The fall equinox passed on September 21, ushering in shorter days and longer nights, and even in Central Texas, temperatures start to drop (at least at night). Austin City Limits Music Festival, Oktoberfest, Pioneer Farms haunted hayrides and pumpkin spice everything– it’s finally fall in Texas!
Chinese medicine has long recognized and centered the relationship of humans to our surrounding natural environment. Following the Chinese lunar calendar, there are multiple seasonal transitions, or “pivots,” throughout the year, the most important being the transitions between the four seasons.
And we’re right in the middle of one now!
In traditional Chinese medicine’s Five Element Theory, each of the five seasons of the year is assigned an element (wood, fire, earth, metal or water) and an organ system in the human body, as well as various other attributes including a color, climate, sound, emotion and taste.
The organ systems associated with autumn in Chinese medicine are the Lung and Large Intestine systems. These are part of the Metal element, which is also associated with the color white, drier fall climates, the health of our body’s defense systems (particularly the skin and immune system), and the emotion of sadness or grief.
In Chinese physiology, the Lung, along with its paired organ, the Large Intestine, control what we take in and what we release. This is literally the case- our Lungs draw in fresh oxygenated air and exhale carbon dioxide and waste, while our Large Intestines remove all usable water and materials from our food before releasing it as waste. During fall, we are being called to “let go,” both metaphorically and literally, to release what no longer works for us- old routines, old ways of being, old beliefs and habits, old relationships, or simply physical clutter should be removed to make space for the new.
As we transition from our long, hot summer into a somewhat balmy fall, Chinese medical wisdom offers time-tested advice to avert diseases that tend to predominate during this season- cold, flu, and other airborne viral infections- and to boost your body’s natural ability to fend off disease by promoting healthy immune function:
Keep the back of your head and neck covered and warm: wind pathogens, the sources of infectious diseases in Chinese medicine, are known to attack the body at the base of the head, at a point known as Gallbladder 20, Feng Chi, 风池 meaning "Wind Pool"
Keep your feet warm, especially at night; avoid walking barefoot on cold surfaces to protect the Kidney, Liver and Spleen meridians from being weakened by Cold
Drink room temperature or warm fluids, avoid drinking cold or iced beverages to promote healthy digestion and immunity
Support your immune system by ensuring sufficient quantity & quality of sleep
Help your body transition into autumn by getting 5-10 minutes of sunlight a day first thing in the morning. Stand outside and let the sun shine on you to regulate your cortisol levels & set your metabolism and immune system up for success all year long
Eat warm, nourishing foods with high liquid content to counteract the fall season’s drier climate; stews, soups, steamed greens and lightly cooked seasonal fruit and vegetables will promote healthy digestion and immune function
Clear out the old by donating old or unused clothing, shoes, household items and decluttering your living/working spaces
Consider acupuncture and herbal medicine to boost your immune system, shorten the duration of your illness, and/or speed up your recovery! Research shows acupuncture and herbs are highly effective in both preventing AND treating upper respiratory tract infections, including COVID-19, the flu, colds and RSV (PMID: 35527852, 34653019, 33041821, 27688789, 36803206)
Consider targeted supplementation to help support immune function during the fall and winter. elderberry, zinc and Vitamin C are all good options to add in during fall season.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is effective at all stages of illness, from the moment that little tickle starts in the back of your throat all the way through to making sure you avoid getting sick again. If you often get sick around this time of year, it likely reflects a long-standing issue with your constitution or a latent pathogen that was not completely cleared out. We are here to nip that pattern in the bud and break the cycle!
Modalities such as cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion are often applied in the acute stages of an infectious condition to help clear the pathogen more quickly and prevent it from penetrating deeper into the body.
Don’t let fall allergies keep you inside during the best time of the year to be outside in Austin! Our experienced practitioners are here to help with effective protocols to get you feeling your best just in time for fall fun.
Ready to book? Visit www.mindplusbodyacu.com/services to book your appointment OR a FREE 15 minute discovery call with one of our experienced practitioners.
We’re so excited to hear from you!
Happy Fall, Y’all!
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