Those autumn leaves...

There's no denying it: the air is cooler, dryer, and the days are getting shorter. Even if it hasn't registered in your consciousness yet, your body has definitely noticed.

So how can we take care of our bodies as we transition to colder, shorter, darker days? Chinese medicine has a lot to say about this.

Fall is the time of year that corresponds to the Lung, which is of the metal element. It is a time to turn inward, to harvest, gather, and prepare. If you've ever watched squirrels this time of year, that's exactly the idea!

This time of year also corresponds to the emotion of sadness and grief. I've noticed that this has been coming up a lot in clinic, and again, the way we treat this in Chinese medicine is via the Lung.

A great way to strengthen the Lungs is qigong. Reach out if you're interested in learning some Lung-strengthening qigong exercises!

A simple way to nourish the Lung, especially this Autumn, is by eating pears!  Pears moisten and nourish the Lung, and protect it from dryness. This year pears are particularly important because of all the smoke we've inhaled this summer. Our Lungs, through smoke, heat, coronavirus, and grief, took quite a hit. Be nice to your Lungs this fall! ​