As autumn approaches and the strong outward movement of yang summer gives way to the profound inner introspective yin of winter, we must remember to make room for the journey inwards. Thoughts become more pensive, we prefer tea and reading to beer and mingling, and there is a desire for profound slumber after the ups and downs of summer.
Fall is a season of completion: the colors are changing, the salmon are returning home, and our gardens are harvested and preparing for winter. It’s an excellent time to make resolutions concerning things we’d want to let go of. Whether those “things” are material, emotional, or habitual, the autumn season is the time to let them go. If you’re searching for a reason to stop smoking, now is the perfect time of year to do it according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, or at the very least to give your lungs a rest as the seasons change.
DESCENDING INTO DARKNESS
According to Chinese medicine philosophy, autumn is the metal element’s season, and it relates to the lungs and big intestine. Metal regulates the feeling of mourning, which is regulated by the lungs, and its virtue is acceptance, which is governed by the capacity of the large intestine to let go. As the yin grows and moves inward, we may find ourselves traveling into the depths of our closets, reliving unhealed hurts.
Fortunately for us, metal is also associated with spiritual connection and fulfillment. Making time for acupuncture treatments, meditation, yoga, nature, or whatever spiritual connection you have will help calm the PO (the lung spirit) and express sadness, allowing it to complete its journey. “The lungs concern the transient and transitory,” writes Kaptchuk. Whatever darkness is approaching you right now, the lungs urge us to breathe through it.
LUNGS
The lungs are in charge of circulating fluids and Wei Qi, also known as defensive Qi, which circulates on the body’s surface between the skin and muscles, known as the Cou Li. In western terminology, this is most closely related to the immune system. If the lung’s Qi is confined by sorrow, the defensive Qi will not rise to the skin’s surface, and we may be prone to colds and flu.
Another prevalent cause of the arrival of cold and flu season (pun intended) is that autumn’s climatic component is dryness. The lungs abhor dryness, which might impair the lungs’ function of circulating fluids and defensive qi.
When fluids do not reach the skin’s surface, we may witness a worsening of skin disorders like eczema or psoriasis, as well as irritations like dry, cracked skin and brittle, unimpressive hair. To battle lung Qi constriction and dryness, add a few drops of fragrant essential oils, such as peppermint or cinnamon, to a hot shower and allow the steam to nourish your lungs.
Good quality organic oils, such as coconut or sesame, are excellent post-shower moisturizers that soothe the skin and hair and have been used in Ayurvedic medicine to tonify the nerve system..
Engineering of the Lungs
Lung imbalances may be caused by dryness or excess mucus in the membranes and manifest as sinus difficulties, nasal congestion, lung and bronchial disorders, recurrent colds, and virus susceptibility.
Poor eating habits may cause mucus to build up in the lungs and obstruct their healthy functioning. Overeating, a lack of roughage, too much dairy, meat, or other congesting meals, as well as processed foods, may result in toxin buildup, which can cause stress and tiredness.
You may help your body by supporting the lungs with organic nutrient dense food recommended by a TCM doctor.
LARGE INTESTINE
The large intestine is the organ in charge of transit and conduction. The big intestine’s job, similar to that of a western ideology, is to convert digested food into feces and reabsorb fluids.
Emotionally, it is in charge of “letting go” and acknowledgment in order to go on. If the large intestine does not absorb Qi from the lung or is impacted by seasonal dryness, it will lack the necessary energy and moisture for disposal, resulting in constipation.
Interestingly, I’ve found a clinical link among individuals with persistent constipation who also have great sadness and difficulties admitting prior traumas.
Foods like honey, spinach, pine nuts, and figs, as well as moderate approaches to moistening and lubricating the bowels.
If you need something a bit more powerful, dandelion tea and magnesium may be wonderful alternatives to assist in clearing obstructions.
The fall breeze will bring the sneeze.
Have you ever heard of your wind gate? It’s the space between your shoulders and your occipital bone, or the back of your neck. Wind in Traditional Chinese Medicine thought relates to both the climatic aspect and what we term “pathogen invasion” (as in catching a cold). If the back of your neck is exposed to the air, it is vulnerable to invasion by chills, fever, cold, and flu—especially if our protective Qi is already damaged by the season. As the weather decreases, be sure to pop your collar, draw up your hood, or wrap a scarf around those wind gates. Let your autumn slogan be, “I will weather the weather in a high-neck sweater!”
When the large intestine is inadequate, one dreams of broad fields; when the lungs are overactive, one dreams of concern, dread, sobbing, and soaring…
If one’s lungs are weak, he or she will have dreams of flying and seeing unusual items composed of gold or iron. -Ch. 43 of The Spiritual Axis
When one’s lungs are overworked, one dreams of crying – The Simple Questions, ch. 17
If one’s lungs aren’t working properly, he or she will have nightmares involving white things or violent murders. – Chapter 80 of The Simple Questions
Consider maintaining a dream notebook and writing down anything comes to mind first thing in the morning. It may be important information for your personal understanding as well as for practitioners.
The goal of Chinese medicine is to achieve harmony. Attunement to the seasons, and, most crucially, seasonal meals, is a foundation of this way of life! It’s time to start boiling, preserving, and fermenting the raw, fresh, yang energy garden crop in order to develop the yin. Look for meals that have vibrant autumn colors. Pumpkin, squash, beets, carrots, apples, pears, raisins, dates, rye, spelt, dark leafy greens, yams, and turnips all benefit from warmer cooking techniques such as soups, stews, and congees.
Because the seasonal movement of fall is contraction, suitable ferments such as kimchi, kombucha, kefir, and sauerkraut are somewhat sour and are wonderful alternatives to assist the body in gently contracting with the season. They also encourage healthy gut flora, which strengthens your digestive and immune systems. Other pungent spices, such as cinnamon, ginger, and peppermint, circulate Qi, promote lung function, and keep our bodies warm when the temperature cools. Stronger pungents, such as garlic and onion, cleanse and protect the lungs while also fortifying the immune system to fend off colds and fever. Just be aware of their potential to be drying, and remember that moderation is crucia
Fall Is A Great Time To Declutter
We’re all acquainted with spring cleaning, but according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn is a great time to de-clutter and tidy up! Here’s why.
Fall ushers in the metal element period. According to the Five Element theory, each element (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood) is associated with certain regions of life, emotions, personalities, forms, colors, seasons, and organ systems in the human body. Understanding the five elements enables us to build harmony in our homes and ourselves. The Metal Element is all about teaching you to let go.
The metal element represents transformation
Fall is a season of transition, the period between summer and winter when Yang turns into Yin. This shift may be seen in the environment: leaves are falling off trees, and the days are becoming shorter and colder. When we’re in sync with the spirit of the season, it’s natural to want to change our own living environment.
Metal’s power is decreasing
After the development of spring (wood), the abundance of summer (fire), and the harvest of late summer (earth), we arrive at autumn (metal), a season of reduction. When summer gives way to autumn, we might feel the weight of excess accumulation in the form of mental and physical clutter. Decluttering our home will assist us in letting go of excess and finding levity.
The metal element prefers structure
After the lengthy summer days, October brings back regularity and order. The school year starts, summer vacation concludes, and it’s back to the day planner. The Metal Element thrives on structure, order, and meticulous preparation. Now is the moment to bring that metal energy into your house!
Laura Benko writes in her book The Holistic Home that autumn is a season for harvesting and accumulating ideas: “Use this time to prepare yourself for future objectives like researching for a book, collecting ideas for remodeling, or arranging a wedding or vacation.” Clutter reduction creates space, which stimulates ideas, planning, and preparedness.
HOT AND COLD INGREDIENT PROPERTIES
Spicy or pungent tastes are often related with the lungs and tend to disseminate and circulate Qi as well as stimulate blood. I’ve listed some of the Chinese dietary therapy benefits of some of the other items in this meal.
- Chile peppers: cure the lungs, stomach, and spleen, assist digestion, reduce edema, and contain antioxidant characteristics.
- Celery is a cooling vegetable that soothes the stomach and lubricates the internal organs. Coumarin chemicals may tone the vascular system while increasing blood flow and cleaning the blood.
- Allspice: Helps the spleen, stomach, and digestion. It causes blood to flow.
- Orange Juice: A cooling meal that promotes Qi circulation, operates on the lung, stomach, and spleen, and aids digestion.
- Orange peel: Aids digestion and mucus transformation.
- Carrot: A Qi tonic that nourishes the lungs and stomach while also aiding in the removal of impurities, the movement of energy, the treatment of indigestion, and the improvement of skin health.
- Garlic has a pungent and sweet smell that is warming in warmth. Invigorates Qi and tones the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. It aids digestion and is antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, and antifungal. Reduces sinusitis and influenza while removing pollutants.
- Lentils are a key vegetarian protein source, second only to soybeans in terms of tonifying Qi. They’re ideal for soups since they’re simple to use and cook. The post-digestive thermal temperature ranges from neutral to slightly warm, which may assist the circulatory system, spleen, and stomach.
ANCHO CHILE ACCENTED LENTIL SOUP
Prep/cook time about 45 minutes
Serves about 8
- ¼ Cup Celery
- ¼ Cup Carrot
- ½ Cup Onion
- ½ teaspoon dry Thyme
- 1 ½ Cups Red Lentils
- 6 Cups Vegetable Stock
- Sea Salt
- Fresh Cracked Pepper
- 3 Tablespoons Ancho Chile Puree
- 1 Ounce Pasilla Chile
- 1 Ounce Ancho Chile
- 1 Ounce Mulato Chile
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 1 Heaping Tablespoon Annatto seed
- 1 Heaping Tablespoon Allspice ground
- ¼ Cup Olive Oil
- ½ Cup White Wine Vinegar
- Zest of one Orange
- 1 ½ Cups Orange Juice
- Scallions
- Feta Cheese if desired
This is a simple soup made with fast cooking red lentils and some mirepoix. The kicker here is the ancho chile puree that we make which adds depth, acid and a little background heat. The puree is made with dried chile’s, I chose ancho, mulato and pasilla’s.
Dried chilies tend to have a much more distinctive taste then their fresh counterparts, with flavors that are deep and often quite complex as the drying process intensifies and magnifies the flavors of the chile.
The ancho is the dried poblano chili and is the sweetest of the dried chilies, it has a mild fruit flavor with tones of coffee, licorice, tobacco, dried plum and raisin.
The ancho together with the mulato and the pasilla form the holy trinity of chile’s used to prepare mole sauces. Like the ancho the mulato is a dark chocolate brown chile with a smoky deep lingering taste.
The pasilla chile or “little raisin” has berry and herbaceous tones. Remove the stem, tear open and remove the majority of the seeds and add to a blender with the garlic, annatto seeds, allspice, orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Blend on high until the puree thickens and is smooth, set aside.
Annatto is the seed of the achiote tree and is used to color various Latin American cuisines.
To make the soup, combine the celery, carrot, and onion in a medium pot with the dried thyme, salt, pepper, and a splash of water. As the vegetables soften, add the lentils and stock and cook until the lentils are tender and the soup thickens. Adjust the seasoning with the ancho chile purée. Feel free to purée a portion or all of the soup to get the desired texture; I elected not to puree this version. Garnish with scallions or parsley and a pinch of feta cheese, if desired. We kept it vegetarian, but you could simply add some andouille sausage, bacon, or ham.
About The Doctor
Dr. Antonika Chanel is a board-certified Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor. She has more than a decade of experience worldwide.
USCG Veteran, Author, speaker, and consultant, Antonika is committed to the influencing and establishing Integrative Medicine practices in every home. She is recognized as a Top Tier Acupuncturist among luxury cruise lines. Her wealth of knowledge stems from years of mentorship with over 25 leaders in the field of Integrative Medicine.
East Asian Medicine is an extremely powerful yet simple health practice that aims to “balance you and restore your health’. Antonika says, ‘The fastest growing industry in healthcare today is East Asian Holistic Practices”.
My mission is to bring greater awareness about the power of the ancient wisdom, art, and science of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to teach people that there is a better and more sustainable way to reach the best version of themselves.
I inspire and lead others using accountability practices that allow others to take greater responsibility for their health and wellness. I want everyone to be a willing participant in the lifestyle changes that are necessary to reach optimal health.
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