Staying Healthy Through the Autumn, According to Chinese Medicine

The Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), one of the principal medical books of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was written thousands of years ago. In it, the Yellow Emperor of China asks the Daoist master Qi Bo questions about health and disease.

The first question that the Yellow Emperor asks is “I am told the people in ancient times could all survive to more than 100 years old, and they appeared to be quite healthy and strong in actions, but the people at present time are different, they are not so nimble in action when they are only 50, and what is the reason?”
Qi Bo responds to the Yellow Emperor, “those who knew the way of keeping good health in ancient times always kept their behaviour in daily life in accordance with nature. Their behaviours in daily life were all kept in regular patterns such as their food and drink were of fixed quantity; their daily activities were all in regular times. They never overworked. In this way, they could maintain both in the body and in the spirit substantiality, and were able to live to the old age of more than 100 years.”

The key element in Qi Bo’s answer seems to be concerned with living in harmony with nature. Of course, this has strong implications for our habits as the seasons change. The importance of the seasons comes up specifically in chapter 2, when Qi Bo states that “in the 3 months of autumn, the shapes of all living things on earth become mature naturally and are ready to be harvested. In autumn, the wind is vigorous and rapid, the environment on earth is clear and bright, so during this period, one should go to bed early to stay away from the chilliness, get up early to appreciate the crisp air of autumn, keep the spirit tranquil and stable to separate oneself from the sough of autumn by means of restraining the spirit and energy internally and guard the mind against anxiety and impetuosity. In this way, one’s tranquillity can still be maintained even in the sough of autumn atmosphere, and the breath of the lung can be kept even as well.” These tips stand true thousands of years later.

Autumn

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, where the summer is ruled by the fire element, the autumn is by the metal element, which is characterised by expansion, contraction, and transformation on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. It brings with it a desire to know who we are and to find value and meaning in what we do. Also associated are the emotions of grief, sadness, reflection and “letting go”. Although it is a fact that our emotional state and energy levels at this time of year are affected by the decreasing levels of sunlight, an awareness of the nature of autumn should help us avoid the symptoms associated with S.A.D.

Our diets have a strong influence on our emotional and physical health. Aside from symptoms of S.A.D, autumn is particularly associated with health problems in the lungs (such as allergies and asthma are common) and the large intestines; as well as being associated with skin disorders (such as eczema and psoriasis) and poor immunity. Autumn represents a time for harvesting – the last chance to take in the energy of the summer sun. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn has a downward movement, illustrated by the growth of root vegetables. Eating in accordance with the seasons should have a strong positive effect on your ability to ward off symptoms of ill health.

So What Should I Eat During Autumn?

One of the easiest ways to stay healthy in any season is to eat fresh seasonal foods. A good guideline about what to eat during any season is to build your meals from what is available at your local farmer’s market. There are also the added bonuses that shopping in this way is better for farming and better for the environment. For your convenience, we include a list of autumn foods:

Vegetables

Fruits

• Apples
• Concord grapes
• Niagara grapes
• Pears (considered particularly healthy for the lungs)

Meats

• Duck
• Pheasant
• Rabbit
• Venison
• Wild Turkey

Fish

• Atlantic Mackerel
• Bluefish
• Monkfish
• Native Oysters
• Pacific Salmon
• Red Snapper
• Scallops (bay and sea)

It is also important to transition into eating warmer, cooked foods at this time of year.

Other Autumn Tips

Aside from eating healthy seasonal foods and being aware of the nature of autumn, there is a number of other measures you can take to ensure good health through autumn and into winter. These include:

• Have a clean out. This should help with the emotional factors associated with the metal element.
• Carry layers of clothing. It is hard to stay prepared for the drastic change in temperatures and without proper protection your body is at risk.
• Eat soup. Soups usually contain seasonal meats and vegetables, and are packed full of nutrients. They are also warming.
• Keep hydrated. The moisture of the humid summer gives way to autumn dryness. Drink tea or room temperature water to help your body remain hydrated.
• Eat fermented foods (such as sauerkraut, kim chi, miso, kombucha, rejuvelac, fermented soda, yogurt, or kefir). They support your immune function. You can also supplement with probiotics such as acidophilus.
• Get enough sleep. Sleep is regenerative and keeps the immune system strong.
• Exercise. Amongst other benefits, it helps keep the lungs strong and moods stable.
• Decrease stress. Stress depletes our immune system, so find something that works for you. Meditation, art or music, laughter, taking up a hobby, enjoying time with friends and family, and gardening are a few suggestions.

Remedies To Help You Through Autumn

Echinacea stimulates and restores the immune system. We have a unique Echinacea Plus blend – click here for more information or to order.

Vitamin C is essential for a healthy immune system and to promote support the body’s defense against infection. Click here for more information or to order.

Vitamin B Complex can be used support the nervous system and boost energy as B vitamins are easily depleted when the body is stressed emotionally or physically. Click here for more information or to order.

The direct exposure of skin to sunlight provides your body with vitamin D. With shorter days, as many as 60 percent of the UK population is Vitamin D deficient. The number of diseases impacted by vitamin D levels is rising rapidly. Click here for more information or to order.

With all of this in mind, you should have no problem in staying healthy and happy through autumn and into winter. If you have any specific health challenges you would like to discuss, or would like to talk about any of these points further, or discuss natural nutritional support please contact us on 01730 233 414 or email info@nutrivital.co.uk.