Preparing for Autumn with Chinese Medicine
As summer’s fiery embrace fades and autumn gently unfolds, the vibrant Yang energy of heat surrenders to the cooling, soothing Yin of the season. Yang, the force of action, sunlight, fire, and outward vitality, reaches its zenith in the heat of summer, only to give way to Yin's quiet call—inviting us to slow down, seek cooler air, and reflect inward.
The boundless flourishing of summer cannot endure forever, for all abundance eventually craves balance. It is in stillness, release, and quietude that we find renewal, preparing us for the deep Yin of winter.
Each season, in nature and in life, whispers its wisdom to those who listen. Autumn, with its golden leaves and drying grasses, offers us the gift of reflection and release. As nature contracts—trees shedding their leaves, sap retreating to nourish roots—we too are beckoned to let go, to harvest what we’ve sown, and prepare for the deep stillness that awaits.
In Chinese medicine, every season is intricately linked to specific foods, elements, colors, emotions, and organs, creating a harmonious relationship between our bodies and the natural world.
Element: Metal
Quality: Dryness
Color: White
Organ: Lungs
Emotion: Grief
The Lungs in Autumn
In Chinese medicine, the lungs are the gateway for qi, the vital life force we receive through breath, which combines with qi from food to nourish our bodies and immune systems. When lung qi is weak, illness becomes more common—especially during flu season in the fall. The lungs are also closely connected to the colon, the organ responsible for releasing what no longer serves us.
A healthy lung qi allows us to stay true to our commitments while also letting go of what is no longer needed. Weak lung qi can make releasing difficult, often bringing intense grief and sadness. Expressing and resolving grief strengthens our vitality, but when grief is suppressed, the lungs contract, and the colon may become congested. As Paul Pitchford writes, “Virtually everyone with lung and colon problems, regardless of the source, has unresolved sadness that needs to be cleared.”
Autumn calls us to turn inward, to acknowledge and release long-standing grief. By giving space and time to our pain, we allow transformation to occur. Deep breaths, reflection, and awareness during this season help us shed sorrow and find renewal.
Autumn Foods
The foods of autumn are designed to gather and ground the scattered energy of summer, bringing us back to our energetic center.
Preferred Preparation: Baked, sautéed, or in soups. Cook with less water and at lower heat for longer periods to preserve nourishment.
Autumn Dryness
Autumn is marked by dryness, which, in Chinese medicine, is associated with the lungs. Symptoms of dryness manifest as thirst, dry skin, lips, throat, and itchiness.
Moistening Foods: Spinach, barley, millet, pears, apples, persimmons, loquats, seaweed, mushrooms, almonds, pine nuts, sesame seeds, honey, eggs, salt, dairy, and animal products.
Pungent Foods: Garlic, turnips, horseradish, cabbage, daikon radish.
Mucilaginous Foods and Fiber for Lungs and Colon: Seaweeds, kombu, marshmallow root, flaxseed, and fenugreek.
Dark Green and Golden Orange Vegetables: Carrots, winter squash, pumpkin, broccoli, parsley, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, watercress, yerba santa leaf, mullein leaf, nettles.
Astringent Foods for Autumn Energy: Root vegetables, sourdough bread, sauerkraut, olives, leeks, adzuki beans, rosehip tea, yogurt, lemons, limes, and grapefruit.
Source:
Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition. 3rd ed., North Atlantic Books, 2002.