18/10/2021
Today is WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY – Menopause is also known as the SECOND SPRING … the time of giving birth to ourselves!
In Traditional Chinese Medicine this natural stage in a woman’s life is referred to as the “Second Spring” which represents a renewal of energy and opportunities. According to the ancient text the Nei Jing, it is the third important phase in a woman’s reproductive life, following Heavenly Water and Childbirth. It is the time of giving birth to ourselves. Here, I hope to share ways of making the best of this precious time …
In an effort to conserve our Essence the wisdom of our bodies adjusts our bodies in a natural effort to slow down the aging process and bring new balance to our advancing years. Since Blood and Essence are no longer being lost, we feel rejuvenated and experience an awakening of new potential, we experience an independent sense of self – Second Spring.
Our power and achievements often manifest at mid-life and beyond. Our Yin declines and Yang energy becomes more apparent. We become more passionate about our beliefs, more able to express our anger and more apt to stand up for ourselves, expressing ourselves authentically.
There is a well-known Chinese saying ‘women in their thirties are wolves, in their forties, tigers and their fifties, dragons.’
At mid-life we transition into Second Spring often with a number of stresses contributing to our emotional and physical loads. Addressing the needs of declining parents, adjusting to changed roles in the home or workplace, dealing with children leaving home, retiring from our professions, experiencing mental and physical changes in body image to name a few. If we have internalized negative stereotypes of menopausal women, then we can easily attribute distress and discomfort of the stress factors in our lives to menopause.
Many of us will experience some very real physical symptoms during the transition into Second Spring. As Spleen energy function declines there is less Blood, Qi and other body fluids available to hydrate the body leading to dryness, heat, mood swings, discomfort as well as insomnia, hot flushes, weight gain, dry skin, hair, eyes and nails. Kidney energy depletion will contribute to loss of memory, tinnitus, poor concentration, reduced ability to think and impaired vision. The severity of our symptoms will be determined by our inherited constitution and how well we have nurtured our Kidney energy and essence throughout our lives.
How we think about this stage of life is a result of our cultural, societal and personal experiences and plays a critical role in how we are able to embrace, move through and accept this natural life phase.
Symptoms related to menopause can be reduced by avoiding lifestyle choices that decrease the functioning of the Kidney energy, our essence. I hope that the below Yang Sheng tips will help you or someone important to you who is approaching the Second Spring.
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OURSELVES THROUGH THE TRANSITION INTO SECOND SPRING AND BRING HARMONY:
Eat nutritious balanced meals at regular intervals
Do not over or undereat
Try not to eat after 8pm so you can rest when you sleep, not digest
AVOID OR REDUCE:
Cold food and drinks
Raw foods
Dairy
Rich fatty, greasy foods
Sugar and refined carbohydrates
coffee
alcohol
Carbonated softdrinks
Hot & spicy foods
Excess of red meats
EAT:
Cooked foods that are served warm
Lightly cooked fresh veg
Dark green leafy veg, liver, eggs,
Raisins
Almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
Bone broths
Soy products
String, kidney, black & mung beans and sprouts
Black sesame seeds
Seaweed
Oily fish, sardines, salmon, tuna, mackerel
REGULAR EXERCISE is beneficial in circulating Qi & Blood. Moving Qi also helps unblock emotions. Do exercise that does not exhaust your Qi. Yoga, Tai Qi and Qi Gong help conserve the Essence and are aerobic, balancing physical, mental and spiritual energy.
SELF ACUPRESSURE for 2 minutes on each of the three points daily. Please refer to point locations online or contact me for clarification if needed.
1. Ki 1 : on bottom of the foot in the centre just below the pads
2. Sp 6: inside of the lower leg ,four finger widths above the inner ankle bone and
3. ST36 : outside of lower leg approximately your index finger length distance from the base of the kneecap
Herbal medicine, acupuncture and food energetics practice with an aim to help people strengthen their immune systems, physical and mental health, energy and wellbeing.
