October Self-Healing Tips

October brings most of us an increase of work, social get-togethers and other activities. As the days grow shorter and the weather grows cooler, our to-do lists grow longer, social obligations stack up, and immune systems falter. This can cause what’s known in Western culture as good-old-fashioned stress.

As an added bonus to the Fall stress recipe, holiday season pops up and peeks out from just around the corner, which means that we need to prepare our bodies for the fact of the coming months – that as the days continue to grow shorter, and as the weather continues to grow cooler, our to-do lists and socials calendars will indeed get fuller and fuller. Ah, and of course, our wallets and bank accounts will get thinner and thinner. For one final garnish on the Autumn stress plate, let’s not forget the “parsley” of stress that comes with approaching this particular holiday season in a time of financial crisis for the entire country, as well as the anxieties that accompany the upcoming election, whichever side you are on – that major decisions are being made this Fall that affect us immediately on a national level.

So how is a person to manage all of this tension bombarding ones’ Earth and Metal elements? Well, other than having fun, enjoying your friendships, giving back to the world through service, relaxing, getting rest, eating well, and practicing your tai chi, chi gong, and yoga? By giving oneself acupressure massage on Large Intestine 4, He Gu, Bone Valley. This point is an A-1 textbook remedy for Fall stress. It treats tension in the head and neck, and from a Chinese medical perspective, it also releases wind in the face. This point is widely known to be useful in relieving headaches of all kinds; as Pericardium 6 is to motion and morning sickness, so is LI 4 to headaches. This point also moves the Qi so powerfully that it can be used to treat overall systematic stress. And, because it is the source point of the Large Intestine channel, and releases the exterior, it is found in most acupuncture and acupressure point prescriptions for colds and flus. Be careful if you are pregnant – and do NOT use this point – as LI4 also induces labor!

LI4 is located in the webbing of the hand, between the very base of the bone at the base of the thumb and the very base of the bone that becomes the pointer finger. It is accessed through the back of the hand, but the energy of it runs through to the palm. Massage the tender area on each hand for five minutes daily, or as needed to alleviate symptoms throughout the day.

Another awesome way to avoid anxiety is to ingest copious amounts of B Vitamins. B Vitamins are the body’s buffer against stress, and the body in coping with stress depletes them. Caffeine also drains the body of B Vitamins. B Vitamins increase metabolism, maintain healthy muscle tone, promote cell growth, prevent anemia, reduce the risk of cancer, and combat stress, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

Can you think of any reason not to take extra B Vitamins every day this October? These nutritional gold nuggets can be found in potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, tempeh, liver oil, liver, turkey, tuna, Nutritional yeast, and molasses. For October, I want to recommend that everyone eat more lentils. Cooked lentils make a warm and nourishing food for the autumn months, and they contain loads of B Vitamins and other essential nutrients.

For best digestive results, soak your lentils overnight in water before cooking them the next day.