Today is the first day of Autumn. The time of year when the sun crosses the celestrial equator and moves toward in the northern hemisphere – the Autumnal equinox. The sun is beginning to set earlier and rise later as the leaves turn multi shades of red, orange and yellow.

Fall has arrived and now is the time to harvest the bounty that grew during the summer so we can store up for the cold winter ahead.  It is a time to organize, work hard, and finish projects you began in spring and summer.

Chinese medicine recognizes the change in nature and gives us practical tools to live in balance with this season according to nature’s laws. Ancient Chinese physicians observed the natural cycles of the season and have given us tips for the best daily practices for staying healthy and harmonizing our own energy with that of the environment.

“In the three months of autumn all things in nature reach their full maturity.  The grains ripen and harvesting occurs.  The heavenly energy cools, as does the weather.  The wind begins to stir.  This is the changing or pivoting point when the yang, or active, phase turns into its opposite, the yin, or passive, phase.  One should retire with the sunset and arise with the dawn.  Just as the weather in autumn turns harsh, so does the emotional climate.  It is therefore important to remain calm and peaceful, refraining from depression so that one can make the transition to winter smoothly.  This is the time to gather one’s spirit and energy, be more focused, and not allow desires to run wild.  One must keep the lung energy free, full, clean and quiet.  This means practicing breathing exercises to enhance lung Qi.  Also, one should refrain from smoking and grief, the emotion of lung.  This will prevent the kidney or digestive problems in the winter.  If this natural order is violated, damage will occur to the lungs, resulting in diarrhea with undigested food in the winter.  This compromises the body’s ability to store in winter”. -Huangdi Neijing Suwen

Fall is the perfect time to reflect as it is associated with the metal element which according to Chinese medicine, governs the mind, organization, order and stability. We tend to be more reflective, turning inward to our work, our families and our homes during this time.  It is a time to organize and prepare for the winter season ahead and a time to reflect on our lives.

Emotionally, this is the season associated with grief and sadness.  It is important to keep the mind clear and “let go” of negative emotions, which can impact health more strong during the fall.

Associated Organs:  Lungs and Large Intestine

Fall corresponds to the lungs, skin, and large intestine. The lungs and large intestine are in charge of respiration, digestion, and elimination.  Common symptoms associated with lung and large intestine imbalances are respiratory problems, such as asthma, shortness of breath, frequent colds, and sinus infections, as well as constipation and skin problems.

Fall Imbalances Produce Symptoms

The body is particularly susceptible to wind and cold during the fall. Dryness can cause symptoms of coughing, dry nose, sore throat, dry skin, dry hair and scalp, dry mouth and cracked lips, and hard and dry stools.  Adding more nourishing yin foods to your diet can promote body fluid, soothe the lungs and protect you from dryness.

Fall Seasonal Eating

Eat fewer cold, uncooked foods – such as salads, and more warm, cooked foods.  Switch from salads to soups and steamed vegetables such as winter squash, winter peas, broccoli, sweet potatoes and yams.  Incorporate yellow and red foods into your meals.  Start your day with hot otameal.

Warm and Nourishing foods and herbs to add to your Fall diet:

Apple, Banana, Beets, Bell pepper, Bok choy, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Figs, Garlic, Ginger, Grapes, Horseradish, Leeks, Pears, Persimmons, Plums, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Red Cabbage, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach, Thyme, Whole grains, Wild rice, Winter squash, Yam

Protect Your Lung Qi

Lung 7 is one of the most powerful poins on the lung channel.  It is a popular acupuncture point to use for stopping a persistent cough and relieving a sore throat.  Lung 7 is often used to treat conditions related to the head and neck, such as headaches, migraines, stiff neck, facial paralysis, and toothache.

Lung 7 is considered to be the ”command point” of the head and neck and is also used to improve circulation in the brain and stimulate memory.

Lung 7 is located above the wrist on the inside of the arm.
To find this point, interlock your thumb and index finger of one hand with those of the other, the point lies on the edge of the index finger, in a depression between the sinew and the bone on the thumb side of the wrist.

Stimulate this point on both hands with the tip of your index finger for approximately 30 seconds or until your cough subsides.

Today is the first day of Autumn is an important transitition in Five Element Philoposphy.  The long days of sunshine slowly peaks and gives way to a time of decrease.  The leaves turn color, fall from the trees and  decay to replenish the earth.  Daylight hours shorten, the weather turns cooler.

Our bodies naturally feel the effects of this transition and if we do not pay attention to subtle changes in nature during this time, we may feel out of sorts.  Symptoms may include:  shortness of breath, and a dislike of speaking.  Catching colds easily.  Coughing, a hoarse or weak voice, a dry mouth and throat.  Difficulty dealing with loss, vulnerable to outside criticism.  Tiredness, constipation or diarrhoea.

In Chinese medicine – the Metal element is associated with Autumn, a time of harvest, where we reap the fruits and vegetables of the season and prepare them for storage duirng Winter.  The Organs Associated with Metal are the Lungs and Large Intestine.

Dr. Worsley, my teacher, spoke of the lungs as “the Official who receives the pure Ch’i from the heavens”.  The first breath at birth sustains our life force  throughout our lives until we take our final breath.  The Chinese view the the Lungs as the receiver of energy and the Large Intestine as the “Dust Bin Collector, the Drainer of the Dregs” where its main functin is to store and eliminate waste.   These two Officials when balanced work beatuifully together to allow us to “take in”  air, chi, inspiration and “let go” of waste, and negativity.

Autumn is the perfect Season to support the Lungs and Large Intestine with  habits that strengthen these Officials.

Here’s simple ways to smoothly transition through Autumn.

1.  Awake during Lung’s peak time, between 3-5 am.  Practice 30 minutes of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or Yoga, meditate or just breathe deeply.   Deep breathing stimulates the Large Intestine to eliminate (good for those with constipation) between 5-7 am, it’s peak hours.

2.  Use a Neti pot with a saline solution to irrigate your sinuses.  This simple habit can be incorporated  into your morning routine and acts to prevent sinus infections and sore throats.  I use a Neti Pot during Autumn to help alleviate seasonal allergies.  It works, along with taking 500 mgs of Quercitin-C.

3. The gift of the Metal element is the ability to inspire.   Hike or drive to the mountains and renew what inspires you.  Grief is the emotion associated with Metal.  Extreme grief can injure the lungs but can be processed through the awe-inspiring reach of the great outdoors.   Nature herself is healing and transformative.

4.  Eat mildly spicey foods to help support the Metal element.  Tai, Indian, and other Asian foods try and balance the five flavors of bitter,sweet, spicey, sour and salt.  Try combining all these tastes at EVERY meal instead of dieting.  Our modern diet has too much sweet (in the form of refined sugars) and salt and too little of bitter, sour and spicey.

As is true in nature, Autumn is a time were we consolidate our energies and prepare for the austerity of Winter.  When that breaks down, so too, does our ability to preserve what is nourishing to the body, mind and spirit.