Your Chinese Medicine Autumn Tip Sheet
Across traditional cultures, autumn is a time of shifting our focus inward as we moved towards winter (anyone else getting ready to hunker down for the rainy winter ahead??). In Chinese medicine, we pay particular attention to supporting the Lung Yin—what we think of as the body’s cooling and moisturizing system. In the fall, the air becomes measurably drier, leaving us susceptible to dry throats and coughs, increased thirst, and dry skin, especially on the face and hands.
Meanwhile, as fall arrives, the lungs are increasingly vulnerable to the respiratory issues of contagious viruses and, in many recent years, wildfire smoke, as the seasons transition.
Aligning with Autumn
Here are some of my favorite tips for aligning with autumn, based on the wisdom of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine):
Eat pears and apples to support your Lung Yin. Pears and apples are considered moistening to the lungs. Poached pears are an old Chinese kitchen remedy for dry coughs!
Spice it up–pungent foods like garlic, ginger, and onions help boost the body’s first line of defense against colds and flus. At the first signs of a tickle in your throat, make a broth of fresh chopped scallions and minced fresh ginger to sip throughout the day.
Do rituals to help process grief. The emotions of grief and sadness correspond to the autumn season, according to TCM. This doesn’t mean you’re destined to months of melancholy. Rather, consider this the optimal time, as the daylight shortens, to give a healthy space to process and let go of grief that might be living inside of you. Taking time to journal, talking with supportive friends or professionals, or even simply lighting a candle in honor of someone or something you have lost are healthy ways to process the very natural human emotion of grief this time of year.
Protect your neck. While shopping for your new sweater weather wardrobe, be sure to snag a cute scarf or two to cover the back of your neck when you are outside as the weather cools. This helps shield your body from winds that can trigger colds.
Try an herbal lung tonic. One of my favorites is Taproot Medicine’s Mighty Lungs Syrup, an aromatic blend of thirteen herbs that relax and hydrate the lungs, heal inflamed bronchioles, and ease breathing. I like to drink it as an autumnal mocktail by adding a tablespoon to citrus-flavored sparkling water. I keep this stocked at the Griffin Acupuncture’s Oakland office—ask about bringing a bottle home at your next appointment. Other herbal medicines can offer customized support if you are already dealing with a respiratory issue.
Supporting our energy now helps shore up our inner defenses for the colder months ahead. If you’re ready for a fall acupuncture reset as cooler weather comes to the East Bay, before the mad holiday rush is soon upon us, make an appointment to come in for treatment (including, if you wish, an herbal consultation) at my Oakland office. I look forward to seeing you!
Dr. Lisa Franzetta, L.Ac. is an herbalist and acupuncturist practicing at Griffin Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine in Oakland, California. Interested in seeing how Chinese medicine can support you? Schedule an appointment.