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Tag: Seasonal

  • Did You Know Your Body Has an Inner Sense? Interoception

    Did You Know Your Body Has an Inner Sense? Interoception

    One of our eight senses is interoception — the awareness of signals from inside your body, like hunger, thirst, breath, heartbeats, and fullness. This sense helps you care for yourself, regulate emotions, and respond to your body’s needs.

    Here in the Northland, June arrives with longer days and warmer sun. Flowers bloom, the grass is green, rivers run freely, and the air carries new scents and sounds. Our bodies notice the change: the warmth of the sun’s rays on our skin, the pull of daylight, the rhythm of our heartbeat during movement. When we intentionally check in with these inner signals — pausing to feel our breath, noticing when we feel tired or energized — we give our nervous system guidance and balance after months of winter stillness.

    This June, discover your interoception by turning inward. Your nervous system is adapting to growth and expansion — and mindful attention to your body’s signals can help you move with ease and vitality through the month

    More about Sara
  • Goji berry lemonade – a summertime TCM treat

    Goji berry lemonade – a summertime TCM treat

    Looking for a delicious summer refreshment that can also support balancing the systems of your body? Goji berry lemonade:

    • Nourishes blood and yin, moistens the lungs, promotes circulation, & clears heat
    • Treats a dry cough, dry mouth or throat, blurry or diminishing vision, dizziness, & phlegm
    • Recommended for lung dryness, lung yin deficiency, liver or kidney yin deficiency, and qi stagnation
    • Drink one cup once a day for a week

    Goji berries

    • Neutral and sweet
    • Affects the Liver, Lungs, & Kidneys
    • Tonifies liver and kidney yin, moistens the lungs, improves vision, and brightens the eyes

    Lemons

    • Cold and sour
    • Affects Lungs, Spleen, Kidney, Liver, & Gallbladder
    • Lemon is known for its ability to promote qi circulation, regulate blood circulations, clear heat, eliminate toxins, and resolve phlegm

    Feng Mi (Honey)

    • Neutral and sweet
    • Affects Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung
    • Tonifies the middle burner and lung, moistens lungs to relieve cough, moistens intestines to smooth stool, relieves spasms, and reduces pain

    Ingredients

    Makes 1 pitcher (8 servings)

    • 1/2 cup Goji berries
    • 1 cup fresh lemon juice (approximately 6-8 lemons)
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 1/2 TBSP honey or sugar

    Directions

    1. Soak Goji berries in 1 cup cold water for 20 minutes, until soft
    2. Blend Goji berries in a mixer with soaking water & 1 additional cup of water
    3. Strain out Goji berries to yield about 1.5 cups of Goji berry juice
    4. Juice fresh lemons to make 1 cup of juice
    5. Combine the Goji berry juice and the remaining 2 cups of water in a pitcher
    6. Add sweetener and mix well

    Adjust the flavors as desired. Add water if it is too strong

    Warnings of over-consumption

    • Too much sour can negatively affect the liver and spleen
    • Too much sweet can negatively affect the spleen and kidneys
    • A warmer version would be better suited for winter seasons to warm internally
  • Getting the most out of these long days with extra time outside

    Getting the most out of these long days with extra time outside

    As the days get longer, it’s easier and easier to squeeze in extra time outside – more dog walks, biking to the store to pick up the missing ingredient for dinner, visiting friends for back yard hang-outs, skipping rocks, more dog walks, etc. I have been noticing a shift in people’s mood with the uptake in greenery and vitamin D.

    • +10 cheeriness
    • +5 stopping to admire gardens
    • +15 smelling blossoming trees
    • +10 walking all over the place

    Another thing I have noticed, not only in others but with myself as well, is a tendency to use the overload of activity during summer to distract from the goings-on of the rest of the world. And while we DO need to take mental health breaks, rest, and recharge, we are now seeing our neighbors who we didn’t see all winter, more people stopping to chat in the front yard, and people visiting from around the country. Use this extra time outside to connect with your community.

    Seeing more people? Take advantage and build community

    Now is a great time to grow our network of real community connections. For some people, it comes naturally; for others, it takes some practice. And there are various levels of effort depending on your comfort level. Here are a few ideas, from small to large:

    • Equipment sharing – yard tools, power tools
    • Offer to be help neighbors in a pinch (i.e. their car has a flat tire and they need a ride to work)
    • Find a local mutual aid organization to donate time or needed items
    • Get involved with a cause you care about (from local, national, and international)
  • Liver Season is in full swing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

    Liver Season is in full swing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

    This is a time for renewal, growth and awakening. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Liver governs smooth flow of energy throughout the body. If it gets out of balance you might experience:

    • Tension in the form of headaches, eye issues, jaw tightness, neck tension.
    • Emotions might come through as increased irritability, frustration, struggles with sleep and feeling stuck.
    • Digestion issues with increased bloating, indigestion and gas.

    Spring is a good time to clear out energy that no longer serves you:

    • Clear out physical clutter, organize one area of your house that always seems a mess.
    • Mental clutter that might be ready to be released, fears and stories you might tell yourself that no longer serve you, limitations you placed on yourself you might be ready to push through.
    • Set digital boundaries for yourself, prioritizing more time outdoors, taking in fresh air and allowing your bare feet to touch the earth.
    • Create a list of what you were grateful for from this past season

    TCM and Acupuncture in Duluth, MN

    I’m always interested in talking about nutrition as it pertains to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Check out my other blog posts for recipes!

    More about Jakki
    Posts by Jakki
  • Did you know your body has a balance system?

    Did you know your body has a balance system?

    What is our balance system?

    One of our eight senses is the vestibular system — our inner sense of balance and movement. It helps us know where we are in space, keeps us upright, and supports coordination, focus, and emotional regulation.

    Here in the Northland, April is all about the thaw, the gentle ending of our winter reset. Ice loosens, snow melts, and the ground shifts beneath our feet. Wind moves through bare trees. The weather is unsteady and unpredictable — and sometimes we feel that way too. When we intentionally notice gentle movement — slow walks on uneven ground, swaying branches, rocking, stretching, or simply lifting your face to the sunshine and feeling the ground beneath your feet, we give our balance system a chance to recalibrate and reconnect after winter’s stillness.

    This month, move with awareness. Your nervous system is waking up with the season — and steady, intentional movement can help you find your footing again.

    More Occupational Therapy Posts
  • Spring equinox

    Spring equinox

    Spring equinox to me has always meant the height or middle of spring. I consider February 1st to be the beginning of the end of winter and the returning of the sun in preparation of spring. I think this helps me mentally make it through a rough winter. The sun is returning and there is hope for warmer days ahead. This is also a time when seeds are chosen to be planted for the summer growing season and fall harvest. What a great opportunity to clean our outer and inner spaces.

    What do you want to grow this year?

    Community, Self-love, compassion, strength? Stand or sit in a window facing East in the morning and soak in the morning light to help the body reset the Circadian Rhythm. Decide which idea/seed you want to nurture on this day/week/year and breathe the morning light into it as you sip your tea or coffee. Have hope! Soon there will be flowers to smell and all of the ice in Minnesota will be gone.

  • Winter grieving

    Winter grieving

    It has been said that winter is the time for grieving. We at Halcyon House have experienced some personal losses recently and are thankful for the wonderful community around us.

    We hope to cherish our loved ones during the holidays, share some tea and hot cocoa, and make the most of our time together.

  • Winter Digestive Cleanse

    Winter Digestive Cleanse

    Winter digestive cleansing is something that many people want to do to start the new year fresh. The tendency is to want to juice fast; however, in the winter that is very hard on the body—especially in Northern Minnesota. My suggestion has always been to do a kitchari cleanse to give your digestion a rest while nourishing your body in a gentle way. Kitchari is an Ayurvedic Indian recipe that uses split lentils and rice to make a complete protein. Spices are balanced between all five tastes: sweet, spicy, salty, pungent, and sour. If you are feeling the desire to fast this winter, try kitchari cleansing. Here is a great recipe to get you started: Kitchari Recipe 

  • Winter

    Winter

    As winter approaches, we find ourselves in the most Yin time of year. This is a season of going inward, conserving energy, slowing down, and honoring rest. Let these months guide you back to yourself. Find your rhythm in the season: seek out warmth, joy, and light while not overextending yourself. A mindful balance of activity and introspection will help keep the yin and yang healthy.

  • TCM warming broth

    TCM warming broth

    Cold and cough season has arrived. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lungs, which open to the nose and mouth through the respiratory passages, are considered the most delicate of the five yin organs and the easiest for external influences to affect. These external factors are described as six types: 

    • Wind
    • Cold
    • Dampness
    • Dryness
    • Heat
    • Fire

    Coughs are most often linked to Wind, though Wind frequently combines with other influences such as Cold, Heat, or Dryness, depending on seasonal conditions. Wind enters from the back of the neck and ankles. Wrap up in a scarf or buff to keep your neck ‘wind gate’ covered!

    Here is a quick and easy recipe to nip that cold in the bud:

    • 1 green onion, white portion, thinly sliced
    • 1 clove of garlic, sliced thinly
    • 1-2 thin slices of fresh ginger, unpeeled
    • 1 to 1.5 cups of bone broth or water

    Bring the water or broth to a boil, add ingredients and turn down to a simmer after a few minutes. Strain and cool a few minutes to a comfortable temperature. Serve in a mug or bowl.

    This may induce a slight sweat which helps expel dis-ease from the body. Snuggle up in some blankets, but if you feel damp rinse off and put on dry clothes.