“In the three months of autumn all things in nature reach their full maturity. The grains ripen and harvesting occurs. This is the changing or pivoting point when the Yang, or active, phase turns into its opposite, the Yin, or passive, phase.”
~ Maoshing Ni, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, p.6
Shift Into Autumn
As we shift seasonal nodes into Autumn, we shift into the season of the Metal Element. According to TCM, the organs that represent the Metal Element are Lung and Large Intestine, our Inspiration and Elimination, our Gathering/Bringing In and Letting Go organs.
Living in harmony with nature asks for reflection between the marcro and micro, the relationship and influence of the Inner and Outer world-cycles and adapt or align our diet, lifestyle to the changing seasons and local climate. It is a time for all of us to gently lean away from the cool, raw foods of summer and slowly begin eating more warm cooked foods and root vegetables. If you are someone that found the Heat of Summer consuming, now is the time to restore your fluid matrix of the body with foods like pears, apples, fermented foods, black beans, etc. If you are someone that has a history of asthma or prone to lung illness, now is the time to disperse phlegm clearing the slate for the season with pungent foods/teas like ginger, cinnamon, fennel, etc. In addition, spend time daily on a breath practice focusing on expanding lung volume and health going into the autumn season of typical cold/flus.
If you would like seasonal transition support, come on in for an acupuncture based seasonal attunement. Acupuncture aims to bring balance among the Five Elements within the interconnectedness of nature and the human body. Acupuncture can help boost Wei Qi (immunity) as well as support the body at the first sign of a cold by Releasing to the Exterior. Acupuncture can help strengthen the lungs, which can be beneficial for coughs, shortness of breath and nasal congestion. Acupuncture can help regulate the Large Intestine whether issues are based in sluggishness or over-active elimination.
The Inner Work
In TCM, each Element + Organ pair anchors an Emotion. The Metal Element and Lung/Large Intestine holds the emotion of Sadness/Grief. While autumn is a time of year of harvest, bringing in and fortifying resources, it is also a time of letting go of what has died to make room for the next growth cycle.
The Metal Element thrives with structure, organization, and logistical planning. Even if the best laid plans don’t roll out as intended, there is relief and ease in the process allocating time and space to reflect on ‘the value’. The energetic signature of the metal element cycle calls forth the best in us, with value, respect and holding our own Self with esteem.
In this seasonal time of Reflective Inventory Taking, examine your own personal harvest with healthy detachment that leaves room for self-forgiveness. A time to set forth habits that set the foundation, gather fortify Qi / Resources for wintertime.
- Recognize and give gratitude for your own inner harvest. Metal gathers ‘the precious’ our of Earth.
- Let Go – Clear fields of standing dead, sweep away the clutter that hides who we are, return to earth’s compost resources not needed for winter that may be of use to another
- Release – Holding on to unresolved grief or outdated ways that no longer serve us will weigh us down both physically and Mental-Emotionally.
- Set boundaries and structures that honor & reflect our sense of self-worth; like bamboo they can be flexible w/out losing integrity and allow space to breath
Aligning Food Palate of Autumn
Follow your local climate as you slowly transition to more warm or cooked foods aligning with the season.
Autumn foods
- Apples
- Beets
- Bell Peppers
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cranberry
- Figs
- Hazelnuts
- Leeks
- Onion
- Pears
- Plums
- Pumpkin
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Seeds/Nuts (pumpkin, hemp, sesame, walnuts )
- Squash (acorn, button, butternut, spaghetti)
- Turnips
Pungent Foods: associated with Lungs, beneficial to clear phlegm and indicated at first sign of cold/flu. To balance pungency, Sour flavor (astringing) preserve fluids (Yin) in the body
Pungent
- Cinnamon
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Green onions/scallions
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mustard Greens
- Pepper (black or white)
Sour
- Apples
- Lemon & Limes
- Fermented Foods
- Sauerkraut
- Sourdough bread (true sourdough = no yeast)
- Yogurt
Foods to specifically Nourish Lungs
- Almonds
- Apples
- Apricots
- Grapes
- Pears
- Radishes, Daikon
- Reishi Mushroom
Food as Medicine ~ Poached Pears for Lung Health
- 3-4 Bosc of Anjou pears unripe, washed, peeled and cut into quarters
- 2 inches of ginger sliced
- 1 inch of ginger grated (set aside)
- Juice and peel of lemon (separately)
- Peel of orange of tangerine
- Cinnamon stick
- Saffron 10-12 strands (set aside)
- Honey (set aside)
Wash, peel and cut pears. Set aside
In sauce pan on stove, add 3-4 cups of water. Bring to boil with cinnamon stick, sliced fresh ginger, lemon and tangerine peels. Simmer for 5-7 mins.
Add in cut pears. Remove lemon and tangerine peels. Simmer for 5-7 mins.
When pears are fork beginning to tender (still slightly firm) or to preference, turn off stove top. Remove cinnamon stick and ginger slices. Sprinkle 1 inch of fresh grated ginger over top and cover pan for 5-7 mins.
Uncover and add in Saffron strands into water and stir. Then add lemon juice and honey to taste (1-2 tablespoons). Leave covered for 3-5 mins.
May be served warm or stored in glass container for the week. Eat/Drink pears and juice. Easily added to tea, oatmeal or plain as is.
*Note: Saffron is contraindicated during pregnancy and for those on blood thinners.