Are you an eco-conscious person who is always doing your best to live in harmony with nature in a modern, technology-driven society? 

If so, you are probably into recycling, organic food, bicycles, LED lightbulbs, clotheslines and other practices that are your small yet hugely important contributions to the health of our planet. 

As an acupuncturist and lover of nature, I am always doing my best to walk my talk and live in harmony with Mother Nature. I’d like to suggest the necessity of also using inner wellness practices to achieve planetary sustainability. How do you refuel your energy? Do you have enough? Do you use it sustainably?

Breathing, body movement and resting are all free and renewable resources that restore energy. When we choose these methods over caffeine and pushing through tiredness, we are choosing a sustainable way to live. And since we are part of nature, we are contributing to the sustainability of our planet.

As a five-element-style acupuncturist, I view human health through the lens of nature. In wintertime, the trees are dormant, the seeds rest underground and nature is relatively quiet and still. When we use the wintertime for its intended purpose to rest and restore, we can refill our energy reserves and have enough force to spring into action when springtime arrives. This is why when people suffer from springtime allergies, I encourage them to receive acupuncture in the wintertime before their symptoms emerge.

Another way to fuel our energy and act sustainably is to receive regular acupuncture treatments for wellness maintenance. When we do this, we are less likely to get sick at all and more likely to recover quickly when we do. As a pediatric acupuncturist, I encourage parents bring their kids in for regular wellness visits.

Let’s view this from the wider perspective of the growing trend of antibiotic resistance. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, “Antibiotic use is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance. Up to one-third to one-half of antibiotic use in humans is either unnecessary or inappropriate. . . . Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses like colds, flu, most sore throats, and bronchitis. Even many sinus and ear infections can get better without antibiotics. Instead, symptom relief might be the best treatment option for these infections.” (www.cdc.gov/features/getsmart).

We must remember that kids need to get sick and heal in order to build strong immune systems. So I always encourage coming for acupuncture at the first signs of sickness to boost the immune system and reduce the likelihood of antibiotic use. 

What would it look like if we really trusted in our body’s ability to heal and created lifestyles to support and nourish that healing? What would change in our own lives? How would this support the health of our planet?