Fall Wellness: Supporting the Lung & Large Intestine
A seasonal guide to nourishment, movement, light, and letting go
The Equinox is here. The days grow shorter and the leaves change, fall invites us to slow down, turn inward, and prepare for winter. In East Asian Medicine (EAM), Autumn is the transition from Yang to Yin. It is associated with the element Metal, the organs Lung and Large Intestine, environmental dryness and the emotions of grief and letting go.
The Lung & Large Intestine: Taking In and Letting Go
The Lung (Yin) is associated with Wei Qi, or protective energy, and is considered to be vulnerable to cold, wind, and dryness. The Large Intestine (Yang) governs elimination—a fitting reminder to release what we no longer need, just as trees release their leaves. Autumn dryness may show up as a dry cough or dry throat, dry skin, chapped lips, allergies, or constipation. Support yourself with adequate hydration and nourishing seasonal foods such as apples, pears, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and dark leafy greens.
Counteract the “Sunlight Deficit”
Support Vitamin D: With less sunlight exposure, ask your healthcare provider whether Vitamin D testing or supplementation is appropriate. Vitamin D-rich foods include salmon, fortified dairy products, and eggs.
Seek daylight: Shorter days can affect circadian rhythms and mood. Whenever possible, spend time outdoors during daylight hours, especially earlier in the day.
Move, Breathe & Practice Forest Bathing
Fall is an ideal season for outdoor movement. Walking or hiking provides exercise while natural daylight supports healthy sleep-wake rhythms. Consider adding “forest bathing” (Japanese shinrin-yoku) - a slow, mindful immersion in nature. Put away your phone, walk at an unhurried pace, notice the colors and textures around you, breathe deeply, and allow yourself to simply be present among the trees. Forest bathing does not require a strenuous hike or a particular destination. Even a quiet neighborhood green space or local wooded trail can provide an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with nature.
Recommended Forest Bathing sites: Hoyt Arboretum, Leach Botanical Garden, Tyron Creek State Park.
Embracing the Emotional Season
In EAM, Autumn is connected with grief, sadness, and nostalgia. Feeling more reflective or sentimental as the seasons change can be a natural part of this transition. Rather than resisting these feelings, allow space for reflection, gratitude, and letting go.
Simple Fall Health Habits
Protect your respiratory health: Stay current with recommended vaccinations and take sensible precautions when respiratory illnesses circulates.
Prioritize preventive care: Keep up with annual physicals, recommended screenings, visits with your Naturopath and self-care routines, i.e. acupuncture, massage and warm water soaks.
Hydrate & sleep: Continue drinking water and aim for approximately 7–8 hours of sleep each night.
Let go: Ask yourself what you are ready to release - physically, emotionally, or from your daily routine.
How can acupuncture help?
Resolve Qi and Blood stagnation: treat chronic pain, repetitive motion injuries and sports injuries.
Move Liver Qi: manage anxiety, depression and stress.
Strengthen Wei Qi: bolster the immune system to help avoid colds and sickness.
Seasonal balancing: help the body adjust to the nature of the season’s element, Metal.
A Season of Transition
The trees remind us that change is natural: they release their leaves and prepare for what comes next. This fall, protect what needs nurturing, nourish yourself well, seek out the light, spend time in nature, and make room for renewal by letting go of what you no longer need.
