After the Great Heat, the solar term arrives for the Start of Autumn. Autumn is a season of decline and stillness, heralding the coming of fall. The almanac states: "When the Dipper points to the southwest, it is the Start of Autumn. The yin energy emerges from the earth and begins to wither all things. According to the meaning of 'autumn', it signifies the ripening of grain." From this day on, the sky is high and the air is crisp, the moon is bright and the wind is clear, and the temperature gradually decreases from the heat. There is a saying: "Cool winds arrive on the day of the Start of Autumn," meaning that the Start of Autumn marks the beginning of the cool season.
I. Mental and Emotional Regulation
One should aim for a tranquil mind, peaceful spirit, and a cheerful mood. It is essential to avoid sorrow and melancholy. Even when encountering upsetting events, one should actively find ways to dispel these feelings to avoid the oppressive atmosphere of autumn. At the same time, one should also conserve one's vital energy to adapt to the balanced and peaceful energy of autumn.
II. Daily Routine Regulation
During the Start of Autumn, the weather is already high and crisp. One should begin to "go to bed early and rise early, rising with the chickens." Going to bed early aligns with the收敛 of yang energy, while rising early allows the lung qi to expand and prevents excessive收敛. The Start of Autumn is the beginning of autumn, and the summer heat has not yet completely dissipated. Although cool winds may arrive from time to time, the weather is unpredictable. Even in the same region, one can experience "four seasons in a single day, and different skies ten miles apart." Therefore, clothing should not be too thick, as this can impair the body's ability to adapt to the cooling climate and make one more susceptible to catching colds.
III. Dietary Regulation
The *Suwen·Zangqi Fashilun* says: "The lungs govern autumn... the lungs are about收敛, so one should urgently eat sour foods to assist this收敛, use sour foods to nourish it, and pungent foods to purge it." This shows that sour flavors收敛 lung qi, while pungent flavors disperse and purge it. Autumn is a time for收敛, not dispersion, so one should try to eat less of pungent foods like scallions and ginger, and appropriately consume more sour fruits and vegetables. In autumn, the lung element is dominant. If the lung element is too strong, it can overact on the liver element. Therefore, the *Jin Gui Yao Lue* also says, "Do not eat lungs in autumn." Autumn is dominated by dry qi, which can easily damage body fluids. Therefore, the diet should be focused on nourishing yin and moistening the lungs. The *Yin Dian Zheng Yao* says: "The qi of autumn is dry; one should eat sesame to moisten this dryness and avoid cold drinks." Some also suggest eating raw rehmannia porridge in autumn to nourish yin and moisten dryness. In summary, during the autumn season, one can appropriately eat soft and moistening foods like sesame seeds, glutinous rice, japonica rice, honey, loquats, pineapples, and dairy products to benefit the stomach and generate fluids.
IV. Exercise Regulation
Entering autumn is an excellent time for various forms of physical exercise. Everyone can choose different exercise routines according to their specific circumstances. Here, I will introduce an autumn health-preserving exercise: the "Autumn Breathing and Swallowing Method" from the *Dao Zang·Yu Zhu Jing*. The specific method is: After washing up in the morning, sit quietly indoors with eyes closed. First, tap your teeth 36 times. Then, use your tongue to stir inside your mouth. When your mouth is full of saliva, rinse it a few times, swallow it in three portions, and guide the intention to the Dantian (a point about three inches below the navel). Pause for a moment, then slowly perform abdominal deep breathing. While inhaling, the tongue touches the upper palate, inhale through the nose, and guide the intention to the Dantian. Then, slowly exhale the air through the mouth. While exhaling, silently visualize the character "哂" (shěn) but do not make a sound. Repeat this 30 times. Practicing this exercise persistently in autumn has the effect of protecting the lungs and strengthening the body.