Welcome to FALL or the METAL season in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
“Metal is the energy of autumn; it gives us our sense of quality and value, and our capacity to look at what lies beyond ourselves. It gives us the power to let go.”
-Neil R. Gumenick
This is the season of tuning inwards, of transitioning from our vibrant summer selves to our more rustic, still, and deeper versions of self. It is time to harvest, store and fuel up on the nourishment we have created in the earth season of late summer. With that Yang expansive energy of late summer at it’s greatest we FALL over the abundance of that extreme and enter the beginning stages of Yin. Fall is a transitional season between Yang and Yin. Just like the leaves and fruit around us, we to are contracting inwards and drying ourselves out. Our mindset shifts from spur of the moment and scattered behaviour to sustainable and grounding practices that will set us up for an easier and successful winter.
The question we begin to ask ourselves reflects that in which we see in the trees: what do we let fall away and what do we hold close and value?
Yin-Yang Pairs
The fall tends to bring on mental and emotional themes related to Attachment, Grief, and Sadness. This is the perfect time to take inventory of our attachments of all types: physical, emotional and relational. I encourage you to keep what serves you and find a way to honour and let go of that which no longer brings positive value to your wellbeing. Remember that you have inherent worth. You are worthy just by being you.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective our lungs have already taken quite the hit this year as collectively we have experienced grief of our pre-Covid lives. Many of us have lost jobs, hobbies, income, connection and relationships. Take time to process this. I like to reflect, journal, do breathwork with essential oils (this time of year Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Frankincense and Lavender support our lungs) and share my experience with others to receive support and support myself.
Talking about our process is just as important for our health as washing our hands. Let us call it emotional hygiene. Sharing our experience and learning coping strategies with a counsellor is a great way to support and improve your mental health and work through the stress, loss, anxiety and depression we can all experience. If you’d like a referral to some great psychologists and clinical counsellors reach out to us and we’ll make some suggestions.
More suggestions for emotional hygiene and finding balance with the season of Fall:
Go through cluttered areas in your home and office and discard what you no longer need. Donate, sell, or otherwise circulate what might be of value to others.
Do a mental inventory: Take stock of your attitudes, emotions and beliefs stored within. What do you want to keep and what do you want to let go of? What nourishes and purifies you and what depletes you?
Take time each day to breathe slowly and deeply. As you inhale the clean autumn air, feel yourself energized and purified. Feel old negativity, impurity, and pain leave your body and mind.
Acupuncture can also help move stagnant emotions and support the body’s nervous system in states of hyper-arousal such as anxiety and hypo-arousal such as depression.
Imbalances in the Large Intestine channel can manifest as feelings of stuckness, toxicity, depression and trouble letting go.
Imbalances in the Lung meridian can lead to Grief, sadness, despair, worthlessness and trouble receiving.
This is typically the season where colds and flus give us the most trouble. The Lungs and Large Intestine which are our metal element organs are truly tested when the weather becomes colder and we start spending more time indoors with each other. Supporting our immune system and these organs is key for a healthy Autumn.
Common Indications of Lung and Large Intestine issues:
Frequent colds
Sinuses that are too dry or with too much mucus
Dry and irritated skin: skin should be moist as it serves as protective coating for our body
Fatigue and shortness of breath
Asthma
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) includes: Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema
IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) includes: Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
Constipation
Flatulence and bloating
Hemorrhoids
Eczema (get an acufacial for that)
Acne (ditto)
Feelings of stuckness, toxicity, depression, trouble letting go (Large Intestine)
Grief, sadness, despair, worthlessness, trouble receiving (Lung)
Acupuncture can be used to support the Lung and Large Intestine in this season, easing many of these symptoms, boosting our immunity and helping balance our emotions as well.
Ways to Support your Lung and Colon health this fall:
Moderate exercise….(I can do that)
Proper outdoor wear (Sure, I love a scarf)
Enough SLEEP (Acupuncture can definitely help improve your sleep)
Hand and mask hygiene (please)
Stay home and rest to recover if unwell. This supports our immune system and it also reduces the spread of illnesses (also, please)
Internal and External Hydration: drink water and herbal teas and use organic lotion and oils to nourish and lubricate dry skin (Have you tried an Acufacial yet? They’re divine and perfect for the Metal season which rules the skin. We incorporate our own nourishing organic face oils)
Increase fiber intake by eating more whole grains. Try incorporating more cooked fruits and vegetables to your diet.
Add pungent foods to your diet that help disperse stuck, mucus- laden energy of the lung and large intestine: hot peppers, chilis, garlic, turnip, ginger, horseradish.
Add mucilaginous foods to restore your mucus membranes such as flaxseed and seaweed.
Read Nicole’s blog Holistic Nutrition for Autumn eating for more detailed guidance and inspiration (seriously, click this. It’s so good)
Our Registered Acupuncturist Danielle would love to help you find balance this Fall. Read more about them here.