Living with the seasons: Fall

Fall is here. It is time to harvest the work of spring, stock up food for the winter, and store our energy. Fall is a wonderful transition period to change our diets from cooler foods to warming ones, to protect the fire of our digestion. In Chinese medicine, it is said the metal element rules the fall, an ideal time to accept what we want, and let go of what no longer serves us. Change is all around us. Accepting it evades sadness and grief, the emotions related to this element and this season. The Lungs and the Large Intestine are correspondent to the metal element.

The lungs open into the nose and rule our breathing, the opening and closing of the pores, and our skin. The large intestine controls elimination. Both the large intestine and our skin eliminate what is unnecessary. Fall has a tendency for dryness. Asthma, bronchitis, and allergies are common around this time of year, mostly if our lungs are weak or we overindulged in the summer with cold foods or overactivity. The warm and beautiful fall days might tempt us to live as if it is still summer, and we might have a hard time adjusting to this season.

We continue eating cooling foods, such as watermelon, salads, ice cream, iced drinks, and raw foods. We dress lightly and forget the fall evenings are cool. We continue the pace of summer: we are busy with work, we garden after work, we go to school, we take care of the house and our family and everything else in between. Due to this lack of seasonal adjustment, we often experience more colds and flus in the fall. Shortness of breath, nasal drip, coughs, sinus infections, asthma, chapped lips and dry skin are also common during this time.

In the fall, our bodily energy is moving inwards in preparation for the winter. Support your immune system during this time by having cooked foods and warm drinks. Astragalus tea supports lung function and helps to prepare our body for winter. Cook with black pepper, ginger and garlic. Start to regulate your energy – slow down and let go of all the tasks you wanted to do this summer but didn’t get to. Be okay with it.

Eat black sesame seeds, flax seeds, and marshmallow to moisten the Lungs and protect against dryness. Flax seeds are especially good to prevent dryness-type constipation. If you suffer from chronic sinus infections, grapefruit seed extract is your friend (take 10-15 drops, 3 times a day, and also use nasal spray).

Dress in layers and protect your neck with a scarf, especially on a windy day. The cooling winds invade our body though the back of the neck. On cooler nights, sleep with a hot water bottle over your abdomen and your lower back. Eat all foods cooked, eat what is in season. It is time for wonderful root vegetables, winter squash and pumpkin soups. Cooked fruits of the season with ginger, cinnamon and cardamon can be wonderful treats. For dry coughs, cook pears (preferably Asian pears) with some honey; drink the juice and eat the pears. This works well for children too.

We live in a beautiful place, especially at this time of year. Go for a hike and experience the crunch of crisp leaves under your feet, or enjoy a scenic drive through the White Mountains. Take in all the vibrant colors, live this time like no other, and embrace change.

References

Healing with the herbs of life (1st ed.). (2003). Crossing Press.