a

September is here and the fiery season of summer is winding down. We are entering into the decline of the light and the cooling of the seasons. Fall in Baltimore is a beautiful time of year, but the cool dry air often irritates allergy sufferers and brings on cold & flu season.

The ancient Chinese believed that our bodies express these changes internally while the earth manifests them around us in an external manner through seasons. The fall is the season of the Metal element. Metal rules the lungs and large intestines so these organs are tonified in acupuncture treatments at this time of year.

Many people in our latitude experience difficulty with the diminishing daylight and can even slip into a depressed state known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). When you come in for your seasonal "tune-up" in September remember to tell your acupuncturist if you have these symptoms. There are very powerful and effective points we can use to alleviate SAD in addition to the tonifying points for the lungs and large intestines.

In general the equinoxes and solstices are good times to balance the energy of the body as we are more vulnerable at these times of the year. Preventative acupuncture treatments are the best way to keep your body healthy as it adjusts to these seasonal environmental changes. Acupuncture can help alleviate allergy symptoms, prevent colds and help reduce depressive symptoms.

-William Zvarick, L.Ac..