Autumn is quite possibly one of the most captivating of the seasons, with the beautiful, multicoloured leaves, in orange & yellow tones, falling from the trees and coming to rest on the ground. The plants know what’s going on. Most of them are getting rid of old things that they don’t need, changing their state to make themselves ready to recieve the new in the months following the Winter Solstice in June. In some areas, like Central Victoria, this phenomenon is more obvious than say, Elizabeth Street in Melbourne. Here we have clearly defined seasons. Autumn is by far the prettiest.
In the Chinese medicine view, Autumn relates to the Metal element – some discussion has occurred on this in previous posts – it seems to be a favourite topic, probably because the season is so beautiful.
Five Elements – Metal
Every Elemental sphere includes two organ systems and for Metal it’s the Lung and Large Intestine pair.
Lungs’ job is to store and disperse fluid via the breath, to release and process Grief, to control the immune system (Wei Qi) with the Stomach, and to regulate the opening and closing of pores, hence its effects on the skin.
Large Intestine is responsible for doing a final check for nutrients from food and drink as waste leaves our bodies, and also to let go of what we don’t need. In the Chinese Medicine clock,
As a pair, they help us with the entire process of grieving from beginning to end.
Imabalances in the Metal element can often involve being unable to let go of grief or release issues from the past, and feeling blown about or unsettled by outside influences, signifying a weakness in protective Qi, at the Wei level.
Outside influences can be environmental (ie Wind, Cold, Heat, Dryness or Damp), but they can also be dietary, lifestyle related (like smoking), emotional, financial or intersocial. The protective layer extends to all of these areas on several different levels, including physical, mental and spiritual.
In Chinese Medicine theory, the Lungs are said to be the Storehouse of Fluid and are responsible for distribution of fluid, including the outbreath which generates condensation. If Lung Qi is insufficient or blocked, symptoms such as frequent colds and flu, shortness of breath, chronic cough, asthma, eczema and grief related depression result. If Large Intestine Qi is insufficient or blocked, there are usually emotional issues surrounding letting go, combined with dysregulation of bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhoea.
5 ways to lift your vibration
- In Autumn, eat foods that are nourishing to the Lungs and keep the Large Intestine flowing freely. These include warmer foods like stewed or poached pears, some kinds of melon, ginger tea using fresh slices of ginger, apricots, plums and other stone fruits, supporting the next element – Water, with salty additions to nourish Kidneys in preparation for the coming Winter.
- Do breathing exercises. Start a Qigong class or do daily breathwork combined with movement so that your body can allow built up Qi to release and let go, and help the lungs release some pent-up fluid by evaporation.
- Let go of the things you don’t need. That includes bric-a-brac, old clothes, moving house, breaking up with friends, attitudes or ideas that no longer serve you, releasing people who have gone or energetic/emotional attachments to them. Having a garage sale to offload extra clutter or items that are no longer useful, or doing a tip run.
- Wear a shirt to bed. This time of year, especially during seasonal change, many people present with frozen shoulder or muscle pain which is due to exposing skin directly to the cold air as it changes during the night. To avoid this, sleep in a moderately warm room and use moderate levels of covers that will keep your body warm but not overheated.
- Drink room temperature or warm water. The energy of autumn is dryness. Everything is cooling down after getting baked all summer by the hot sun, so it’s dried out and needs to be rehydrated. Cold water (in Chinese medicine theory) can cause damage to the Stomach and Spleen by slowing the metabolism and creating blockage in digestion. That’s why we suggest that people drink even temperatured liquids.
If you would like further information on healthy lifestyle tips, recipes and exercises, or any of the above health issues are presenting for you, book a consultation to see what the historical texts of Chinese Medicine have to say about your condition. Dr Rebecca Tolhurst combines research with ancient practices to create a treatment plan specifically designed for you.
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