Fall is the time of season when the long summer days we have enjoyed for a few months become shorter. The leaves change into beautiful copper colors as they shed their summer glow. Colored foods such as pumpkins and squashes abound, and we are reminded to stow away the summer clothes as we put on our sweaters for the cooler air. Autumn calls upon us to begin a more serious and introspective time with ourselves as the carefree energy of summer shifts. In Chinese Medicine, this time is related to the metal element.
Metal Element
The metal element is pertains to the Lung and Large Intestine. This element is about letting go of the old and allowing in the new, just like the trees begin to drop their leaves. It also represents our divine spark in life and our special essence that inspires our life so that we feel a sense of worth and value in ourselves. This makes autumn a good time to finish up any projects that were started during summer.
When the metal element is out of balance, we can’t relinquish what we no longer need. This is when we become stuck in ideas and thoughts, unable to find our way through the rubbish to feel inspiration. We become empty, cold, and detached as we lose the deep quality of our life. We no longer breathe in the fresh air of the heavens that gives life.
When the mental element is in balance, we feel a sense of self-worth as we let go of those old habits or things that don’t inspire us. When the large intestine is eliminated properly, the rubbish of our lives will not accumulate, and we will see clearly, and our spirit will be able to replenish itself healthily. When we breathe in fresh air with the Lungs, we will be filled with fresh inspiration and deep connections in every moment.
Valuable Practices to Maintain Your Metal Element Healthy
Breathe Deeply
Breathing deeply strengthens the Lungs. As simple as it sounds, many of us don’t breathe deeply during the day, which can affect our energy level, immune system, and memory. Our whole body and every cell requires oxygen that helps purify our body as we release toxins. Walking in the crisp morning air filling your lungs with good qi is a good practice during autumn.
Clear Out the Clutter
Autumn marks the time to reorganize your closet and clear the unwanted clutter. This is a good mental, emotional, and spiritual practice to flow more fully with the energy of the mental element of letting go. So go through that overstuffed closet and donate those unwanted clothes to a local charity for someone else to use. Clean out all the unwanted files on your computer that have been lurking in the background for too long. Organize and clean the kitchen cupboards. This will help you feel revitalized as you move in harmony with autumn to create balance.
Remember to Bundle Up
The lungs are considered delicate organs in Chinese medicine because they are close to the outside world. This makes them especially susceptible to the cold autumn weather, so you should bundle up. Scarves are a great way to keep yourself warm, and they cover the nape of your neck where wind can come in and give you an unwanted cold.
Fall Foods to Benefit Your Qi
Fall is the season of cooling down, so our body does better with more warming foods like soups and stews. These meals that need to be cooked longer boost the immune system for the upcoming winter months. Nourishing and moistening foods are best for the lungs during this colorful season. Here is a list of healthy food choices for the autumn months:
- Sweet potato • Ginger
- Onion • Cabbage
- Pears • Garlic
- Cinnamon • Cardamon
- Almonds • Walnuts
- Broccoli • Celery
- Grapefruit • Apples
- Plums • Pumpkin
- Squash • Sauerkraut
- Cranberries • Figs
So this fall season, stay warm, eat warming foods, and tie up loose ends. Be content with yourself, knowing you are already complete so that those feelings of self-worth don’t creep up on you. Be kind to yourself, slow down, and ease into fall with grace and flow.
Hummingbird Community Acupuncture in Boulder is a great place to get your Fall Acupuncture tune-up!.
