07/20/2024
In all fairness, I love the transition time between late summer and early fall. The earth smells sweeter, the air crisper, goldenrod covers fields with a sweet yellow color and the sky is a brilliant hue of blue.
Fall in Chinese Medicine is a time of reflection and introspection, assimilation, and clearance of all that we have gained in the previous seasons of spring and summer. Fall is associated with the Lungs, Large Intestine, and the Metal Element. Typical fall-related ailments that we see include allergies, common colds, sinus problems, skin problems, grief/sadness, changes in bowel movements, fatigue, and depression.
One lesson in life that happens in Late summer, is:
Letting Go
As we transition from summer to fall, it is not uncommon to see a rise in allergies or any other Lung-related ailments at this time. In Chinese Medicine, different seasons are associated with different climatic factors that directly affect the organs they are associated with.
So for example, summer is associated with heat and the Heart, therefore it is not unusual to see cases of insomnia that are related to heat disturbing the Heart. Fall is associated with dryness and the Lungs and so, it is not unusual to have allergies or sinus problems that present as dry in nature.
As each season passes along with its corresponding organs and climate factors, there are transition times that morph one season into another. So while we might associate the fall with dryness, it would not be uncommon to see some lingering heat as well from the summer.
On an emotional level, fall corresponds to grief in Chinese Medicine. Yin organs are typically paired with an emotion, a season, a color, taste and so much more. As the fall is associated with the Lungs, its paired emotion is grief, the color white, and a pungent taste. It’s not atypical for grief to resurface at this time because the Lungs helps us through breathing, we can process old emotions and practice releasing them.
How to Nourish Your Body in the Fall
When you think of Chinese medicine fall recipes, think about aromatic spices like chai tea spices.
Pungent foods are best for fall as they help with the protection of the Lungs and Large Intestine. Pungent foods need not be super spicy to have this effect. The onion family, for example, that contains foods such as garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, white peppercorns are a great example of this.
In addition to pungent foods, mucilaginous or moist foods are also important. They help protect and replace mucous membranes of the colon and the lungs and also remove old thick mucoid deposits. These foods include seaweeds and certain herbs and spices such as flaxseed, fenugreek, and marshmallow root.
Another favorite of mine to eat at this time are dark green and golden-orange vegetables. These foods tend to be rich in Provitamin A (beta-carotene) which also helps protect the mucous membranes.
Foods such as carrot, winter squash, pumpkin, butternut squash, parsley, akle, turnip, mustard greens, watercress, and nettles are great sources of beta-carotene.
Along with eating a rich, nutritious diet, keeping warm and breathing more deeply can be helpful at this time. With weather changes, it is easy to catch colds if improperly dressed. The breath can help us let go and release the old, allowing us to be more present.
A VERY TRADITIONAL CHINESE HERBAL SOUP RECIPE
Four Herbs Soup is a great example of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s emphasis on food, or shíliáo (食疗), as medicine. Just as you might consider a smoothie, salad, protein, or grain bowl as a healthy option, you can also think of this Chinese soup to help you feel balanced and healthy.
Dried fox nut barley (芡实, qiànshí) and lotus seeds (莲子, liánzǐ) are thought to strengthen the spleen and help reduce dampness. Chinese yam (known in Chinese as shānyào – 山药, which translates to “mountain medicine”) is used to tonify deficiency (balance the energy in your body). And the poria cocos mushroom (苻苓, fú líng) is supposed to remove dampness from your system.
All these ingredients can be found dried at your local well-stocked grocery store.
Dried lotus seeds, poria cocos, fox nut barley, and Chinese mountain yam
Also, if you enjoy the flavor of supremely clear, traditional Cantonese soups, I think you will enjoy this recipe!
Traditional Chinese soups are different from the soups many of us are familiar with. The essence of a soup is in its broth. It is clear, thanks to slow cooking at very low heat.
Don’t be fooled by its unassuming clear appearance. The soups are delicate, but also rich. We serve them before the meal, to fully appreciate their flavor
Just prepare yoursef for the next season......
