The Pivot from Yang to Yin
Although it is hard to fathom given the incredibly warm weather we have been having , we entered the Fall season on September 21. Fall marks the pivot from the yang activity of summer to the yin stillness of winter. It is the time to harvest the bounty that grew during the summer. It is also the time to organize and prepare for the winter months ahead.
One of the beautiful aspects of Chinese medicine is that the ancient Chinese physicians observed the natural cycles of the seasons and recorded the best practices for staying healthy and harmonizing our energy with the season.
As each of the seasons has a corresponding element, metal corresponds to Fall. The metal element governs the mind, organization, order, and stability. People tend to be more reflective, turning inward to work and families. In nature, the life force is also turning inward and flowing down into the roots. Animals are turning inward by burrowing into the earth or stocking up supplies for the winter. It is a time to organize and prepare for the season ahead and a time to reflect.
Just as each of the seasons has a corresponding element, each also has an associated emotion. That of fall is grief and sadness. Those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD may negatively feel the effects of the shorter days. It is important during this time of year to keep the mind clear and release negative emotions which can impact health more strongly during this season.
The pathway or meridian system corresponding to fall is the Lung and Large Intestine. These two meridian systems are paired. The Lung is yin and is the only meridian system that directly interacts with the environment by taking in air from the outside into the lungs. Its partner, the Large Intestine is yang. Together they are in charge of respiration, digestion and elimination. Common symptoms associated with imbalances in these two systems are respiratory problems such as asthma, shortness of breath, frequent colds, sinus congestion, constipation and skin problems.
During the fall, the body is particularly susceptible to wind and dryness. Chinese medicine believes that one thousand diseases are carried on the wind. The back of the neck is the most vulnerable part of the body for the wind to attack; therefore, it is important to keep the back of the neck covered during windy days. Dryness can cause symptoms of coughing, dry nose, sore throat, dry skin, dry hair and scalp, dry mouth and cracked lips and hard and dry stools.
Adding more nourishing yin foods to your diet promote body fluid, soothe the lung and protect from dryness. Fall is the time to start eating more cooked foods and less raw foods such as salads. Substituting salads for soups and stews that contain tuber vegetables such as potatoes and yams help support the lung and large intestine. Other foods that help support the lung and large intestine are pears, winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower, figs, leeks, pomegranate, cabbage, brussel sprouts.
Fall is the time to begin revising our eating habits to eat more in keeping with the season. The taste associated with fall is spicy or pungent. Adding ginger and cinnamon to food also helps promote the lung and large intestine.
Taking deep breaths and filling your lungs with that crisp fall air also promotes lung qi. So many of us live in a state of “flight or fight” and breathe very shallowly. Studies have shown that breathing deeply lowers blood pressure, provides more oxygen to the brain for clearer thinking and to the body for more energy as well as calms the mind.
Although it is hard to fathom given the incredibly warm weather we have been having , we entered the Fall season on September 21. Fall marks the pivot from the yang activity of summer to the yin stillness of winter. It is the time to harvest the bounty that grew during the summer. It is also the time to organize and prepare for the winter months ahead.
One of the beautiful aspects of Chinese medicine is that the ancient Chinese physicians observed the natural cycles of the seasons and recorded the best practices for staying healthy and harmonizing our energy with the season.
As each of the seasons has a corresponding element, metal corresponds to Fall. The metal element governs the mind, organization, order, and stability. People tend to be more reflective, turning inward to work and families. In nature, the life force is also turning inward and flowing down into the roots. Animals are turning inward by burrowing into the earth or stocking up supplies for the winter. It is a time to organize and prepare for the season ahead and a time to reflect.
Just as each of the seasons has a corresponding element, each also has an associated emotion. That of fall is grief and sadness. Those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD may negatively feel the effects of the shorter days. It is important during this time of year to keep the mind clear and release negative emotions which can impact health more strongly during this season.
The pathway or meridian system corresponding to fall is the Lung and Large Intestine. These two meridian systems are paired. The Lung is yin and is the only meridian system that directly interacts with the environment by taking in air from the outside into the lungs. Its partner, the Large Intestine is yang. Together they are in charge of respiration, digestion and elimination. Common symptoms associated with imbalances in these two systems are respiratory problems such as asthma, shortness of breath, frequent colds, sinus congestion, constipation and skin problems.
During the fall, the body is particularly susceptible to wind and dryness. Chinese medicine believes that one thousand diseases are carried on the wind. The back of the neck is the most vulnerable part of the body for the wind to attack; therefore, it is important to keep the back of the neck covered during windy days. Dryness can cause symptoms of coughing, dry nose, sore throat, dry skin, dry hair and scalp, dry mouth and cracked lips and hard and dry stools.
Adding more nourishing yin foods to your diet promote body fluid, soothe the lung and protect from dryness. Fall is the time to start eating more cooked foods and less raw foods such as salads. Substituting salads for soups and stews that contain tuber vegetables such as potatoes and yams help support the lung and large intestine. Other foods that help support the lung and large intestine are pears, winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower, figs, leeks, pomegranate, cabbage, brussel sprouts.
Fall is the time to begin revising our eating habits to eat more in keeping with the season. The taste associated with fall is spicy or pungent. Adding ginger and cinnamon to food also helps promote the lung and large intestine.
Taking deep breaths and filling your lungs with that crisp fall air also promotes lung qi. So many of us live in a state of “flight or fight” and breathe very shallowly. Studies have shown that breathing deeply lowers blood pressure, provides more oxygen to the brain for clearer thinking and to the body for more energy as well as calms the mind.
1 comment:
This is a great post. As a TCM student new to NY after several years in Los Angeles, I have found it quite interesting to observe the way changing seasons affect what our bodies need. Winter especially! It is quite interesting to watch and learn from the different ways people adapt or resist nature's course.
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