Autumn is such a beautiful time of year! It is my most favorite of seasons.
Roundout in Kingston - photo by Lorraine Hughes
It is the Season of the Lungs, in Chinese Medicine the Metal phase of the Five Element (Wu Xing) phases. As with every seasonal change it is imperative to take a preventative perspective before and as we move through times of transition. The Spirit of the Lungs (which is also paired with the Large Intestine) is Po.
The air in the Fall changes to cold and crisp creating dryness. If the Lung is dry, so will the Large Intestine which will also manifest as constipation. Laying down for a long period of time will harm the Lung. The also applies to sitting with your shoulders and back caving in forward.
Open up your Lungs, this will also open up your Heart.
During this time all that has been planted has grown to fruition and now is being harvested and preserved for the Winter. It is the time of the year for us to prepare for the Winter by releasing that of which will not be of service to us during the long hard winter to come. The lungs represent our initial contact with the external environment , it is through the lungs and the skin (the tissue governed by the lungs) that we are most susceptible to external influences.
- Breathe! Long, slow and deep breaths engaging the upper and lower lungs, including the diaphragm.
- Transition to a warming, balanced and nourishing diet, take cold and raw foods out of your daily diet. partake of those foods that will conserve your Yang and nourish the Yin; root vegetables and hardy greens, soups made with building stocks made from beef and chicken bones and bone marrow, free range and grass fed animal proteins, add to that legumes and brown rice that has been soaked in water. Avoid phlegm producing foods such as sugar, dairy, and alcohol as best as possible.
- Move! with using the breath mindfully. Move every day, do not sit for long periods of time. Qi Gong breathwork, Yoga, and walking are very beneficial.
- Visit with your holistic practitioner of choice in order to map out a prevention and treatment plan that will include the appropriate herbal formulas and supplements if warranted.
And, most of all... strive to let go of what does not serve you.
My practice approach is made through the lens of Chinese and Western Herbal medicine and Nutrition. Seasonal change and how we adapt are critical to our immune response and vitality. Wellness Consultations are offered in order to determine how balanced we are in our Body, Mind and Spirit.