25/03/2021
~ AUTUMN ~
The external decline of nature.
The drying and the cooling.
Within us and outwardly in our environment.
As the wood element directs inward, our Yang energy decreases, the seed of Yin begins to grow.
It's time to gather our energies on the inside.
Take things slow. Don't push yourself, force yourself or berrate yourself for not wanting to be more YANG! Now is not the time. Your body will likely argue with you if you don't listen :p
Foods with an ascendant energy and sour flavour (think apples) will help to support our inner composure and serenity.
Mildly acrid and energetically warm foods will compensate for the onset of external cold such as oats, millet, corn, rice, carrots, leeks, radishes, cauliflower, beef and lamb.
If you're experiencing the onset of a cold, as many people have the past few weeks, tackle the inner cold and shivers with garlic, cinnamon, ginger and spring onions to stimulate Qi circulation and rapidly bring your immune system (Wei/Defensive Qi) to the surface, hopefully helping you "sweat it out" as they say.
For those experiencing more sinus and phlegmmy type symptoms, turn to warm and energetically dry foods such as rice dishes with acrid spices.
If you're feeling more dryness, turn to moistening foods such as pear and tofu.
Avoid fatty, oily, cold and dairy, which burden our digestion worsening phlegminess and "Dampness" as we call it in Chinese medicine. Especially during wet weather.
Our external environment is often reflected internally.
Pay attention and you might just experience this yourself :) Have you already realised this?
I'd love to hear your experience and also recipes for autumn or the onset of illness. What is your body craving? What are your go-to's?
📚 Source: Jeorg Kastner's Dietetics in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
