WHAT TO EXPECT THIS SEASON ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is based on the idea that human heath is inextricably linked with our environment and seeks to explain this link through the five seasons: spring, summer, late summer, autumn and winter. Each season has its own element linked to the organs of the body, emotions psychology and behaviours and they present characteristic challenges to our health and psycho-spiritual wellness. Understanding these seasonal challenges can help us maintain wellness throughout the year as we observe and adapt to our environment working with nature for optimal health.
Autumn in TCM is when the cool, sinking female Yin energy begins to overpower the hot, rising, active, Yang energy of summer. Things become quieter, the air takes on a chill and the energy of plants moves inward to their roots. Classical Chinese Medicine associates Autumn with death, contraction, and the ending of cycles. It is also recognised as a time of decision making, when we must choose what to let go of and what to carry forward in order to ensure our survival during the cold, difficult winter season.
The element associated with autumn is Metal and the main organs for this element are the Lungs and Large Intestines. As you may have experienced, the cooler days of Autumn present some challenges for the respiratory and digestive systems and to immunity.
For this reason, Autumn is often known as being the start of the cold and flu season and this is explained by TCM as a time when our surface immunity begins to wane and we become more vulnerable to environmental changes in temperature and conditions. Likewise we need to change what we eat to suit the season. Autumn is a time to slow down, so cook food for longer periods of time on lower heat and swap the crunchy fresh foods of summer for softer seasonal foods to support the processes of our Large Intestine.
The core emotion associated with Metal is grief, and the aspect of Spirit related to this season is the P’o, or the Corporeal Soul, the aspect of the Spirit that dies with the body.
At the psychospiritual level, the Metal element has to do with the unconscious mind and psychosomatic complaints. Emotional problems that may accompany Metal imbalance include low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, unresolved grief, depression characterized by a lack of connectedness, and a host of psychosomatic complaints.
Maintaining a balanced Metal element as you move through Autumn, will ensure you are more likely to avoid these seasonal challenges. Be especially mindful of repressed emotions and unresolved issues as these can provide the energetic foundation for Metal Element imbalances to manifest as physical dysfunction in the body.
If you find yourself experiencing more digestive, respiratory or emotional issues than usual, it might be time to book in for an energy balance. Head over to our booking page, get back on track and book your next balance today to recalibrate your mind body and emotions.