Well, I'm sorry to say it, but it's fall here in Portland. Summer seemed to fly by, and autumn is on it's way in. The colder air, falling leaves, and the abundance of colds seem to represent the element of Metal, which correlates to the Lungs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. Each season is connected to an element, and that element is connected to a specific organ in Chinese medicine. I know it's a quick reference to what takes years of studying to comprehend and use efficiently, but here is a chart for your reference.
|
|
WATER
|
WOOD
|
FIRE
|
EARTH
|
METAL
|
|
Season
|
Winter
|
Spring
|
Summer
|
Late
Summer
|
Autumn
|
|
Climatic
Qi
|
Cold
|
Wind
|
Heat
|
Damp
|
Dryness
|
|
Yang Organ
|
Bladder
|
Gallbladder
|
Small
Intestine
|
Stomach
|
Large
Intestine
|
|
Yin Organ
|
Kidney
|
Liver
|
Heart
|
Spleen
|
Lung
|
|
Sense
Organ
|
Ears
|
Eyes
|
Tongue
|
Mouth
|
Nose
|
|
Body
Tissue
|
Bone
|
Sinews
|
Blood
Vessel
|
Muscles
|
Skin
|
|
Emotion
|
Fear
|
Anger
|
Joy/Shock
|
Worry
|
Sadness
|
|
Color
|
Black
|
Green
|
Red
|
Yellow
|
White
|
|
Taste
|
Salty
|
Sour
|
Bitter
|
Sweet
|
Spicy
|
Chart borrowed from: http://www.chinesemedicinesampler.com/theory5elements.html
Finding ourselves in autumn, it truly does seem as though a lot of people tend to is get sick in one way or another. It's important to boost our immune systems, and TCM is a perfect way to avoid overusing antibiotics due to lung and sinus infections this year. There are a lot of great acupoints that boost the immune system, not to mention help with insomnia so we are able to get a good night's sleep to help our bodies heal.
There are also some really amazing Chinese herbal formulas that help stave off colds and sore throats. There are two patents medicines that I really like are Yin Qiao San and Gan Mao Ling. Taking Yin Qiao San at the first sign of a sore throat and stuffy head helps the cold not enter too deeply in the body, and Gan Mao Ling has some amazing anti-bacterial properties that help with sinus problems. There are a lot of formulas out there, so do some research or ask a practitioner which would be best for you. You can also buy these herbs at Portland stores such as FuBonn, Uwajimaya, and Wing Mings.
Colds and coughs aside, fall is such a beautiful time here in the City of Roses. Be sure to keep yourself and your family warm and healthy so you are able to enjoy it!
Technorati Tags: immunity, colds, TCM, TCM theory, immunity, chinese herbal medicine