Autumn is here. This is evident from the shortened daylight hours and the many beautiful fallen leaves you find everywhere in the landscape. It is the calm before the storm of the season, and the rainy and moody days are increasing, preparing us for the arrival of winter.
Perhaps you are also one of those who have already been affected by a cold or flu, or maybe, like so many others, you tend to feel seasonal depression when the darkness hits soon.
So let's take a closer look at the seasonal advice for autumn. In this post, I share many of the recommendations I have gathered from Traditional Chinese Medicine, which you can read much more about in my book; The Energy of the 5 Seasons, where you can also find more information.
I hope they can be of help to you, so you can better work with the season's energy and already help your body to better withstand this dark period.
Gain a deeper insight into my book; "The Energy of the 5 Seasons”, which you can purchase here.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Metal Element
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the world's oldest healing systems, dating back 4,000-5,000 years. Developed in China, TCM forms the basis for treatments such as acupuncture, qi gong, and herbal therapy.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are five elements, each linked to a season and an organ pair:
- Wood: Spring, liver and gallbladder - symbolizes growth and new beginnings.
- Fire: Summer, heart and small intestine - associated with creation/manifestation and joy.
- Earth: Late summer, spleen and stomach - relates to mental energy, and is therefore relevant for preventing stress and racing thoughts.
- Metal: Autumn, lungs and large intestine - the focus here is on cleansing, tidying up, and letting go.
- Water: Winter - kidneys and bladder. It's about rest and deep reflection.
The Metal element is linked to autumn, helping body and mind to let go and renew.
Autumn and the Metal Element
Autumn is linked to the lung and large intestine, which constitute our metal element in the body. You may be familiar with the sensation of a slight metallic taste or smell as the first sign that a cold or flu is on its way.
As body tissue, the skin is linked to the metal element, which is why an imbalance in the large intestine and/or lungs can manifest as clear signs on the skin, such as eczema, rashes, etc.
Eczema, asthma, and digestive problems often go hand in hand, as they stem from the same imbalance. The skin is also our largest organ and an important protective layer that helps shield us from the entry of viruses and bacteria.
The lung-large intestine is responsible for regulating dryness in the body. When there is too much moisture in the environment, as on rainy autumn days, the lung-large intestine element works overtime to remove moisture from the body. This overwork can actually result in dryness, as the organs try to create balance. Symptoms of this imbalance (chi'en) can manifest as dry skin, dry mouth, dry throat, dry mucous membranes, and dry eyes.
This overwork can result in dryness in the body. If the skin cracks easily during autumn and winter, it may be time to work on restoring balance in the metal element.
Signs of imbalance in the metal element:
- Dry skin, dry mouth, or mucous membranes
- Respiratory problems such as asthma and coughing
- Sadness, melancholy, or grief
- Digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome
The Metal Element - Prevent Winter Depression
When your intestines are healthy, it can have a positive effect on your entire body. The majority of the body's serotonin, also known as a happiness hormone, is produced in the intestines.
If the intestinal flora is out of balance, the production of serotonin can decrease, which can affect your mood and lead to sadness or even depression.
4 recommendations for food that can strengthen the metal element
Therefore, it is important to focus on foods that strengthen the intestines to maintain both physical and emotional balance, and which can help reduce the risk of developing winter depression.
Here are some tips on how to strengthen your gut flora, and thus also the metal element:
- Probiotics: Add good lactic acid bacteria to your diet, for example, through a supplement like Symbioflor or other probiotics that can help restore gut flora. Probiotics can be especially beneficial in the morning.
- Garlic: Garlic is known to have strong cleansing properties. Raw or crushed garlic in food can help strengthen the respiratory system and reduce the growth of candida fungus, which can create an imbalance in the gut flora. For optimal effect, garlic should be crushed and allowed to rest for 10-15 minutes before use, as this allows the active compounds time to develop.
- Limit sugar and processed foods: Sugar, alcohol, unhealthy fats, gluten, and dairy products can create imbalances in the gut and promote the growth of bad bacteria. By limiting these foods, you can help maintain a healthy gut flora.
- Healthy oils: Cold-pressed oils such as flaxseed oil, olive oil, or coconut oil can help lubricate the intestines and keep the skin healthy. Fat is an important part of your diet, especially in colder seasons, as it helps lubricate the body from within and supports healthy digestion.
The Organ Clock
Energy circulates throughout the body in a constant flow. It moves from organ to organ and thus from meridian channel to meridian channel.
The energy is strongest in the various organs at different times of the day.
Since there are 12 channels and 24 hours in a day, the energy is strongest in each organ for a period of 2 hours.
This energetic circulation in the body's organs over the day is called the organ clock in Danish.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lung-large intestine has its highest energy point in the morning. If you wake up between 3-5 am with a cough, it is a sign that the lungs are detoxifying the body.
Energy is highest in the large intestine between 5-7 am, when it is recommended to get up and go to the toilet. Start the day with a glass of warm/lukewarm water to cleanse the intestines.
In my book; The Energy of the 5 Seasons, you can read much more about the organ clock, which is part of the 5 elements (WU XING). The book gives you a deep understanding of the entire interplay in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The Organ Clock's 24 Hours
When I feel the energy of autumn, I am reminded of how our body follows its own natural rhythm throughout the year.
By understanding this rhythm, we can better support the body in balancing and nurturing ourselves.
I hope this simple description of the organ clock can help you gain a deeper understanding of the body's cycles and help you listen to what your body needs.
3-5 AM - Lungs: The lungs cleanse themselves, and if you cough during this time, it can be a sign of lung imbalance.
5-7 AM - Large Intestine: The large intestine wakes up – it's a good time to go to the toilet.
7-9 AM - Stomach: The stomach needs breakfast – the ability to digest is high, as the energy is strongest in the stomach at this exact time.
9-11 AM - Spleen: The spleen works – it creates energy from food.
11 AM - 1 PM - Heart: Energy is highest in the heart during this time – a good time for socializing, lunch, or a well-deserved break or nap.
1-3 PM - Small Intestine: The small intestine digests – the body absorbs nutrients.
3-5 PM - Bladder: The bladder cleanses – remember to drink water.
5-7 PM - Kidneys: The kidneys renew energy – This is a good time to eat dinner and add new energy to the body.
7-9 PM - Pericardium: The pericardium (circulatory system) is active – In other words, it's a good time to enjoy close relationships/partnerships.
9-11 PM - Triple Warmer (San Jiao): Energy is highest in the triple warmer, which regulates the body's heat and energy distribution. According to the organ clock's rhythm, it is actually recommended to go to bed during this time, preferably before 10 PM.
11 PM - 1 AM - Gallbladder: The gallbladder helps, among other things, break down fats and support digestion. At this time, it supports the body's ability to cleanse and repair while you sleep.
1-3 AM - Liver: The liver works – the body cleanses and rebuilds, and it is best for the body to be in deep sleep.
The Organ Clock - Acupressure and Self-Foot Reflexology
A fantastic exercise I often use myself, and which I highly recommend in autumn, is to massage the reflex zones under the feet.
Autumn can often bring dryness and imbalances in the lungs and digestion, so focus on massaging the lung and intestinal zones, which are found in the lower part of the arch and up in the forefoot under the four outermost toes, as shown in the picture.
You can use a tennis ball or your fingers to give your feet extra attention, especially if there are tender spots.
If you are curious and want to work more with self-foot reflexology, I have a wonderful program on my natural detox course where we work through the entire foot thoroughly.
Read more about the course here.
My 7 Seasonal Tips for Autumn
- Observe emotions such as sadness and melancholy. Take time to reflect, acknowledge, and work with these feelings.
- Perform daily breathing exercises to strengthen your lungs and improve your breathing.
- Protect your throat and chest, and keep them warm, even on milder days, to prevent imbalances.
- Start the day with a glass of warm water to cleanse the intestines in the morning.
- Avoid cold foods and drinks (especially ice water), as they can disrupt the body's balance by requiring extra energy from the body, which then needs to be warmed up again. In fact, it is advised to avoid ice water all year round.
- Eat garlic and ginger, which are known for their cleansing and strengthening properties on the respiratory system and intestines.
- Perform Yin stretches for the lung-large intestine meridian channels to release stagnant energy in the shoulders, arms, and neck.
Autumn Course for Lung-Large Intestine
The course has a cleansing effect and aids digestion. You will be introduced to important breathing exercises, gain a better understanding of the respiratory function, and learn why correct nasal breathing and relaxation in the abdomen and lower belly are essential.
When you breathe correctly, you will experience increased energy and resistance to illness and stress.
Read more about the course here.
Good exercises and programs for autumn
There are so many other great exercises and good yin yoga programs that I can recommend for working with the energy this autumn, for example:
- 8-week FOOT YOGA COURSE (click HERE)
- More breathing exercises (click HERE)
- Yin yoga program for lung-large intestine (click HERE)
- The Energy of the 5 Seasons – a book where you can read much more about how to balance your body through the year's cycles. Buy the book here.
Enjoy.
Warmly,
Isabelle Evita
