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As fall began, I noticed a spike in skin disorders with my patients. Also, more people came in with sore throats and stuffed noses. For these symptoms, I treated the acupuncture meridians that corresponded with the lung and large intestine. The lung is especially related to the immune system. The lung and large intestine are considered paired organs in Chinese medicine; they have a working relationship. All major organs in the body are paired with one other- a yin and yang pairing. The lung is yin, the large intestine, yang.
Every season has specific information regarding our bodies and well-being. Each season has a corresponding element. Metal is the element of fall. The internal organs of fall are the lungs and large intestine. The emotional component of autumn is grief.
The lungs are described in ancient texts as "receivers of pure Qi energy from the heavens." This may be one reason there are so many forms of meditation that are based on the breath.
The large intestine is the garbage collector. Its job is to take out the trash, clean the waste out of the body.
Together, this pair is all about taking in new and releasing old.
Pathologies or illnesses that we see often in the fall season include:
- Skin disorders
- Sinitus
- Common cold
- Depression (sadness, and sometimes unresolved grief)
- Constipation
The fall season also has an emotional and spiritual component. Grief is the emotion of fall. Of course there are other emotions present, but grief may stand out in the fall. This may be because fall represents letting go of things. In nature, the summer is over, certain plants die and fold into the earth. The cycle of life includes release. The struggle of not wanting to let go is what brings grief upon us.
If someone has an imbalance in the metal element (the element of fall) they may carry a deep-seated grief that follows them wherever they go. This block of grief blocks them from moving on. Some view long-term grief as eventually cutting people off from the spark of life, or the connection to the divine. This thinking stems from the perception that lungs bring in of pure qi (air from the heavens); therefore, bringing in a little piece of heaven, or the divine, into the spirit.
During all seasons, we want to keep our lungs clear and breathing fresh air in deeply. We want our large intestine to filter out the waste and dispose of it efficiently. This keeps the balance.
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