September in the Northwoods brings change you can feel in the air. The mornings are crisp, the days are shorter, and life naturally shifts into a new routine. For many families, it also means back to school. That usually brings more than sharpened pencils and football practice. It often brings the first colds of the season. When kids head back into classrooms, germs spread quickly, and parents feel the stress of juggling schedules, meals, and bedtimes. All of this lands on the body, and hormones are often the first to react.
Hormones are closely tied to light and rhythm. Cortisol, melatonin, estrogen, and thyroid hormones all depend on your internal clock. As daylight fades earlier in September, your rhythm shifts. Without enough natural morning light, melatonin and cortisol can get out of sync, which leads to fatigue, restless nights, mood swings, or cycle changes. Add in the stress of new schedules, less sleep, and exposure to back-to-school bugs, and it is no surprise that people begin to feel worn down. Getting outside in the morning, even for a few minutes, helps reset your system. At night, cutting back on the glow of phones and TVs can calm things down so the body can repair and fight off infections more easily.
Traditional Chinese Medicine gives us another way of looking at this season. Fall belongs to the Metal element, which is connected to the Lungs and Large Intestine. These are the organs that help us process, release, and defend. The Lungs, in particular, are the body’s first line of defense against colds and flu. When the season shifts, they need extra support. At the same time, the Kidneys, which are the root of hormonal health, and the Liver, which keeps everything flowing smoothly, are under more strain. That is why September can bring irregular periods, PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, or even emotional heaviness. Add in the stress of kids bringing home every germ they can find, and it becomes the perfect storm for feeling run down.
The good news is that the body knows how to restore balance. Acupuncture, red light therapy, and frequency-specific microcurrent all help smooth the seasonal transition by nourishing Yin, moving Qi, and strengthening both the Lungs and Kidneys. These therapies support hormone balance and also boost immune defenses so you can move through fall with more resilience and energy.
Here in Land O’ Lakes, nature makes it easy to remember what balance looks like. The loon calling at dawn, the steady rhythm of the lake, and the sharp scent of pine all remind us that change can be steady and graceful. If you are feeling tired, moody, or catching every bug that goes around this time of year, it is not your imagination. Your body is asking for a reset.
If you are ready to feel back in rhythm with the season, schedule a consultation at Up North Acupuncture inside Lando Center. Together we can support your body through fall so you feel strong, balanced, and ready for what comes next.
