5 Tips to Support You in Autumn
This week in the treatment room, I’ve heard from each patient - in varied ways - how the seasonal transition is effecting them. From sleep disruption, to considerably lower energy, susceptibility to flus, lingering covid symptoms, heightened anxiety, skin rashes to digestive disruption.
The transition from summer to autumn is a precipitous one; and particularly difficult on our beings.
Here are 5 things to help you navigate the transition from summer to autumn with more ease:
As a yin season, you need more rest. Re-prioritize your sleep routine after the late nights of summer. Get to bed - eyes closed, devices off - no later than 11pm. Make sure you are getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
The climate of autumn is dry; include more moistening foods in your diet. The associated organ systems of this season are the lungs & large intestine. These organs require a moist environment to function optimally. Include root veggies like sweet potatoes, squashes, pumpkins, stewed apples and pears, sautéed spinach, black sesame seeds, chia seeds, almonds and hemp hearts. Soups, stews and porridges are wonderful as they support good digestion and bring much needed hydration to your body.
The corresponding flavor is pungent/acrid - Include pungent foods in your meals to support healthy circulation of qi and blood. Start your day with a large glass of warm/hot water with a squeeze of fresh lemon, a slice of fresh ginger and a small dollop of local honey. This delicious elixir increases circulation, moves congestion from the liver, begins peristalsis and brings much needed hydration to your body. Other pungent foods include onions, garlic, turmeric, scallions, and chilis. A little bit of pungent brings harmony, too much ‘spicy’ will cause disharmony.
MODERATION IN ALL THINGS - Summer is about frivolity, connecting, playing and letting loose a bit. Summer is over, folx. Autumn is here and the invitation is refinement in all arenas of life. Reintroduce moderation especially around drinking alcohol and eating rich foods. Alcohol is heating and drying and as mentioned above the lungs & colon need a moist environment. Rich and greasy foods congest the liver & gall bladder and they need a reprieve.
The associated emotion is grief - make space to honor your grief. Work with a therapist. Join a grief support group. Come in for acupuncture treatments. Talk with a safe & trusted friend. Grief and loss are inherent in all of our lives. They are incredibly tender and vulnerable emotions yet, as with all emotions, if left unprocessed, they will engender disharmony & disease. Unprocessed grief ‘knots the qi of the chest’ and diminishes healthy functioning of the lungs.
If you’d like more support with the seasonal transition and/or implementing these changes, I’m here for you. Schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. And/or join me on September 18th for Honoring Autumn where I’ll dive more deeply into autumnal themes and share additional self-care tips for Autumn. We’ll end the evening with a small fire ceremony.
