Have all the windy/gusty days we’ve been experiencing since the end of April left you feeling unsettled, irritated, and even fatigued? If so, you’re not alone. And it is not just here in Western Colorado, people across North America and other parts of the globe have been experiencing periods of intense wind as well. And while the wind has settled down a little these past few days here, there is more to come.
In Asian medicine we observe climatic energy, or qi, both within the body and externally. There are six climatic energies – wind, fire, summer-heat, dampness, dryness and cold - with each corresponding to a season.
Climactic qi and the seasons:
Wind: Spring
Fire: Summer
Summer-heat: within Summer
Dampness: Late-summer
Dryness: Fall
Cold: Winter
And, for each year, there are overarching climatic energies at play, and for 2022 it is both fire and wind.
What does all this mean for us? 2022 is going to be unusually warm and windy, which could lead to any of the following:
More irritability, feeling frazzled, or more anxious
Our sleep may not be as restful, or we may begin to experience some insomnia through the night
We may recognize that we are changing our minds a lot, or feeling ungrounded and unsettled
Wind dries things out, so our skin and hair may suffer, and we may be more thirsty than usual
Here are 6 simple ways we can help lessen the impact of excessive wind
Stay hydrated as much as possible
Eat moistening foods like apples, pears, watermelon (also very cooling), honey, almonds, eggs, and healthy fats like avocado, coconut, and olive oils (they nourish our tissue and keep it moist and supple)
Eat grounding foods like sweet potato, squash, black beans, barley, lamb, beef, and pork
Avoid drying foods like coffee, black and green tea, soda, alcohol, and overly hot and spicy foods
When it is really windy try to stay inside. I know it’s spring with summer just around the corner and we want to get out and enjoy the warmer weather, but being out in strong gusty winds can tangibly have an negative impact on our qi and sense of well-being
If you must be out in it, have a scarf handy to wrap around your neck in case there is a coolness to the wind, such as in the evenings or early mornings. Cool wind on the neck and ears can create upper back and neck stiffness and pain very quickly.
As we go through the year, I’ll be writing more posts about the weather and how we can stay balanced when the weather isn’t!
If you would like to learn more about the impact of climatic factors could be having on your health and wellbeing, please book a session with me either in person or virtually. Click here to book now!