Navigating Seasonal Transitions with Traditional Chinese Medicine: Optimizing Health During Autumn
For many, the arrival of fall conjures images of cozy sweaters and the aromatic allure of pumpkin spice. However, there's a deeper, more profound aspect that is often unnoticed, the distinct Qi, or energy, that is unique to each season. Nature, in all its wisdom, recognizes this intrinsic connection. Consider this: when you sow seeds out of their natural season, they may sprout, but they'll never blossom or yield fruit. How does this seasonal shift affect your Qi and energy?
Each season’s energy has an influence on our bodies and our daily lives. For example, do you often crave a steaming hot bowl of soup in the middle of summer? Likely not, because your body’s cravings reflect the season and this is the time of year for cooling foods, like watermelon. Or, you may physically be able to run a marathon in the dead of winter, but should you? No! This is the time to go inward and restore our energy just like hibernating bears before spring. Chinese medicine principles encompass living in harmony with the seasons, which means knowing when and how to preserve your vitality through balanced nutrition, proper rest and self-care, as well as exercise. Being in tune with the seasonal energy allows us to better adapt to these shifts–and optimize health.
A common occurrence, which we see clinically, is a tendency for people to get sick when the seasons change because their bodies’ Qi cannot adjust smoothly and fails to align with the new season. This can happen for a number of reasons like, constitutional weakness, disharmony of the internal organs, stagnant Qi from too much stress, or simply burnout–Qi exhaustion.
TCM theory explains how each organ and season have a relationship with one another. For example, autumn’s relationship is with the lungs and large intestine. These particular organs are more prone to imbalance during the fall season, causing coughs and colds. This blog explains autumn’s relationship with the lungs to provide tips and herbal recommendations to address seasonal coughs, colds and flus, as well as prevent them because, after all, prevention is the highest form of medicine.
The Lungs and Autumn- The Season of Dryness
The lungs are considered the most external organ because they connect the body to the outside world. Strong and healthy lung Qi can protect us from attack by pathogenic factors, like viruses. The lungs are particularly weakened by “dryness” which can occur when there is a lack of cooling and moistening (yin) fluids inside the body, or from an external lack of moisture in the air often seen in Autumn. In China, this issue is known as “qiu zao” (literally, autumn dryness). It’s a lack of water in the environment and body. Dryness in the lungs and large intestines can cause symptoms such as dry mouth, lips and nose, dry cough, sore throat, a tendency towards dry stools, constipation, or dry skin.
Using TCM to Moisten Dryness, Nourish Yin, and Protect the Lungs
There is an abundance of advice offered in Traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen and protect the lungs in preparation for the Autumn season. Prevention is mostly focused on methods to nourish and preserve the body’s fluids/yin.
Diet and Nutrition
Autumn is the time to transition from the cooling salads and raw fruits and vegetables of summer, to warm cooked foods such as soups and stews with root vegetables. Add in some meat such as small portions of organic grass-fed beef and lamb to warm and nourish your body.
Eating warm, cooked vegetables of the season (sweet potatoes, squash, beetroot, broccoli, etc.) will help your body adjust to the change.
Apples, persimmons, and pears nourish and moisten Lung yin – a delicious medicine for dry coughs is poached pears with honey.
Hydrate using warm water and tea with your meals and throughout the day to warm your body and nourish the yin.
Pungent foods (onion, garlic, turnip, ginger, horseradish) all help to build “defensive Qi” (immunity) and disperse mucus.
If you start feeling under the weather, or chilled with a few sniffles and sneezing, try this traditional Chinese remedy!
Ginger and Scallion Tea Recipe
6 -8 slices fresh ginger (about the size of a thin quarter, with peel, smashed lightly with the side of a knife)
6 -8 scallions, white part only
2 -3 teaspoons honey
2 cups water
Directions: Place the ginger slices and scallions in a small pot (preferably glass or ceramic) with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea and add honey to taste. To increase effectiveness, take a hot shower, dry off and bundle up in warm blankets making sure to cover your head. Drink your tea and keep covered until you break into a sweat. This helps to open the pores and push invading pathogens out of the body.
Lifestyle Advice
Feel your feelings! The lung and large intestine are associated with the emotion, grief, and the ability to let go (physically and emotionally). Identify your emotions and if you have grief that needs to be processed. Practice letting go of behaviors and feelings that no longer serve you.
Cover up! In TCM, excess wind and cold are what carry pathogens into the body. Your first line of defense lies in dressing appropriately for the weather and making sure your neck and upper back are always covered and warm if exposed to any wind or chilly air. Also, make sure your hair is dry when leaving the house in cold weather and before going to bed.
Chinese Herbs
Visit our blog on cold and flu season to find which Chinese herbal formulas and techniques can boost the immune system and prevent illness. The blog also goes into depth on supporting immunity by improving digestion and how acupuncture can help!
If you are in the beginning stages of feeling sick, the ginger and scallion tea is a great example using herbs to combat illness. Two other classic formulas include:
Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)- symptoms include more chills than fever, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, and body aches.
Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Formula)- the main symptoms for this formula are sore throat, as well as fever without sweating, chills, cough, and headaches. A modified tincture version of this formula called Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid by Source Naturals can be found in stores and at our online pharmacy.
*Always seek out advice from your doctor or Chinese medicine practitioner prior to taking an herbal formula.*
If you are prone to dryness, live in a particularly dry climate, are exposed to cigarette smoke, have been affected by wildfires, or even if you are in menopause (aka dry season for women), then it is likely that nourishing yin and moistening dryness will be your best bet for preventing illness in autumn. This can be done with formulas such as:
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Flavor Rehmannia Pill): marked by lower back pain and weakness of the knees, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, night sweating, dry tongue, and sore throat.
Yi Guan Jian (Linking Decoction): restlessness, irritability, dry mouth and throat at night, feeling hot at night, possible constipation or dry stools, and red eyes.
If you are past the initial stages of being sick or if you are trying to replenish fluids and recover from illness, then you may need formulas such as these:
Baked Licorice Formula (Zhi Gan Cao Tang): A Qi and blood tonic from the Shang Han Lun designed to help someone recover from depletion after a febrile disease- 80% of the herbs in this formula generate fluids.
Lily Preserve Metal Formula (Bai He Gu Jin Tang): Typically used after febrile disease has depleted the lung yin, leaving the lungs unable to completely expel the remaining pathogenic factors. It generates fluids, nourishes yin, supports the lung Qi, and resolves residual phlegm.
A variety of herbal formulas can be used for the varying stages of illness. They will vary depending on your personal constitution, signs, and symptoms. It's important to consult with your Chinese medicine doctor to find the best fit for you. Focus on how the seasonal change in Qi will affect you, and make changes in your daily routine that will support your immune system and help prevent common illnesses the new season may bring.
Book a consultation or an appointment with one of our Chinese medicine doctors to find out how you can best support yourself through seasonal transitions.
