September 8, 2022, is the first day of the Yin Earth Rooster month in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese calendar assigns one of the twelve animals, five elements, and the polarity of yin or yang to each year, month, day, and hour. The Yin Earth Rooster month extends till October 9, 2022.
The Yin Earth Rooster refers to the 19th hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Earth over Lake and signifies "Growth or Approach" and as a whole points to a time of joyous, hopeful progress.
The Yin Earth Rooster describes Lake within the Earth. Earth represents the Receptive and Lake is the image of Joy. So the Yin Earth Rooster literally means to Receive Joy.
The Yin Earth Rooster hexagram:
This hexagram is occurring during a time of the year when the seasons are changing. Instead of the excessive energetic state of the previous Yang Earth Monkey, the Yin Earth Rooster indicates a definite energetic shift. There exists a weakness in the Yang energy alongside the strength of Yin energy. Yang energy represents many things, light, heat, and movement to name a few. Maybe you've noticed the daylight hours are becoming shorter, the heat is weakening, and becoming more bearable. At home, we celebrate this time of the year by eating dinner by candlelight. With cooler temperatures comes throttling back of activity and movement of the summer. We are beginning to enter a more Yin time of the year. With this in mind, we persist in being vigilant in protecting ourselves from environmental pathogens, which have shifted from Wind-Heat to Wind or Wind-Damp. The Earth above encourages us to slow down or let go. This reminds us during September the daylight hours continue waning and the summer heat gives way to cooler temperatures.
The nature of the Earth is cool and damp. Earth in September reminds us that dampness is becoming more prevalent in the environment. This can mean more rain, humidity, or both. Earth over Lake represents the effect of moisture and dampness on the earth leading to filling of Lake. As of this writing the current weather, locally, is forecast to be cooler for the next seven to 10 days and rainy-humid conditions have replaced the extreme heat we experienced just last month. In general, the late summer is a time that pathogenic dampness can be very detrimental to our health and the earth. Already, in the clinic, we're treating dampness: swollen joints, allergies from increased mold and fungus in the environment, fuzziness in the head, inability to focus/concentrate, and heaviness from dampness weighing down the body, mind, and spirit. Dampness provides a good environment for bacteria and viruses to flourish which normally precedes flu season and for the last 3 years, COVID.
Each region and organ of the body has various aspects and qualities associated with Yin, Yang, and the five elements. The Yin Earth Rooster month predominately affects the Yang aspect of the body by weakening its response to dampness/phlegm. The Yin Earth Rooster month represents a damp pathogen affecting the Metal and Earth's elemental organs, tissues, and regions of the body. Dampness can lead to phlegm in the upper body, toxic conditions in the liver/gallbladder, spleen/pancreas, along with bacterial infections in the intestines, bladder, and kidneys. During this month those regions easily affected are the nose, lips, mouth, ears, stomach, intestines, liver, joints, and lower extremities.
Common disorders during this month can be classified in three different regions, known as the San Jiao, in Chinese medicine. San translates to "three" and Jiao to "warmer or heater". So, San Jiao literally means Triple Warmer or Triple Heater.
Upper Jiao disharmonies this month include:
bursitis, recurring infections of common cold, thyroid conditions
swelling/pain of the arms, elbows, hands, wrists, and fingers
phlegm/mucous and swelling of the esophagus and trachea
asthma, cough, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath
functional heart conditions and chest congestion or infections
febrile diseases, fever, sore throat
Hemiplegia, pain and motor impairment of the shoulder,
Spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm
Headache, dizziness, redness, swelling and pain of the eye, blurring vision, toothache
rubella, eczema, urticaria, erysipelas
Emaciation due to general deficiency, palpitation, shortness of breath, poor appetite, lassitude, dizziness, insomnia
Depressive psychosis and madness
Cough and asthma
tremors
Middle Jiao disharmonies this month include:
lowered resistance, and compromised immune response
adrenal fatigue, galleries, hives, and other skin problems
kidney problems, hardening of the arteries, chronic fatigue, nephritis, pyelitis
Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea
Gastric pain, vomiting, dysphagia, abdominal distention, borborygmus, diarrhea, indigestion, dysentery, constipation, abdominal pain, acute mastitis
Erysipelas, rash, general pruritus, furuncles, carbuncles on the back
Lower Jiao disharmonies this month include:
prostate problems, low back problems, sciatic nerve pain
difficult or frequent urination,
poor circulation in the legs, swollen or weak ankles, cold feet or lower legs, leg weakness, leg cramps
Irregular menstruation,
swelling and pain of the knee
Pain in the knee joint, apoplexy, hemiplegia, beriberi, edema
Lumbar pain, spasms, and weakness of the lower extremities
Enuresis, dysuria
Depending on the organs and regions affected, there are specific herbal strategies that are very effective for treating all the conditions listed above.
Here at Meridian Harmonics, during this month we will supplement our treatments to support Yin Earth Rooster Month for each patient. This can be accomplished using specific acupuncture and herbal therapies. Each patient is different. We will assess each patient, individually, on what strategies are best suited for them.
Modifying one’s lifestyle can support this particular season. This period in the year brings damp humid weather patterns. It’s important to protect yourself from dampness as it weakens the body's ability to transform/transport fluids in the body. Drinking plenty of water and consuming whole foods containing a high-water content are immensely beneficial. Because of the damp influence of Yin Earth Rooster Month, it's important to avoid foods that are oily, greasy, fried, overly sweet, or rich, as these foods clog up the various channels and pathways in the body.
At this time of year, external pathogenic conditions are significant factors in illnesses. Consequently, if you find yourself suddenly sick: eat much less, and use a more simple, liquid-based diet such as vegetable or grain soup if chills predominate over the fever. If the fever predominates, fruit or vegetable juices or fresh fruits are a better alternative.
Bioflavonoid-rich food such as cabbage with hearts, and green peppers with their insides. Other useful foods include parsley, carrots, broccoli, turnips, kudzu (especially good for treating a stiff or painful upper back or neck from an exterior condition; also useful for measles), parsnips, horseradish, scallions, garlic, lemon juice, grapefruit, and most fruits.
In some exterior conditions, either chills or fever will predominate. For pre-dominating chills, use warming herbs and foods, for best results. When fevers predominate, or in the case of measles and similar diseases with rashes, use foods with cooling properties. If fevers and chills are of equal strength, any of the foods and herbs recommended above are helpful.
Once the acute stage and exterior symptoms pass, then gradually introduce normal foods in order to build strength. If colds, flu, and various exterior conditions are frequent, one is probably consuming too many sweets, salty foods, and/or excess dairy, eggs, or other mucus and acid-forming foods. In some cases, colds are not easily cured, and a longer-term lung condition results, marked by strong heat signs, copious mucus, or other attributes. This is exactly what has happened with many who contracted COVID.
One last note on the Yin Earth Rooster hexagram is the significant lack of strength in the Yang aspect of the body. This represents a weakness in the nervous system and the digestive tract with emphasis on the respiratory tract. This month is a time to pivot from excessive yang activities and exercises to those that don't unduly tax the body. Now is a good time to begin building that which has been broken or torn down from the summer activities.
Our special this month involves a 10% discount on the price of our proprietary formula BSABV-ES. The BSABV-ES formula comes in a 200 capsule bottle. It's an amazing herbal broad-spectrum anti-viral/bacterial remedy, that we've been using for all kinds of infections, (i.e.: common cold, influenza, bronchitis, COVID, etc.). Just mention this blog post when you place your order.
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Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy
