Traditional Chinese medicine health care emphasizes the great importance of harmony between human health and the natural environment. The ninth month of the lunar calendar means that we have officially entered the Autumn season in the northern hemisphere. During this time, Metal is considered the dominant element. The temperature difference between day and night becomes larger, vegetation begins to wither in many places, and the human body's Qi tends to move inward and downward. At this time, people are prone to feeling sad, irritated, and depressed. Traditional Chinese medicine can help regulate the health of the body by distributing Lung Qi and activating Yang Qi. In this way, your Yang will be properly contained inside, and the transition to Yin can occur gradually and smoothly.
To ease your body into the new season, here are some easy-to-follow Autumn Life Nourishing tips:
1. The Yellow Emperor said that in autumn, people should go to bed early (the classics indicated that one should sleep with the sunset. In modern life, we suggest 9:30-10:30 pm) and get up early as the rooster crows (5:30-6:30 am). Sleeping early will benefit the storage of Yin essence and prevent Yang Qi from becoming hyperactive. Get up early to coordinate with the expansion of Yang Qi in the morning so that Lung Qi will not be suppressed. By following this schedule, you can prevent cerebral thrombosis. In addition, according to some studies, taking a 30-minute nap can soothe the cardiovascular system, maintain psychological balance, prevent myocardial infarction, and reduce the possibility of coronary heart disease by 30 percent.
2. Even though daytime temperatures may still be high in the autumn, mornings and evenings can be quite chilly. This is the time that wind can easily attack your body, causing allergies and the common cold. Covering your neck, shoulders, lower back, knees, and ankles in the morning and evening will help to prevent wind from attacking your body.
3. Soak your feet in warm to hot water before bed. Ideally, let the water soak up to your knees or at least above your ankles. Wearing socks is also important for elder people, kids, and women with PMS; keeping feet warm can warm up the channel as well.
(Consult TCM Healing doctors to customize your foot bath herb bag)
4. Appropriately increase the intake of protein. Duck and crab meat are cooling in temperature and suitable for relatively hot and dry areas; lamb meat is ideal for use in cold regions.
5. Figs, pomegranates, and citrus are excellent fall fruits.
Figs contain psoralen, bergamot lactone, and benzene aromatic substances, which can inhibit cancer cell formation.
Pomegranate helps digestion, prevents gastric ulcers, softens blood vessels, lowers blood lipids and blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol.
Tangerines are rich in vitamin C and citric acid, which has a cosmetic effect and eliminates fatigue. Eating the thin white skin of the tangerine gives you dietary fiber that has a laxative effect and promotes bowel movements, as well as lowers cholesterol. Hesperidin can strengthen the toughness of capillaries, lower blood pressure, and dilate the heart's coronary arteries.