Fall Into Season With Chinese Medicine At Your Side

Fall Into Season With Chinese Medicine at Your Side – By Delphine Baumer, R.Ac

The fall is upon us and it is a great time to be reminded, or let in on, a few wonderful health tips
from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

In Chinese Medicine we relate all things, including our own health, to the Five Elements; Wood,
Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The Fall relates to the Metal Element, which we include Lungs and
Large Intestines.

During the Fall Season our Protective Qi (energy) is most active. Protective Qi correlates to the
Lungs, it builds in the Lungs and functions at our skin level. Its job is to protect from external
pathogens and to pump Qi harvested from the air that we breathe to strengthen us. If our
protective Qi is not healthy, it is common to ‘fall sick’ in this time with head, upper respiratory and
achy body colds. These colds are in the exterior level of our body and it is important to kick them
out quick before they have the chance to enter deeper.

If you catch a cold in the fall, use ‘the sweat out method’.
This does not mean go to the gym and do a vigorous workout. On the contrary you want to
reserve your body’s energy for fighting and kicking that bug out. What you’ll want to do is use
warm, pungent, aromatic food and drink that make you sweat. Such as fresh ginger, garlic and
onions in your food. Rest, and bundle up with extra clothing and blankets, replenish lots of fluids
to help your body flush it out.

Qi building Tea to drink regularly especially through the colder months.

Boil slices of Fresh Ginger Root for 10 15minutes and drink with fresh lemon and honey.

*If you have body aches and no sore throat add Cinnamon stick when boiling ginger. (Body aches are a sign
that cold has penetrated your body and the cinnamon will help to warm and nurture you tissues and relieve
aches)
*If you have phlegm add orange peels when boiling ginger. (The boiled oranges peels especially with the
ginger are great to help break down phlegm)

*If you have a sore throat pour the hot tea over Mint. (A sore throat is a sign of a heat pathogen and the mint
will help to cool it down. Mint is also an aromatic and will help the pushing out effect.)

Lifestyle strategies to help gain the best quality of life in the Fall

Attitude
Enjoy your highest quality of self. The positive aspect of Metal is Quality. Like a beautiful Metal
bell, when the Lungs are clear and strong, they produce high quality Qi to do the things we love
the most. The summer was a time of harvesting and living in fast motion. Now with the fall it is a
great time to tackle all projects of your true desire. It naturally falls on a new cycle of school for
students and our community feels that ripple effect. Use your harvested energy and spiritual lift
from the summer. Embrace motivation to glide into and execute ideas with quality by taking
action on summer dreams.

Food
Food is our first line of Medicine. You have power to help your health with what you eat. Eat with
the seasons. In the Fall the larger root vegetables grow to their peak, and become ready to
harvest for nutrition and storage in the winter. Squashes, pumpkins, potatoes, root vegetables of
all kinds have harnessed the sun’s Qi during the hot summer months and will help to carry us
through the cold months. Onions, garlics, medicinal roots such as ginger and ginseng are ready
to harvest. Be in cue with what the earth around you is producing and bring the natural provisions
into your body. Be sure to include a lot of ginger, onions and garlic in your diet! These foods will
help to keep your Qi active and kick out any external bugs trying to get in.

Awareness
On the negative side of metal, our spirit can be prone to depression in the Lung System
especially. Having an awareness of this natural occurrence can give you power to overcome a
‘fall in’ to depression. Cleanse and let go of any old emotional garbage that is weighing you down.
If you are feeling depression creeping in, it may be a sign that your health is not at its best. A
walk in the fresh air, a good meal, some good sleep, may all be helpful tips to get on top of
feeling better. If you have an Acupuncturist and haven’t seen them for a while, now is the time for
a tuneup!

Clothing
Try to keep clothing on the lighter side, as late into the fall as possible, while taking care to keep
your feet, upper back and neck warm. Keeping your feet warm will help you protect your inner
furnace, as the cold can easily penetrate through feet up the leg meridians and harm your core.
You also want to protect your upper back and neck from cold and wind. External pathogens
(nasty bugs) attack your body and try to get in at your neck and upper back. A protected, warm
upper back, neck and feet, while having lighter clothing during the cool fall will help to challenge
your body to keep its Qi strong and active. If you dress too warmly during the fall your body can
become prematurely ‘quiet’ and the winter ahead will be longer and more difficult to enjoy.

Sleep
Sleep patterns are also important to shift with the season. During the summer, especially with
the longer days of the northern hemisphere, we stay up later and get up earlier. Start to slowly
adjust to less excitement, to help your system transition to the cooler months. Start to go to bed
a bit earlier than you did in the summer. And if you can, sleep in just a little bit later. Adjust with
the shorter daylight times and take care to give yourself a little more nurturing than you may have
in the active summer.

Happy Fall to all of you!  Wishing you peace and health as you harvest your highest quality in the
Metal Season.
by Delphine Baumer R.Ac. (Learn more about Delphine https://angelhands.ca/therapists/delphine-baumer)