When we are complaining about the hot humid summer weather, autumn is not far away. Lately, I’ve been told by some patients that they are suffering from indigestion, gassy stomach and diarrhoea, and some patients told me that their children keep coughing with phlegm.
The laws of nature are: “Sow and grow in spring, grow in summer, harvest in autumn, store in winter. And our human bodies should follow the laws of nature to prevent illness and preserve health. To go with it will bring health, to go against it will bring illness”.
Summer is the perfect season for everything to grow; it is a season full of Yang energy. The weather is hot and people usually go to bed late and get up early. With a lot of sweat and being switched back and forth between the air-conditioned environment and outside temperature, our bodies keep adjusting the Qi and blood to keep up with our energy consumption, therefore, people can get energy-deficient sometimes.
In autumn, the law of nature is like this: everything matures and calms down in this season, the Yin energy increases, temperature drops, and wind becomes stronger (atmospheric pressure goes up), may dry heat diminish. Nature uses these natural phenomenon to drive away the wet and humid weather. So people have a clear and crisp climates’ feeling in autumn.
How to preserve our health in autumn?
- Restrain the functioning of Qi in autumn.
Early to bed and early to rise, keep a peaceful mind.
- Avoid indigestion.
Indigestion is a common symptom in autumn, especially for children. Because of the wet and humid weather our gastrointestinal system can store some damp-heat, especially in those who are used to drinking icy water and having cold food. When the weather becomes cool in autumn, our bodies will automatically adjust to eliminate the dampness and heat inside, therefore symptoms like diarrhoea and gassy stomach might come along in autumn.
What can we do about it?
We have to pay attention to our diet from late summer to early autumn. Try to have lighter food, cut back on oily food and icy drinks. Please remember that bowel movement is necessary every day, so that our bodies can eliminate the waste in our alimentary canal to get rid of heat and dampness. For children, it’s important to keep their abdomen warm at night.
- Prevent cold and cough.
In hot summer, our bodies dissipate heat by keeping the pores open and sweating. When autumn comes, the temperature drops, usually it’s warm during the day and chilly at night and the air becomes drier. If no special attention is paid to keeping warm at night, then it’s easy to get a cold and cough.
So, in this season, we should make sure to keep warm if the weather suddenly change and have enough sleep at night, drink room-temperature or warm water, hot tea.
- Avoid depression
Summer goes and autumn comes, temperature fluctuates and then drops. Nature enters a phase where Yin energy thrives and Yang energy decreases. Some people may have lower mood sometimes. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Yin energy (chillness) increases, Yang energy (warmness) will decrease, during this time, depression can be triggered easily.
Therefore, to avoid depression and the recurrence of depression, we have to make sure our Qi and blood is strong. Pay attention to our clothing, food, sleep and lifestyle, restrain our Qi and be positive and optimistic. Preserving our health in autumn lays a good foundation for us in winter.
- Prevent arthritis
It is common for arthritis to occur during the end of summer and at the start of autumn. Cold, heat, wind and damp can be easily stored at the joints. Especially for people who are suffering from arthritis or people who have joint pain, recurrence could take place easily so it is important to conduct certain exercises for the joints. Cold, heat, wind and damp can be discharged of the joints with certain physical practices. Also do not stay or sleep in the draft. Keep your joints warm when the weather is getting colder. Take more rest when the joints are inflamed.
Tips:
- Clear the heat and dampness in our intestines and stomach.
- Eat more light food, vegetable and fruit. Try to have less fried food and meat.
- Kiwi fruit is rich in Vitamin C, which has good effect on relieving stomach and cleaning the bowels.
- Chinese radish: It has the effect of relieving gassy stomach, clearing bowels and food retention in stomach. You can have raw Chinese radish, boil it in the soup or stir-fry it.
- Tips for cold and cough
- Peppermint tea: It has the effects of detoxification and clearing heat in the lungs.
- Stay away from draught.
- Cut back on spicy food.
- Look after your emotions
Generally speaking, those people who are depressed because of the temperature drop; their constitution is characterized as weak in Yang energy. Yang energy has the effects of stimulating and promoting warmness. So, people who are weak in Yang energy should pay attention to keeping themselves warm, have warm drinks and food, try not to get over-excited and exhausted keep doing appropriate exercise, so that they can get enough energy to avoid and resist depression.
- Exercises for the joints
Exercise for the ten major joints every day. The ten joints are: Left and right shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles.
Prevention and wisdom are the two principles of Traditional Qi.
Written by Angela Tian Zhu
Third generation of Chinese Medicine Practitioner
Tai Ji and Qi Gong instructor.
Translated by Janet Zheng
© Copyright Angela Tian Zhu 2025
