Color: White
Nature: Yin
Organs: Lung and Large Intestine
Taste: Spicy
Emotion: Grief
After the abundance of green growth occurs during spring and summer, then comes autumn, and the green hues transform into beautiful reds and yellows as it is a time of drying out and preparing for the cold of winter.
The season of autumn is related to the element of metal. Metal governs the mind, stability, and organization. It’s a time to look inward at our homes, family, work, and ourselves. It is a time to reflect on our lives. The emotion of autumn is grief and sadness, which makes it the perfect time to let go of any negative emotions, sadness, and loss that you have been holding on to.
The organs associated with autumn are the lungs, skin, and large intestine. The lungs and large intestine are in charge of breathing, digestion, and elimination. Symptoms associated with these organs are respiratory problems, such as asthma, shortness of breath, frequent colds, sinus infections, as well as constipation, and skin imbalances.
Incorporating these practices during autumn will support the lungs, skin, and large intestines:
Dry skin brushing promotes lymphatic drainage, softer skin, circulation, and detoxification. Try our Neka Loves Uma Oils brush for $27.
Instructions on how to dry brush: Get a dry brush made with natural fibers. Start at the feet by brushing the bottoms of the feet and then up the legs in long, smooth strokes not pressing too hard. Brush each section of skin about 10 times. It’s important to brush upward toward the heart area where the lymph system drains. Then move up the back of the legs over the butt, lower back to the nape of the neck. Then repeat the same process with the arms, starting with the palms of the hands and brushing up the arm toward the heart, brushing each section of skin about 10 times. Then brush the stomach in a circular clockwise motion 7-10 times. For the armpits put the brush in your left armpit with your right hand and rotate it counterclockwise seven times, then clockwise seven times. Repeat on your right armpit with your left hand. After you can let your skin breathe or massage it with clean body oil.
Colon cleansing rids the colon of toxins, promotes healthy bowel movements, and reduces bloating. Having regular bowel movements is critical for reducing our toxic load. Bowel movements are one of the most important steps in proper detoxification. Colon cleansing practices can include enemas, colonics, or herbal therapy. Even taking some extra magnesium at night can help induce a bowel movement if you are constipated. Healthy bowel movements should occur 1-3x a day.
Adding nourishing yin foods to your diet can promote body fluid, soothe the lungs and protect you from dryness. Incorporating more warm and lightly cooked foods is a great way to stay balanced during the change of seasons. Switch from cold salads straight from the fridge to room temperature salads, broths, and steamed vegetables such as winter squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and yams. Incorporating lots of yellow and red foods into your meals. Check our Fall seasonals that support living in harmony with nature. Try the Pomegranate Ginger, our Fall Kale Ginger Salad, and our Macro Bowl with sweet potatoes.
Seasonal foods to incorporate during the fall season:
Apple
Banana
Beets
Bell pepper
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Cinnamon
Cranberry
Figs
Garlic
Ginger
Grapes
Horseradish
Leeks
Pears
Persimmons
Plums
Pumpkin
Red cabbage
Rosemary
Sage
Spinach
Thyme
Whole grains
Wild rice
Winter squash
Yam
Preparing your immune system for the cold and flu season is another important aspect of autumn. Removing sugar from your diet, exercising regularly, getting a good night’s sleep, reducing stress with acupuncture, meditation, and bodywork, and making sure you get some morning and evening sunshine to regulate your sleep cycles are easy ways to stay balanced. Be sure to try all our immune support products, like Booster Shot, Turmeric Relieve Shot, Superfruit C Shot, and more.