TO YOUR HEALTH Holistic Mental Health in Fall: The Metal Element, Acupuncture and Functional Medicine BY HELENA AMOS, M.AC., L.AC., EURO. PHYSICIAN When it comes to health and wellness, we know when mental health VX̆ HUV SK\VLFDO KHDOWK VX̆ HUV 7KH LQWHUFRQQHFWHGQHVV GHPDQGV D lifestyle that tends to both, and healthcare that responds to both when one or the other falters. The steps we take to balance both sides of this equation varies day-to-day as well as with the seasons, with many holistic health practitioners adopting an East meets West approach to care. ,Q7UDGLWLRQDO&KLQHVH0HGLFLQH 7&0 HDFKVHDVRQHPRWLRQDQG organ in the body is connected through a system called the Five Ele- ments. Autumn belongs to the Metal element , which corresponds WRWKH/XQJVDQG/DUJH,QWHVWLQHDQGLVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHHPRWLRQV RIJULHIOHWWLQJJRDQGWKHLPPXQHDQGHOLPLQDWLRQV\VWHPV0XFK like how the trees in fall let go of their leaves to prepare for winter rest and new growth, our bodies and minds go through something similar. We also need to release what no longer serves us — bad habits, un- helpful patterns, old pain or trauma, and unresolved emotions — to allow room for new things. %XWZKDWKDSSHQVZKHQZHJHWVWXFN",IZHKROGRQWRJULHIRUFDQ¶W let go — of loss, disappointment, or personal disillusionment — then WKH0HWDOHOHPHQWLVLPEDODQFHG:KHQWKLVKDSSHQVLWFDQVKRZXS physically and mentally as: • Feeling emotionally numb or heavy • 'L̇ FXOW\FU\LQJRUFU\LQJDOOWKHWLPH • Shallow breathing • Tightness in the chest • Skin issues or constipation • :DNLQJXSEHWZHHQ±DPZLWKDQ[LRXVRUVDGWKRXJKWV • Perfectionism So, how can we support ourselves in moving through grief and re- VWRULQJHTXLOLEULXPWRWKHHOHPHQWVRIRXU0HWDOHOHPHQW")RUSRVVL - ble solutions, we look deeper into the Five Element system, and ex- SORUHKRZDFXSXQFWXUHDQG)XQFWLRQDO0HGLFLQHFDQZRUNRIWHQWLPHV ,Q)LYH(OHPHQW$FXSXQFWXUHDQG&KLQHVH0HGLFLQHVRPHRQHZLWK D 0HWDO HOHPHQW LPEDODQFH ² DJDLQ UHODWHG WR WKH /XQJ DQG /DUJH ,QWHVWLQHPHULGLDQV²PDQLIHVWVVLJQVDFURVVERG\YRLFHFRORUSXOVH DQGWLPHRIGD\+HUHLVKRZ0HWDOLPEDODQFHORRNVDQGIHHOV • Face — White, pale or dull complexion; skin may appear dry, tight, ZLWKYLVLEOHSRUHVRUÀDNLQHVV • Voice — Weepy, soft, sighing, or breathy tones, indicative of sup- together, to restore balance. Five Element Approach
Maybe your next therapist shouldn’t be a therapist
Eric Weinstein It’s Not Therapy (It’s Problem Solving)
Did you know that: • Licensed therapists are limited to certain approaches by “standards of care” that leave out a number of highly effective healing and personal growth modalities? • Even if you’re paying out-of-pocket for your sessions, your therapist might be unable to use anything “different” because of insurance company requirements and state regulations? I’m not a therapist, but I always have a therapist or two among my clients. They come to me for: • the most ancient healing modality (shamanic healing) • proven, but less conventional modalities (hypnosis/ NLP [Neurolinguistic Programming] and Eye Movement Integration [similar to EMDR, but gentler]) • the most exciting new energy modalities (Energy Psychology, such as EFT or “tapping” on meridian points, biofield work, and chakra manipulation) • Voice dialogue (which one therapist referred to as “Internal Family Systems on steroids”) • intriguing coaching modalities (including True Purpose coaching and Archetypal coaching) And they come for all the same problems they might see a conventional therapist for – as well as problems and questions of a spiritual/energetic nature. So, whether you’ve gotten what you can from talk therapy, want action-oriented approaches, or want a holistic body/ mind/spirit approach, why wait to find out how your life can be better?
pressing sadness or inhibiting full expres- sion of emotions • Tongue — Pale, dry, cracked in Lung area MXVWEHKLQGWKHWLS or visible thin white coating • Pulse ²:HDN 4L'H¿ - FLHQF\ WKLQ <LQ'H¿ - FLHQF\ WLJKW JULHI • Emotion — Lingering JULHI GL̇ FXOW\ OHWWLQJ go, perfectionism, ri- gidity, anxiety and ap- athy
Have questions or want to set a video appointment? Call 703-288-0400 or email eric@its-not-therapy.com Serving local and long-distance clients from Annapolis MD
Read more about how I can help you at www.Its-Not-Therapy.com
24—PATHWAYS—Fall 25
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