Autumn According to Chinese Medicine by Dan Lloyd
One of the oldest texts written about Chinese Medicine the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classics, states that – “During autumn and winter, we should nourish our Yin. Focus on going ‘inward’, resting, storing and restoring our energy.”
Autumn holds a special charm, as nature turns inward, preparing for the colder months. The light shifts, mornings and evenings grow cooler. Nature gradually draws its energy inwards. Leaves are slowly changing colour and preparing for their spectacular display, before they fall from the trees. Days are shortening and we are preparing for the quieter months ahead.
This year the Autumn brings a strong sense of stability and grounding, especially after all the movement and intensity of this Fire Horse year, it’s a good time to slow down and ask ourselves: “What really needs my energy right now?”
This is a good time of the year to finish what you’ve started, organise things you’ve been putting off and return to simple routines that help you feel well. Make time for meditation, Tai Chi, and walking in nature or simply preparing a proper wholesome meal, which is much better than eating on the go.
Autumn is a lovely time to enjoy warm, nourishing food like soups, stews, root vegetables, squash, mushrooms, cooked greens and good quality protein. As the weather gets cooler and drier, don’t forget to take care of your Lungs, with plenty of fluids and seasonal foods like pears, apples and sesame.
We don’t have to keep up the pace of summer all year round. Healthy living isn’t about constantly doing more, which is a very modern lifestyle trap; Healthy living is about knowing when to spend your energy and when to gather it. Autumn is a great time to look at what supports us—and what quietly drains us.
So the simple message this Autumn is:
- Strengthen what supports you.
- Lighten what burdens you.
- Gather your Chi (energy) and prepare for what comes next.
This autumn, take a little time to slow down, breathe, gather yourself and learn what you can let go of.
Nature is already showing us that there is wisdom in doing so.
Reflections on resilience from a parched landscape by Louise Hudson (Hypnotherapist)
This summer, I wondered if the grass and leaves would ever recover. Were you as surprised as I was by how quickly green returned?
Nature teaches us much about resilience. Some seasons bring hardship, and we can allow ourselves the full range of human emotion; realising this reduces isolation.
Like trees, which protected their core rather than outer leaves, we can choose, in time, to focus on what will help us move forward. Sad as it was to see foliage shed so early, nature shows us that redirecting effort towards what helps, not harms, is the key to resilience.
This draws on Lucy Hone’s work. Her TED talk, “3 Secrets of Resilient People”, is worth watching if you are facing loss.
Embracing Autumn: Warming Foods, Herbs & Spices by Hazel Ballantine
As we move into autumn, we naturally start to crave warming foods and the comfort of home as the weather becomes cooler. It is a lovely time to embrace seasonal ingredients, herbs and spices that can nourish and support us through the changing season.
Starting the day with a cup of fresh ginger tea can be a simple way to support digestion and circulation, while ginger also has well-known anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting properties.
Rosemary is another favourite herb of mine. If you are lucky enough to have it growing in your garden as I do, try making a simple rosemary infusion by steeping it in hot water for tea or adding it to flavour oils for cooking. Rosemary has traditionally been used to support digestion and may help with bile flow and fat digestion. It also contains compounds being studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, including carnosol, and rosemary has been associated with improving aspects of memory and cognition. It also has anti-cancer properties.
So when you are making your meal, ask yourself “what herbs can I add to this?” Not only will you be improving flavour but giving your body a boost too.
Human Nature by Alison Becker (Hypnotherapist)
Considering the nature of nature, as Autumn unfolds it shows us the art of letting go. Leaves fall with ease, making space for stillness and renewal.
In the same way, Autumn can invite us to release that which no longer serves us, old habits, unhelpful ways of thinking and feeling, prompting us to be mindful of self-care. As the days shorten, consider honouring a quieter rhythm of rest, reflection and gentle restoration. Value the importance of ‘pausing’ rather than ‘pushing through.’ Pausing creates space for ideas to come to mind of new Autumn pastimes we might consider to replace stale old habits, thereby nourishing our resources and enabling us to continue being the most happy and healthy version of ourselves.
If you have enjoyed reading this newsletter, please feel free to share it with your family and friends so that they can enjoy good health this Autumn.
In Friendship Your Iwood Health Therapists,
– Dan, Jackie, John, Hazel, Áine, Lisa, Katie, Louise and Alison –
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects the views of complimentary health and Traditional Chinese Medicine perspectives and is for informational purposes only—and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how the therapists can assist you in this season, please make an appointment.
Please contact the therapist of your choice.
