Speaking of spring cleaning up our diets…
The link between clutter and brain fog
I just finished helping a friend unpack after a move. She was feeling unwell and the chaos and disorganization of life in boxes was creating a negative feedback loop of stress, brain fog and overwhelm. She recognized that part of her problem was too much stuff: unused *just in case* things, duplicates, items kept because they were gifts from well-meaning friends…
So we invoked Marie Kondo.
As we filled bags slated for donation, she reveled in the lightness she felt – and I felt it too. It’s such a simple thing: releasing disused, unloved, broken, complicated, outdated stuff is THE MOST POWERFUL thing you can do for yourself as a Feng Shui practice for confusion, dissatisfaction or stagnation in your life, body or home. Even if you only have energy for one drawer – it can help.
Meditation can de-clutter and de-fog your brain
Meditation works the same way decluttering does — it clears out the mental noise. Think of it as cleaning out the junk drawer of your mind, and it can create real shifts in how life feels.
Not built for traditional meditation? You’re not alone. Practices like running, biking, knitting, and meditative drawing can be wonderful stepping stones. Have you tried any of these?
Can acupuncture help my brain fog?
Sometimes stress, brain fog, and uncomfortable rumination need a little more than a tidy closet or a mindful walk to sustainably resolve. That’s where acupuncture and Chinese Medicine come in. These time-tested modalities can offer meaningful support for mental and physical stagnation. If you’d like support in creating a personalized program to clear away your brain fog and get you un-stuck, feel free to schedule your first or next appointment opens in a new windowhere:
The Chinese Medicine explanation for brain fog
For my five element super geeks we are in the middle of a 2-week, mini, earth element season – a potent opportunity to tend to your earth element systems and themes.
A little background: There are different schools of thought about the elements and seasons. Depending on what or where you studied – Chinese Medicine, feng shui, qigong, different Daoist or astrology systems – late summer is often linked to the earth element, as shown in the image on the left.
Through my own studies – I have come to find it most meaningful and potent to hold that earth element is at the center of the tai ji symbol and at the center of EVERYTHING – home, nourishment, digestion, health – as depicted by the image on the right. When the earth element is out of balance all other elements and their corresponding concerns follow. This creates downstream effects for the other elements, their organ systems, their associated emotions….
From his perspective, there are four earth element seasons through the year, immediately before a seasonal transition. We are currently in a mini earth element season on the eve of the fire element’s arrival. Right now is a potent moment to clean up and recalibrate your earth element in service to your health in the coming months – particularly by moderating the presence of dampness in your diet (sugar, dairy, icy drinks, frozen treats, smoothies and the like…). Fresh ginger tea is a simple kitchen solution to mitigate dampness and support the digestion in processing these foods.
Symptoms of dampness include brain fog, allergic rhinitis and bloating. If you’re struggling with these and would like support, you can schedule your next session opens in a new window::HERE::
