How to Sync Up for Fall According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
While many people look forward to the fall season, others feel troubled by it. With greater chances of illness and allergies plus less sunlit hours, it can set off a host of problems.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Fall season is associated with the Lung and Large Intestine meridians. Working together, they help support our immune system. Autumn is also the season that TCM associates with metal. This element rules your mind, order, and stability. Fall forces us to look inward and is a time of letting go of what no longer serves us.
How can you protect your health during the Fall season? These TCM-inspired tips for Autumn will help!
Feast on warm foods
Cooked and warm foods ready us for the Fall. This keeps from adding strain to your digestive system and spleen. Warmed foods conserve your body’s energy so it can ward off illnesses. In Chinese traditions, people steam their foods low and slow to nourish and support the yin. Make soups, stews, and porridges to refuel in this season.
Take care of your lungs
Dry, cold winds deplete your lungs and breathing passages. It’s important to keep them lubricated. Choose nourishing fruits like apples, pears, persimmons, pumpkins, and figs. Nuts and seeds are also an excellent choice for your health in fall.
Put sour and acrid flavors on your plate
To preserve your fluids and yin, sour foods like grapefruit and lemons have an astringent quality. However, if you start feeling under the weather, acrid options like garlic, chili, ginger, and onions help your defensive qi to keep you healthy.
Wear a scarf
As you head out of your home each day in the Fall, wrap up with a scarf. Your neck and upper back are most susceptible for illnesses to enter the lungs so keep them protected. In TCM, the Lung meridian is associated with the skin and pathogens such as viruses may more easily enter when these parts of the body are left vulnerable and unprotected.
Choose acupuncture
Even when eating warming foods and balancing with sour and acrid flavors, acupuncture can help soothe you and bolster your health for the Fall. Since it balances moods by regulating hormones, it can help you sleep easier and calm the stresses you feel as you move into the holiday season. There are certain acupuncture points that can help bolster your immune system and help quell allergies.
For a healthy and balanced autumn, schedule an acupuncture appointment. Hit that reset button and let InnerGlow Acupuncture & Wellness revitalize you from the inside out with acupuncture treatments designed for your specific needs.
