleansing, purification, and inspiration. Create a space that inspires you! Consider the energetics of the large intestine: elimination. Let go of excess and things that are no longer needed, and tackle spaces that make you feel weighed down. 

We acquire a lot of material possessions during our lifetime. Many spiritual teachers recommend that people continuously let go and pass through life, contrary to our tendency to hold, posses, and hang on to things. When we hold on to things for too long, there is lack of movement and change, and the Qi (energy) in our home becomes stagnant and our personal energy can feel compromised.

Organizing, decluttering, and perfecting the home will come more naturally to people with more metal energy in their elemental make-up (hello, Marie Kondo!). But achieving a minimalist, highly organized space is not for everyone. The fall clean-up is more about cleaning out your closets, creating a space where you feel inspired, a space where you can BREATHE, a space that feels lighter, and a space that fosters the Qi of ideas and creativity to flow.

RESOURCES

Benko, Laura. “The Holistic Home: Feng Shui for Mind, Body, Spirit, Space” (2016).

Hicks, Angela. “Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture" (2004).

Morris, Laura. “Clutter vs. Mess”: www.mindfuldesignschool.com. March 4, 2019.

Lauren Becker, L.Ac., is an acupuncturist, herbalist, and the founder of Balance Acupuncture. She successfully used acupuncture to support her own health beginning in her teens for allergies and asthma, and has since been dedicated to the medicine. Learn more about her at (https://balancecharleston.com/).

A Walking Meditation for Gratitude

Practicing gratitude can be an amazing thing for your body and mind- especially during challenging and stressful times. Studies have shown that gratitude positively contributes to our spiritual wellbeing and mental health, our mood and sleep, and our cardiac health. And as we know, walking has innumerable health benefits on its own, from reducing heart disease to increasing mental cognition. 

Find some time today to cultivate gratitude and support your health with a meditative walk. 

This is an especially great practice for those who feel stress and worry and have trouble shifting a negative state of mind to one that is positive. And, I especially love the idea of a walking meditation right now because of spring’s association with the wood element and the liver meridian system. Every season has unique associations to a particular element, organ system, movement, and so on. Walking is the ideal exercise to keep the wood element balanced and the liver qi flowing smoothly.

(Related article: Spring has Sprung- but What You’re Feeling is Qi Stagnation)
 
Your 20 minute meditative walk can be anywhere: your neighborhood, a park, somewhere that inspires you. And with social distancing in place, there won’t be too many distractions.

As you walk, think about all of the things you are grateful for. 

Start simply, and see if you can mentally express gratitude about something relevant to that moment: I am grateful for this time I have to go on a walk. I am grateful for the trees. Pay attention to your senses - the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings - and see how many things you can find to feel grateful for. Pause, take a breath, and be grateful for the air that fills your lungs and makes life possible.
 
As you walk, think about the people and things that fulfill you in life and the capabilities of your body and mind. Think about the person who offered you support today, for the opportunity that came your way, and for that hard lesson learned that will potentially help you have a better tomorrow.

If you find your mind begins to wander to negative or critical thoughts, come back to the present, using your senses to find things in your immediate surroundings to be grateful for. This practice in gratitude is an effective way to shift your mood, awaken your mind to the abundance that surrounds you, and see the glass as half full.