Autumn Health Preservation Focuses on Lung Care
In traditional Chinese medicine, autumn is dominated by dryness, known as “autumn dryness.” Dry pathogenic factors damage body fluids, causing typical “dryness signs”: dry mouth, lips, nose, throat, dry tongue with little saliva, constipation, and dry or cracked skin. Autumn dryness divides into “warm dryness” and “cool dryness” around mid-autumn. Early autumn, after prolonged sunny weather, intense sun exposure indicates warm dryness. Late autumn, with cool winds and desolation, reflects cool dryness. Regardless of type, both feature dry skin and fluid deficiency. In the Five Elements, the lung belongs to metal and flourishes in autumn. Since the lung prefers clear, moist conditions and governs respiration connected to external air, it is linked externally to the skin and hair and internally to the large intestine. Therefore, dryness most easily injures the lung, causing coughing, dry cough without phlegm, dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, and constipation. Thus, autumn health preservation should follow the TCM principle of “nourishing yin in winter and autumn,” focusing on protecting yin and moistening dryness, with lung care as priority.
Bathing Benefits the Lungs: Traditional Chinese theory holds that “the lung and skin/hair are interior-exterior counterparts.” Regular bathing in autumn promotes circulation, enhancing blood and qi flow between the lung and skin/hair. Ideal bath water temperature is around 25°C. Avoid excessive rubbing during bathing; use immersion-based washing instead. Also avoid alkaline soaps or shower gels.
Dietary Therapy for Lung Tonification: Autumn diet should follow the basic principle of “nourishing yin and moistening the lungs.” The ancient nutritional text *Yinshan Zhengyao* states: “In autumn, dryness prevails; consume sesame to moisten dryness.” Thus, increase sesame intake to alleviate lung dryness. Additionally, autumn meals should “reduce pungent flavors and increase sour ones”—limit spicy foods and emphasize sour foods and fresh vegetables.
Porridge and Paste for Moistening Lungs: For those with obvious dryness symptoms, tonifying porridges and pastes can help moisten the lungs. For example, *Mai Men Dong Zhi* (take 15–30g of Ophiopogon japonicus, 100–200g of rice, and appropriate rock sugar, then boil). This porridge nourishes yin and moistens the lungs. Pear porridge: ideal for those with dry mouth and nose, dry cough without phlegm. *Bei Li Gao* (mix 10g of Fritillaria powder, 1000ml of pear juice, and 500g of donkey-hide gelatin, then steam and consume). It nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, treats chronic cough, hemoptysis, and epistaxis caused by autumn dryness.