Fall 2009

Promoting Health During the Fall: A Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

By Miria Toveg, MS, LAc, Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

Toveg As the last days of summer approach and the liveliness of the summer activities settle down, the transition into autumn begins. Staring with the autumn equinox, the night’s darkness equals the length of the day. After this, nights become longer than days until the winter solstice. Observing nature during the autumn season, we see her ready to be dormant and quiet.

This gives us a clue as to what our bodies and spirits do as well. We see leaves turn into brilliant vivid colors and begin to fall back to the earth. This part of the continuous cycle of life is calmer and quieter. Trees become bare, and there is a light crisp feeling in the air.

The Autumn Harvest
This is a time of harvest, when we gather the colorful, abundant fruits and vegetables that are all around us. It is a time to enjoy the fruits of our labor and settle in for the cold of winter. During the harvest, the seeds we have sown, we now shall reap. We may begin to collect or gather wood for fires, stock up on goods, or bring out our warm clothes, just as the animals grow their winter coats, store food, and prepare in their own way for winter. Spiritually, it may be a time to be introspective and to go within and evaluate ourselves. Spending more time indoors may give us the opportunity to quiet the mind, meditate, do yoga and, perhaps, contemplate where we are and where we want to go.

Connecting the Season to our Health
In traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn is dominated by yin energy. It is the season of the metal element, which is associated with the organs of the lungs and large intestines.

The Lungs: Inward and Outward; The Large Intestines: Release
The lungs enable us to breathe and inhale oxygen—an inward motion that represents this time of year. Thus, this is a time for inwardness, introspection and return to our inner roots or origin. The motion of exhaling carbon dioxide and releasing impurities from our lungs is parallel to the actions of letting go of the things that no longer serve us in our lives.

The lung system includes the lung, nose, throat and skin. Through these we breathe, smell, taste and feel all that is inside and outside of our self. From our first breath—our first interaction with the external world—to our last breath, our lungs connect us to life.

Because the lungs are the uppermost organs in the body, they are referred to as the tender or delicate organs. Lungs are most susceptible to wind and cold. During this time it is very important to maintain a healthy balance between diet, exercise, rest and keeping warm, especially around our neck and chest.

In our bodies, the lungs produce and circulate a fine vapor substance of Qi (Chi) throughout the skin, muscles and viscera. This Qi nourishes and protects our internal organs and structures. This is known as our Protective Qi, or Wei Qi. This Protective Qi enables us to defend ourselves from external influences of both physical and emotional natures. When our defenses are down, we are more susceptible and vulnerable to our external environment and to exterior pathogens such as colds and flus.

Equally important to our health is our large intestine, which also needs special attention during autumn. The main function is to gather our body’s putrefied toxins and eliminate them. The connection between autumn and the larger intestine reinforces that we take this time to purge from our lives that which is harmful.

Autumn Nourishment
During the autumn season, it is important to decrease our intake of cooling summer foods and fruits and add more cooked and warming food. Some of these include: acorn squash, burdock root, butternut squash, carrots, chestnuts, corn, green peas, lotus root, Jerusalem artichokes, okra, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, turnips and yams.

Some favorite grains and beans are amaranth, barley, quinoa, spelt bread, kidney beans, and white and navy beans. As for nuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts and sesame seeds are good, and these can be used as butters also. Pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and hazelnuts are also beneficial.

Fenugreek tea is a wonderful tea of choice because it acts as a lubricant both in softening and dissolving mucus in lungs, and it moistens the intestines to prevent constipation. Other herbs that help protect the lungs are Usnea, Osha, Mullein and Lobelia. Some autumn spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and anise.

A classic Chinese formula that boosts protective Qi and prevents colds is Yu Ping Feng San. Sin Yi San treats head colds with symptoms of sneezing, sinus congestion and headache. For the first sign of a sore throat, the famous Yin Qiao San can be helpful.

Autumn Reflections
Autumn emphasizes the cycle of dormancy and preparing for rebirth. This allows us the opportunity to release old thoughts and negative patterns. Through this process of letting go, we grow and thrive anew. During the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which always coincide with fall, observers use this time to be introspective, look at past deeds and refresh their actions for days to come.

Let this autumn season be a time for us to nourish our selves, to renew and to promote true happiness and universal love to all beings!

Fall 2009

Fall 2009

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