Fantastic Fall: and Traditional Chinese Medicine

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

Fantastic Fall: and Traditional

 

Fall. The air becomes a bit crisper, you can see and smell the

changing of the leaves... everything slows down, the days shorten,

and harvest is just around the corner.

 

Traditional (TCM) offers practical advice for

adjusting to seasonal changes. One of the basic concepts in TCM is

the 5 Element Theory of correspondences. Each element has an

associated season, emotion, taste, organ...

 

The Season of Autumn is associated with the element Metal. The

emotional aspect is Grief. The predominant taste is Spicy. The

associated and most effected organ in Fall are the Lung and Large

Intestine and the most common external element is Dryness.

 

The Seasons, Stress, and Colds and Flu

 

Seasonal change, like any change, can cause stress. The main cause of

stress in TCM is Wind. Wind is said to be the " agent of 10,000

diseases, " (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine). Wind

is understood to be not just the movement of air, but also, any

sudden change. TCM has known for thousands of years that stress can

cause sickness, and modern research has certainly proved this.

 

To combat stress, stay in a routine. To avoid colds and flu, keep

your immune system up, cover your neck whenever outdoors and stay out

of drafts. Wash your hands frequently, eat a balanced diet, get good

quality sleep and exercise three times a week.

 

 

The Lung and Large Intestine

 

In , the lungs are an organ system that opens

directly to the exterior. It's function is to regulate and control

the breath through inhalation and exhalation. Because of its opening

through the nose, the lungs are easily susceptible to cold, heat,

dryness, dampness, and most of all, heat and wind. This can effect

the biggest organ of the body; the skin. The lung is closely related

to the large intestine.

 

The large intestine controls the transformation of digestive wastes

from liquid to solid state and transports the solids onwards and

outwards. It plays a major role in the balance and purity of bodily

fluids and assists the lungs in controlling the skin's pores and

perspiration. It depends on the lungs for movement via the expansion

and contraction of the diaphragm, which works like a pump to give

impetus to peristalsis by regulating abdominal pressure.

 

The solar plexus Chakra is located below the diaphragm separating the

lungs and the large intestine. This energy center is located at

greatest nerve ganglia system in our bodies. This center allows for

the communication between the upper and lower parts of the body and

is connected to almost all the organs. The solar plexus is often

where we consider our " gut " feeling to come from. This is also where

the connection between the three lower Chakra interchange with the

four higher Chakra energy centers.

 

 

The Metal Element

 

The element, Metal is associated with the Fall season and with

dryness.

 

The element is associated with the lungs and large intestines and

related to the skin and the nose.

 

Emotionally, this element is associated sadness, as metal, like the

season itself, represents a withdrawal from life. Reverence is

sadness without the loss. This is what makes people cry when they are

moved by an experience. A lack of reverence in your life is

equivalent to the lack of nourishment from everyday things. The

appreciation of each moment in the present, is the virtue of this

element in balance.

 

The character of metal is " sharp, retracting, polised and finishing. "

People with the metal element in their personalities can be well-

organized, have strong boundaries, are methodical, principle-

oriented, analytical, and are very orderly. Emotionally, metal

personalities can appear cold, distant or uninterested. They tend to

favor intellect and reason over emotion. Metal out of balance, tends

towards worries about the future.

 

Physically, metal out of balance can manifest as asthma, allergies,

colds or flu, constipation, diarrhea or ibs.

 

 

Dryness

 

Dryness is a common problem in Autumn. Dryness can manifest as

constipation, dry throat, dry skin, dry eyes, dry brittle hair,

thirst, and lack of sweat. Most people do not drink enough fluids

regularly, let alone in the Autumn. Spicy food can cause or worsen

dryness. Be careful not to get stuck in the vicious cycle of craving

the same food that makes your symptoms worse!

 

 

Grief and Nostalgia

 

With Fall comes " gathering in, stocking up, mingled with a sense of

loss as the light begins to fade and the air chills, " (Between Heaven

and Earth, p.205). Grief is, of course, quite natural and appropriate

in many situations. But excessive and/or long-term grief can harm the

Lung system (a group of correspondences including but not limited to

the actual biomedical lungs), and likewise, people with Metal or Lung

problems can be frequent grievers, criers. And let's not forget that

more positive form of grief... nostalgia, tends to occur more in

the 'Fall' of our lives.

 

Strengthening the immune system should be a part of any seasonal

ritual! Any tonic formula that strengthens the lungs, nourishes the

Qi and moistens the skin is appropriate. Remember, the best form of

medicine, is preventative.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

http://www.peacefulmind.com/proacumed.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit