Introduction: The words "skin," "stomach," and "lungs" are a tongue twister when read together. However, they are the three most vulnerable parts of the body in late autumn.
For skin hydration: Drink soup made with pear skin and flesh
Many people have a deep understanding of the discomfort of dryness in autumn and winter. "From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, autumn corresponds to the lungs. The lungs govern the skin and body hair, so skin dryness is related to lung dryness."
Pears are the best choice for moistening the lungs. Most people can eat them raw, but children or those with weak spleens and stomachs, or a deficient and cold constitution, should preferably eat them steamed. You can also peel the pear, cook the skin and flesh together in water, and then eat the pear flesh and drink the soup.
In addition, skin itching in the elderly is often due to a deficiency of qi and blood, leading to blood deficiency with wind-dryness, causing the skin to lose nourishment. Experts suggest that the elderly can appropriately choose foods that replenish qi and blood in their diet, such as red dates and goji berries.
White Fungus, Lily, and Snow Pear Soup
For spleen and stomach nourishment: Eat a few slices of vinegar-soaked ginger on an empty stomach
In late autumn, many people with poor gastrointestinal function often complain that acid reflux, bloating, and stomach pain occur more frequently. Director Zhu Qingjun explained that summer has abundant yang energy. Patients with deficiency syndromes can use this external yang to supplement their internal deficiency. However, as the weather turns cooler, the external yang is insufficient, making the symptoms of deficiency more pronounced, leading to recurrent conditions.
The best solution is to expel cold energy. Slice fresh ginger, soak it in vinegar in a small bottle, and eat two to three slices on an empty stomach every morning. This is especially effective for those who experience acid regurgitation, loose stools, or cold hands and feet, and the problem can be resolved in no time.
Ginger, Lemon, and Cola
For lung protection and yin preservation: Soak powdered dried yam in water to drink
TCM teaches that autumn belongs to the Metal element in the Five Elements, which corresponds to the lungs. Therefore, people with weak lung qi are more prone to lung-related diseases in autumn, such as colds, coughs, and asthma. In TCM, the lungs are associated with the Metal element, which corresponds to the color white. Therefore, one can eat more white-colored foods, especially yams. You can buy dried yam from a pharmacy, grind it into a powder, mix it with warm water to make a paste to drink, or steam it and eat it with sugar, or use it in congee and dishes.
In TCM, the spleen is associated with the Earth element, and Earth generates Metal. Therefore, the spleen is considered the "mother" of the lungs. When lung qi is deficient, one tonifies the "mother." Clinically, methods to tonify the spleen are often used to treat lung diseases. The herbs for tonifying the spleen are generally yellow, and the yam has a yellow skin and a white flesh, making it the best for treating lung diseases as it can tonify both the spleen and the lungs.
Furthermore, during this season, performing moxibustion on the Fengmen (BL12) and Feishu (BL13) acupoints on the back daily has the effect of warming and moving qi and blood, and balancing yin and yang. Especially when you first catch a cold, applying moxibustion to the Fengmen acupoint can help expel the pathogenic wind in one go.
Yam and Lotus Root Chicken Soup