While we are getting closer to the official Winter date (December 21), we can still revisit a few things from Oriental Medicine when it comes to the Fall Season. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine the season of Autumn is associated with the element of Metal, which governs organization, order, communication, the mind, setting limits, and protecting boundaries. It’s a good time to finish projects that you began in Spring and Summer – harvesting the bounty of your hard work. Of course, it’s also the perfect time to begin more introspective, indoor projects.
During the Summer, which is ruled by the Fire element, we deal more with the external – traveling and playing outdoors. Fall, on the other hand, is a time of organizing your life for the Winter season ahead and coming more inside your body and mind to reflect on your life.
The lung and large intestine are the internal organs related to Fall and the Metal element. Lung is associated with the emotion of “letting go.” The Fall is an ideal period to release what no longer serves your higher potential.
Sleep is an important aspect of staying healthy in the Fall. The ancients advised that people should retire early at night and rise with the crowing of the rooster during the Autumn.
Lung is considered by Oriental medicine to be the “tender organ.” This is because the lung is the uppermost organ in the body and especially susceptible to wind and cold. During the change in temperature, be sure to dress for the weather so as to not give an open invitation for coughs, sore throats, and the common cold.
The lungs control the circulation of the Wei-Qi, which is the defensive Qi that protects you from the invasion of flu and colds. The Wei-Qi circulates on the surface between the skin and muscles and works to warm the body. If the Wei-Qi is weak, the skin and muscles will not be warmed properly. This is why people tend to feel cold when they’re sick. A weakness in the lungs can lead to a weakness in the Wei-Qi, making a person prone to frequent colds. TCM Acupuncture helps to regulate Wei-Qi.
The nose is the opening to the lungs, and you can prevent colds by keeping your nose and sinuses clean and clear. If you suffer from a runny nose or sinus infections, acupuncture can help to alleviate that problem.
What you eat also greatly affects the health of your lungs. Eating excess cold and raw foods creates dampness or phlegm which is produced by the spleen and stored by the lungs. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, cream, and butter also create phlegm, while moderate amounts of pungent foods like garlic, onions, ginger, horseradish, and mustard are beneficial to the lungs.
Research studies now show that Acupuncture may enhance the immune system response. Having a strong immune system (Wei-Qi) helps you to ward off colds and flus. Even if you already feel healthy, getting regular TCM Acupuncture sessions does help to regulate your Energy System (Meridian Pathways, Wei-Qi Energy).
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Article Credit / Sources:
https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Enjoy+the+Energy+of+Fall+Autumn+and+Traditional+Chinese+Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17265549. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/acupuncture-pdq