Healthy Tips for Autumn

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf becomes a flower."
 -Albert Camus

I love the change of seasons! Just when I'm ready for the heat of summer to end, autumn brings cooler and drier weather that I welcome each year.

Autumn is the end of the growing season, and all the plants and trees turn their energy inward, bringing their energy down to the root. The outward directed energy of summer slowly starts changing and becomes more inwardly directed.  As human beings, we are also affected by the natural changes that occur with the change of seasons. We can be healthier physically and emotionally by being aware and aligned with these natural changes that occur each year.

In Chinese medicine, autumn is ruled by the lungs, large intestine, and the skin. These are all organs of elimination. The organs of elimination let go of waste and what is not necessary for our bodies to thrive. As the trees let go of their leaves, it is a time for us to let go of what doesn't serve us. Letting go can bring feelings of melancholy or grief, and this is the associated emotion of the lungs. The lungs also bring in fresh new air and the associated emotion of inspiration.  As we let go this season, we can be inspired to bring something new into our lives.

Metal is the corresponding element of autumn, and it is associated with discernment and analysis. The natural energies around us support discerning what is working in our lives and also what isn't serving us; what is good and not so good for our bodies, minds, and spirits. Actually, it is a great time of year for an election, as it allows for greater discernment of what kind of leader we want to lead us into our future.

Here are some healthful tips for autumn:

1- Eat these foods that are in season (assuming you are not sensitive to them): Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, celery root, rutabaga, beets, daikon radish, fennel, parsnips, parsley, bok choy, chard, kohlrabi, horseradish, pumpkin, sweet potato, yams, mustard greens, fennel, apples, pears, raspberries, garlic and onions.

2- Use more of these herbs and spices: Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, mint, eucalyptus, and star anise.

3- Do less raw foods and more cooked foods: A good rule is to do 75 percent of your food cooked during autumn. Trade in the salads for soups, stews and broths. Raw foods are very cooling to the body, so better to choose warming foods.

4- Cover your neck with a scarf: There are two points on the back of your neck that should be covered and kept protected from wind or sudden cold. One is the prominent bone at the base of your neck, and the other is at the base of your skull. Keep these points protected with a scarf, especially when you are leaving the gym and are hot and sweaty.

5- A good time to do gentle weight training: It's the best season for your body to do light and gentle weight training.

6- These yoga poses are great to do during autumn: Half lord of the fishes pose, revolved head to knee pose, camel pose, bow pose, warrior one and warrior two poses. These poses focus on the lungs and large intestine.

7- Firmly rub these points often: The Lung One point, called "letting go," is located on the upper outer portion of the chest, three finger widths below the collar bone. You can use a firm circular pressure and massage for one minute bilaterally. Lung seven located by making a thumbs-up sign, which will reveal an indentation by your wrist, then go two finger widths up your arm to find these points.

8- Drink water like it is summer: Many people stop drinking lots of water because it is not as hot. Keep up the water intake. Half of your body weight in ounces of water is a great rule of thumb.

9- Use the healing sound for the lungs: "HSSSSSS" - It sounds like a hissing or a snake sound. You can firmly glide one hand starting from the opposite hand's thumb to the inside of that arm and across your chest to the Lung One point that is on the same side as the gliding hand … all the while making this healing "hssss" sound. Do this a couple of times on each side of the body, timing the movement with a complete outward breath.

10- Be aware that your nutritional supplement needs may change:  Our individual genetics, toxicity, and seasonal requirements determine what we require at any time. I can check to see what your body requires to keep you well heading into the winter.

11- Get body work that can help to support you during this season: Chiropractic and acupuncture can be geared to support the body and what it requires during this season. As a chiropractor, I focus on adjustments and body work specific to the lungs, large intestine and overall wellness this time of year.  This can help your body's defense against seasonal ailments such as colds and flu.

Dr. Louis Granirer is a leading Holistic Chiropractor in NY and Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner specializing in holistic remedies for good health maintenance and prevention of disease. Visit his website at HolisticChiropracticCenter.com to learn more.