Here in the Southern Hemisphere the airâs getting crisper, the leaves are changing colour, and our Lungs⊠well.. they need a little extra TLC right about now. Why?
Because in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn is âLung seasonâ, meaning these precious air-breathing, life-giving organs are at their most vulnerable. And if our Lungs are not healthy and strong, this is the time that weâll fall prey to those coughs and colds that keep us buried in a mountain of tissues.
Thatâs why today on I Love Me The Podcast weâll be looking at simple ways we can nourish and support our Lungs.
Simple, inspiring lessons in self-love. Hi lung-ful of love, itâs Tamra here.
OK, letâs talk about our gorgeous Lungs.
You may like to imagine them as two soft, spongy balloons sitting snugly either side of our heart, stretching from our collarbones down to our diaphragm.
Inside, theyâre like an upside down tree, with airways branching out into tiny grape-like clusters called alveoli – about 300 million of them!
If you flattened them all out, theyâd cover the size of a doubles tennis court!
Pretty amazing!
Every time we breathe in, our diaphragm pulls down, expands our Lungs and pulls in oxygen and life-force energy, often referred to as Qi.
When we breathe out, it relaxes, pushing out carbon dioxide and old stagnant Qi; clearing out the waste we donât need.
All of has happens to keep our blood rich with oxygen, fuelling our body and keeping us energised.
We can think of our Lungs as the ultimate gatekeepers, making sure every cell in our body gets the nourishment it needs to thriveâŠ
Inflating and deflating all day long, without a single complaint⊠until we forget to take care of them.
Then, we start to experience symptoms, letting us know we need to offer our Lungs some TLC.
Letâs have a look at what those symptoms might beâŠ
We know our Lungs are out of balance when we experience dry or cracked skin, because in Chinese Medicine, our skin is the tissue related to the Lungs.
We may have a dry cough, feel tired or fatigued, or have challenges breathing, because our Lungs are not bringing in enough nutrient-rich oxygen to enliven them.
People with weak Lungs catch colds and flus more easily, and may experience constipation, as the Lungs in Chinese Medicine are paired with the Large Intestine.
These two organ system – the Lungs and Large Intestine – are the Yin and Yang partners that work together to support us in being well.
Now, as I shared in last weekâs episode, our Lungs are where we hold onto sadness and grief.
So if we have unresolved emotion it can cause congestion in the Lungs.
This is an example of how our emotions impact our physical body, and vice versa.
So if a person is stuck in deep sadness or depression, if they feel shy, isolated, lonely or unable to let go, these are all signs that the Lungs need a little love.
On the flip-sideâŠ
Someone who has a healthy set of Lungs, is likely to be self-reflective and confident, holding firm boundariesâŠ
Theyâll generally find it easy to let go of the old and embrace the new.
Which is what our Lungs are doing all the time, taking in new oxygen and letting go of the carbon dioxide.
Physically, a person with optimal Lung health will enjoy easeful breathing, glowing supple skin, theyâll have a lot of energy and a vibrant immune system.
Of all the organs in the body, itâs believed that the Lungs are the most vulnerable to our external environment and pathogens.
And this is because weâre taking into our body – through the air we breathe – whatever is around us.
Given Autumn is generally dry, windy and getting colder, these are the climatic factors we need to protect against.
And a very simple way of protecting against the cold and wind, is to put on an extra layer of clothing.
Yes, dressing for the season, is my first tip in looking after your Lungs.
Depending on where you live, this will vary, but as a general guide, you want to protect your neck, as there are many meridians that run through the neck, and can be effected if theyâre open to the elements.
Meridians are like energy pathways that deliver Qi – or energy – to the different organs in the body, to support them in staying well.
So in Autumn, we want toâŠ
Wear a scarf.
Put on a jacket.
We want to create a wind breaker, so our body is not as exposed to the elements.
Maybe wear a hoodie or a beanie.
When you go outside, give your body an extra layer of protection against the harsh conditions, so your body doesnât have to work so hard, in maintaining health.
Next, support your body through the food you eat.
Weâve all heard of the idea of eating seasonally, well like I share in Episode 37:
And we can choose foods that support particular organs at certain times of year, so theyâre less susceptible to wear and tear.
What are the foods that we want to be eating more of in Autumn?
The top three are ginger, garlic and onions.
These foods are so good at boosting Lung health, and all you need to do is add them to your existing meals for a little extra flavour.
If you do fall sick, then have ginger, garlic and onions in bigger quantities.
I experienced really really bad bronchitis a few years back, and that really took its toll on my Lungs, and taught me a few lessons about looking after my Lungs in Autumn.
Hence why I created this episode for you!
Now⊠as soon as I feel a little something trying to invade my Lungs, I grate up some fresh ginger into a cup of boiling water, and drink my strong ginger drink a couple of times a day, and it moves that pathogen right on out of my system.
And thatâs because these pungent foods are super powerful in their ability to shift and move pathogens and phlegm, right on out of our body.
Other foods that help protect and nourish the Lungs are often white in colour, as the colour white is associated with the Lungs in Chinese Medicine.
And those foods are white nectarines, white peaches, cauliflower, leeks, parsnips, turnips, daikon radish, kohlrabi, mushrooms, white potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes and white beans.
Eating soups and warm, nourishing foods; your Lungs will love that, as these kinds of meals are easy to digest, supporting our Spleen health, which in turn, supports our Lung health.
So start to introduce some of those medicinal foods into your meals, as you enter into Autumn.
In Chinese Medicine we gather our energy – or Qi – via two means, what we eat, and the air we breathe.
So letâs talk about the breath.
Our Lungs are what draw in fresh oxygen or Qi to support our body in a myriad of ways.
So it makes sense that the quality of the air we breathe and the way we breathe, play a huge role in Lung health.
If we have restriction in the Lungs, if we have unhealthy breathing or postural patterns, then this will not only impact our Lung health, but all of the organs in the body.
Because they need fresh oxygen to function optimally.
The simple truth is:
We cannot survive without air.
The breath is what sustains us and allows us to stay alive.
Therefore our Lung health is key to not only our survival, but our quality of life.
For the better we breathe, and the more healthy the air that we breath, the more energised and alive we feel.
Our whole body relies on quality breath, so it can function as it was designed.
A simple way of moving our attention to our Lungs, is to drop our awareness onto our breath.
At random times throughout your day, take a few minutes to notice and feel your breath.
Wonder about all the ways that the breath is supporting you.
And how if you sit up tall, or change position, how that effects your breathing.
That simple act of being present with your breath, is such a powerful way of instigating healing in the body.
And if youâd like dedicated breathing practice – one that allows you to change your emotional state and physiology – Iâll share the Balancing Breath Practice with you in next weekâs episode.
Because developing a breath practice, is one of the easiest, but most profound ways of supporting our physical and mental health.
If you pay attention to the air in Autumn, youâll notice it feels dry.
When it gets really dry, the ground cracks, and the same can happen to our skin, which like I said, is the tissue associated with the Lungs.
When we inhale, the air first goes in through the nose – where our nose hairs act as a filter – then into the sinuses – itâs in the sinuses that the air is warmed and humidified – before it reaches the Lungs.
This is why breathing in through your nose – especially when out in the cold, dry wind, helps support the Lungs.
If the air is too dry, too damp, too cold or too hot, the Lungs can be injured.
Now because itâs dry in Autumn, we want to stay well hydrated.
It can be easy to stop drinking as much water when the weather starts to cool off, but our body needs that hydration to stay moist and supple.
Hydration also helps us poo more easily.
Like the Earth cracks when itâs starved of rainfall, so too does this happen inside our body – an obvious sign of internal dryness is constipation.
While an external example of dryness in the body is dry skin.
Cracked skin on our feet, is a super common sign that your Lungs need more love.
Which leads me onto the healing effects of:
Self-massage.
While the only real way to massage our Lungs is through the breath, we can use our hands to massage all over our body, with natural oils, that will help add moisture back into the skin.
In Episode 45, we go into depth on âhowâ to practise self-massage.
So you may like to have a listen to that one, for some extra tips.
Our Lung and Large Intestine meridians run through the arms, so offering them some loving touch can be super beneficial.
Another area we can massage to really supports our Lungs, is the Large Intestine.
Like I mentioned, the Lungs and Large Intestine work together as Yin and Yang partners to support our overall health.
To massage the Large Intestine, we simply massage our abdomen in a clockwise direction, up the right side, across under the rib cage, down the left side, and across the top of the pubic bone.
So weâre following the direction of the Large Intestine, helping it clear out waste from the body, which is such a great exercise to do if you get constipated.
I do however, recommend doing this abdominal massage with deep presence.
If you do, youâll start to notice emotional content coming upâŠ
Stuck or suppressed emotions – which can often be to do with grief, loss, letting go or boundaries – as these emotions are all related to the energy of our Lungs.
If you missed last weekâs episode I went into depth on how grief and sadness get stored in the Lungs, weakening them physically, and itâs in that episode that I offer insights and tools for clearing out those stuck emotions.
Because as we give voice to the deeply held emotions in the body, this frees up the Large Intestines, which in turn support the Lungs in staying nourished and supported.
If weâre holding onto sadness or grief, then Autumn is a beautiful time, to work through those emotions, so they donât injure the Lungs, and make you more prone to picking up an unwanted virus.
NextâŠ
Reduce stress.
Every organ in the body can benefit from us reducing stress, but in terms of Lung health, when we are stressed our body is more tense.
When we hold tension, this limits the movement of our diaphragm, which means we cannot take in as much oxygen as we truely need.
If youâre anxious, there will be a tendency to hold the breath, again limiting supply.
I have a really great podcast episode called Get rid of anxiety in 2-minutes flat.
Itâs number 31, if you want some guidance on how to work with anxiety.
But whatever you do, take stock of how you live life, and see where you can make changes and simplify, so your body can enjoy a more relaxed state, for when the body is in a state of relaxation, itâs free to do all its natural healing work.
One way to reduce stress, is to:
Move your body.
Exercise increases blood circulation to the abdomen.
And getting up a sweat makes your sweat glands work, which helps clear the skin and expel toxins.
Not to mention all the endorphins you get from a good physical workout!
Another way to reduce stress is to:
Meditate.
The Lungs are a Yin organ.
And with all Yin Organs, they like time for quiet, calm introspection.
As we move into Autumn, we see the leaves falling from the trees, letting go, creating space for the new.
This is what we want to do on a psychological level.
Because the Lungs are all about letting go.
So we want to create space in our life to explore what no longer serves us, and take steps to release those things.
Itâs about getting down to the essence of life, going inward, like sap retreating into the roots of plants as we head into winter.
In this wayâŠ
Developing a meditation practice can be such a soothing relief to the Lungs.
Even if you donât think you have time, this episode will show you a simple way to invite a mini meditation practice into your life.
Another way of going inside and processing, is through journalling.
In Autumn we want to spend time, maybe with a pen and paper, writing down all the things weâre ready to let go.
This can be physical possessions, ideas, beliefs, relationships and ways of being and interacting with the world.
Just as the trees must let go of their leaves, we too need to let go of what we accumulate, both physically and emotionally.
And this notion of letting go, brings us back to the Large Intestine, which is involved in the process of digestion and elimination.
If you get constipated, this is a sure sign that youâre holding onto things emotionally, that need to be let go of.
For the body mirrors our mental state.
As we clear out our mental clutter, so to is our body free to clear out our physical waste matter.
There you have it, a bunch of easy ways to support your Lung health this Autumn.
To recap, you want to:
Put on a protective layer of clothing when you head outside, eat foods that nourish the Lungs, breathe well or develop a breath practice, stay well hydrated, use massage to add moisture back into the skin or do the abdominal massage I mentioned, move your body in a way that feels good for you and gets up a sweat, and focus on reducing stress.
Maybe thatâs through meditation or journalling, or simply taking time to sit with yourself.
Just as the leaves on the trees change colour, an eventually drop in Autumn, our Lungs also go through a seasonal shift, making them extra sensitive during this time of year.
Thatâs why keeping them strong, nourished and happy, is keyâŠ
Because letâs be honest, no one enjoys sniffling their way through Autumn.
What I will say, is that prevention is always easier than healing an illness once itâs already manifested in the body.
So looking after ourselves, having that awareness of what our body needs as it moves through each season, is what will support you in staying well.
And if you do get sick, itâll help you recover quicker.
When weâre willing to look to the seasons, and allow the seasonal changes to guide us on how to care for our bodies, we come into greater health and harmony.
Thatâs why in future episodes Iâll share more about how to travel more vibrantly through the seasons of Winter, Spring, Summer and the Chinese Medicine season of Late Summer.
Until then, have a beautiful week.
If youâre loving what Iâm sharing, please do share it with your friends, or give it a quick little rating.
If youâre after more in-depth teachings on how to offer yourself the love and kindness you so very much deserve, take a peek at my online school gettingnaked.com.au where I teach people how to strip off the layers of conditioning so they can live well.
And if you do enrol in any of the programs, know that a percentage of profits go to planting trees, so together we can re-robe Mother Earth.