How Acupuncturists Personalise their Approach for Clients

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has valuable, ancient insights into seasonal care, and more specifically for staying warm in the Winter and preventing seasonal illnesses and diseases. It is essential to consider your overall body balance, as it is important to balance the yin and yang qis. In winter, it is more common for people to have yang deficiencies, as yin is characterised by the cold and dark, which is prominent in winter. The environment in which we live and the seasonal changes affect our body and feelings. As we enter Winter the energy or qi in our bodies falls down, which is why preservation and conservation of energy is important during this time. This is a seasonal cycle and our energy is often lifted again with the coming of Spring. Resting and keeping warm in winter often leads to regrowth and rejuvenation in the Spring. In the colder months the energy in our body is much deeper, so we need to focus on eating foods and doing activities and treatments which warm our bodies to the core. It is a common belief in TCM that "for optimal health and wellbeing, it's best to live in accordance with the seasons" . In this way, throughout the year we can adjust and adapt to best suit our environment and the weather around, allowing our bodies to function holistically. This process follows that our bodily functions are somewhat aligned with nature, and it is important for our body balance to try our best and honour these changes seasonally. This approach establishes a connection with the environment and can also prevent the occurence, duration, and severity of seasonally prominent diseases. TCM is beneficial for immunity boosting within these colder months, as these recommendations often aid digestion, circulation, energy, and emotional balance . According to TCM, winter is associated with the water element and kidneys. In this time it is important to slow down your everyday life, conserve energy, and nourish your yin, as an overbalance of yin as a product of this season can often "contribute to depression and loneliness" . So, it is important to prioritise warmth which can balance out the yin and yang in your body. You can do this by following seasonal care TCM recommendations which consider particular activities, exercise, seasonal eating, and teas specific for winter, and how TCM herbal medicine and therapies can help with immune support, which is essential during these colder months.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine involves a complex structure of natural ingredients that provide important benefits, and work together to treat your body holistically. Herbalists can create a unique formula for personalised treatment based on an individual assessment, and analysis of your symptoms, patterns of disorders, history, and experiences. From here, the specific herbs can be chosen to best suit your needs, and work through the patterns of imbalance within your mind and body. Traditional herbal medicine is one of the main methods of healing therapies. Other health professionals such as naturopaths also tend to work with herbal therapy, however with Chinese herbal medicine there is a structured formula of the herbs that are used. Herbal prescriptions incorporate around 3-30 herbs depending on what will benefit your specific healing, and how the herbs, and their specific groups, interact and work together to support your overall balance and wellbeing.