Seasonal Changes: Staying Healthy in the Fall Season

Health Cultivation and Disease Prevention in the Fall Season

Much of Chinese Medicine theory is based in nature, especially when it comes to seasonal changes.  This is especially important in the Fall season when the weather is cooling down from the heat of summer.  Fall is also the season attributed to the Lungs. We become more prone to respiratory ailments: seasonal allergies, sinusitis, colds, and flus.  Skin issues such as eczema can also flare up because our skin is related to the Lungs. Keeping in tune with seasonal changes helps cultivate one’s health and prevent disease.  

Eat with the season –

• Cooler weather means eating foods that are warm, wholesome, and nourishing.  Forgo the salads and opt for soups and stews which are hot and hearty.  The temperature maintains our body’s Yang energy which is warming and essential especially with digestion. 

• Eat foods that are in season:

o   Vegetables – beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, mushrooms, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash

o   Fruits – apples, concord grapes, pears

• Sweet potatoes and pumpkins are especially delicious and right for the season.  Try these yummy tips from Yoga Journal to enjoy their goodness.   

Cover your neck –

• In Chinese Medicine theory, catching a cold or the flu is referred to as an "external invasion".  However, unlike Western Medicine, the external invasion can be elemental like nature and symptoms are related to the type of pathogen involved.  These can include wind, cold, heat, dryness and dampness.   
• The back of your neck is considered the “gateway for 10,000 diseases” and is basically our weak spot.  It can be even more so when we’re feeling rundown, overworked, stressed, or fatigued.  Keep this covered and prevent invasion of the elements, especially wind. 
  
• Fall weather fluctuates between warm and cool. Winds such as the Santa Anas are also prevalent. In San Diego, the days start off crisp and cool which leads to a hot sunny day by noon, and chilly again by nightfall.  
• Carry around a scarf or better yet a sweater to prepare for the change of temperature throughout the day. 

Stay hydrated –

• Autumn is associated with the element of dryness.  In Autumn, the dry weather can affect our skin, our nose, and our lungs – which are important in our body’s immunity and are its first line of defense.  

• Drink plenty of room temperature water or better yet hot tea. Chyrsanthemum, mint, orange, and spiced teas are great for the fall season. 

•  As food therapy, try steamed pears with a touch of honey and sliced almonds to moisten dryness, especially of the lungs and skin.   

Take your vitamins –

• To maintain strong immunity make sure take these every day:
• Vitamins A, B, C, E 
• Zinc, CoQ10

• Incorporate phytonutrient rich foods – garlic, Echinacea, astragalus, mushrooms

Recognize the signs –

• A combination of any or all can mean your getting sick:  nasal discharge, sneezing, fever, chills, sinus pressure, body aches, aversion to cold or wind, fatigue, sore throat, and/or loss of appetite.

• If you feel like you are getting sick, try these home remedies:
• Miso Soup [miso + tofu + seaweed + green onions]
• A great example of food as medicine.  All ingredients work together to "release the exterior and the pathogen".  
• Ginger, Chicken and Rice Soup (recipe will follow) 
• Ginger Tea - warm, pungent, and releases the exterior
• Get plenty of rest, eat simple foods, especially soup, stay warm

Lastly…get Acupuncture –

• Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine can help boost your body’s protective Qi (immunity) and helps prevent catching the cold and flu, especially if you are prone to getting sick during the Fall and Winter seasons.

• When you do get sick, acupuncture can help your body fight the illness so you can recover faster. Herbal Medicine is also effective in strengthening your body and pushing out whatever is ailing you.  Treatment is based on the pattern of symptoms that are observed.  

Enjoy and be well this season!