Late Summer Early Autumn
By Marianne Kornaat.
Late Summer is arriving and already we are noticing the sun is coming up just slightly later in the mornings. Autumn is the time when energy turns its course back to the earth. After a glorious summer where all the energy just expands and expands, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) terms the yang as abundant, it is now the time when the yin energy starts getting a turn again.
Traditionally autumn is the harvest season. Internally this is the time that our bodies also gather energy for the colder months coming ahead. Yang was dominant in summer, but now yang is diminishing and slowly we are turning to yin. This means the expansiveness of yang of the summer now turns in to gather within. There is less activity in autumn, but more emphasis on nurturing and supporting our organs, fluids and blood, as this is the foundation of everything that we are and do.
If you look at deciduous trees, this is the time when their leaves dry up. The tree is actually storing the substances of what it has acquired in the summer, to take it through the winter and the drying effect is typical of autumn. Of course it is not always the case but this is the time that we have a tendency to dry out a little too - dry lips, dry skin, dry throat and constipation. It is a time particularly to take care of our lungs and intestines. Looking after our bodies at this time of the year will help us keep strong during the winter. Pears, plums, apples and nuts are in abundance during autumn and make sure you get your share.
In Chinese medicine it is the strength of the lungs and large intestine that dictate whether your immune system is strong or not. This is the time to look after your body especially if you are prone to colds and flu in winter. In autumn our local produce in season are ideal foods to help strengthen this! It is time to slowly end the cooling salads and gently steam your vegetables and start making some yummy herbal soups, it is particularly good as steaming foods and watery soups support the yin!
