Fall Wellness Highlights

Do you get sick easily or have skin flare ups in the Fall and Winter?

In this Month’s Blog:

Immune + Skin Health
Blog Link: Clearing Acne From the Inside Out

Here in the Northeast, the weather and light is shifting quickly! Last weekend was 80 degrees, and this week we are more seasonal in the 50’s and 60’s. The days are also starting to get darker earlier, with daylight savings around the corner too. Our bodies may need some extra support to adapt to our environmental shifts to stay optimal and healthy.

Tips for Staying Healthy this Fall:

As the seasons change, our body’s needs can change. Some tips based on Traditional Chinese Medicine wisdom, and Functional Medicine approaches

Include more time for stillness and relaxation, as the energy starts contracting (eg. meditation, deep breathing, contemplation, journaling, etc.)
As the days start to feel shorter/darker early, it’s even more important to start your day with “morning light” exposure — this can be stepping outside within the first 30-min of waking, going for a morning walk, or using a therapeutic light box. This helps to kick start your waking cortisol, get your mood and energy going, stimulate appetite and digestion, and regulate your hormones and circadian rhythm for the day
Start folding in root vegetables and produce that is local this time of year to align with the season energetically
Adjust your skin routine: your skin’s needs may shift from season to season depending on the weather, humidity, temperature, time spent outside, sweat, etc. I notice that a lot of my patient’s skin conditions tend to flare up in the Fall as the weather changes. Our skin’s oil glands need time to adjust to the change in humidity and temperature. We may need different types of moisturizers, cleansers, etc.
- if you suffer from acne breakouts, see our blog on how to Clear Acne From the Inside Out
- if you experience eczema or psoriasis, Acupuncture may help regulate the immune response, combined with a functional approach which may include a deeper dive into the root causes like GI imbalance + stress.
Nesting: you may find the urge to start getting organized, de-clutter, and become more discerning in general. Sift through what you may no longer need, or is no longer serving you for a release. Eg. Deep clean, throw out old storage, get a new planner, map out “to do” for the seasons/quarter/year.

Do You Get Sick Easily? If you tend to get sick with seasonal changes:

consider getting your Vitamin D3 levels tested to see if you need to start supplementing (consult a professional for dosage, etc…. we also offer home test-kits!). Starting this time of year, it becomes harder to synthesize Vit D from the sun, unless you’re going to Aruba.
add in zinc rich foods like lentils, pumpkin seeds, oysters, nuts, eggs
add in foods rich in Vit. C like citrus fruits, kiwis, bell peppers, tomatoes
avoid or minimize sugars which can lower your immune system
get your minerals, metals and gut health tested (we offer home test kits for this) – is your immune system burdened by gut overgrowth or other toxins?
get adequate quality sleep and rest – even one night of poor sleep can lower your immune response
keep stress at bay – anger, anxiety, stress can all lower our immune response
Get Acupuncture! – it has been shown to support and regulate immune response
Feel free to reach out to us for a consultation for how we can personalize your immune support protocol (foods, supplements/herbs, self-care, etc.)