How Traditional Chinese Medicine Helps in Autumn

As autumn arrives, we often think of cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice, but there's more to it than that. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches us about the unique energy of each season. Just like seeds need the right season to grow, our bodies react to the changes in energy too.

Each season affects our bodies and what we crave. For example, in summer, we don't usually want hot soup. And even though you might feel like running a marathon in winter, it's not the best idea. TCM teaches us to live in harmony with the seasons. This means eating right, resting well, and taking care of ourselves according to what each season needs. By doing this, we can stay healthy and strong.

One common problem in autumn is getting sick as the seasons change. This happens when our bodies can't adjust smoothly to the new energy. It could be because of weakness, stress, or just being worn out.

TCM says each organ is linked to a season. In autumn, it's the lungs and large intestine. These organs are more likely to get imbalanced during this time, leading to coughs and colds.

The Lungs and Autumn: Dealing with Dryness

The lungs are important because they connect our body to the outside world. But in autumn, they can get weak because of dryness. This happens when there isn't enough moisture inside our bodies or in the air. It's called "qiu zao" in China. Dry lungs and intestines can lead to symptoms like a dry mouth, cough, sore throat, or constipation.

How TCM Helps with Dryness and Protects the Lungs

TCM has lots of advice to strengthen the lungs in autumn. One big thing is eating warm, cooked foods like soups with root vegetables. Foods like apples, persimmons, and pears can also help moisten and nourish the lungs.

Drinking warm water and tea is important too. Pungent foods like garlic and ginger can boost our immune system and clear mucus.

Other Tips and Tricks

Apart from food, TCM has lifestyle tips to keep us healthy. It says we should acknowledge our feelings, especially grief, and let go of things that bother us. Dressing warmly and protecting our neck and back from the cold wind also helps.

Using Chinese Herbs for Health

If you feel like you're getting sick, try making ginger and scallion tea. It's a good way to use herbs to fight off illness. There are also two other common remedies:

• Cinnamon Twig Decoction (Gui Zhi Tang): This helps with symptoms like feeling cold, sneezing, having a runny or stuffy nose, headaches, and body aches.

• Honeysuckle and Forsythia Formula (Yin Qiao San): This is good for symptoms such as a sore throat, fever without sweating, feeling cold, coughing, and headaches. You might find a version of this in stores called Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid by Source Naturals. Always talk to your doctor or a Chinese medicine expert before trying any herbal remedy.
  

If you often feel dry, live in a dry place, are around cigarette smoke, have been near wildfires, or if you're going through menopause (which can make you dry), it's important to keep your body moist to prevent illness in autumn. You can do this with herbs like:

• Six-Flavor Rehmannia Pill (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan): This helps with symptoms like lower back pain, weak knees, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sweating at night, dry mouth, and a sore throat.

• Linking Decoction (Yi Guan Jian): This can help if you're restless, irritable, have a dry mouth and throat at night, feel hot at night, have trouble pooping, or have red eyes.
  

If you're already sick or trying to get better, you might need remedies like:

• Licorice Formula (Baked Licorice Formula): This helps your body recover after being sick. It helps replenish your fluids after you've had a fever.

• Lily Preserve Metal Formula (Bai He Gu Jin Tang): This is often used after you've been really sick and your lungs need help getting rid of leftover bad stuff. It helps your body make more fluids, keeps your body moist, supports your lungs, and helps get rid of phlegm.
  

There are many different herbal remedies for different stages of sickness. They depend on what's going on with you. It's important to talk to a Chinese medicine expert to find the best remedy for you. Pay attention to how the change in seasons might affect you and make changes to your routine to keep your immune system strong and avoid getting sick.