Autumn dryness and the Lungs

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (that includes all east Asian medical theory and practice) Autumn is the time of Lungs and Large Intestine as these two organs are strongly affected by extended dryness at the end of summer. Leaves on trees (that are deciduous) begin to turn colour and dry ready to drop, wheat has reached the end of it’s cycle ready to make hay for winter food for livestock, and we harvest fruits that are good for this particularly dry time. This why understanding and eating seasonally is not only better for you, but also cheaper and readily available!

It's no accident that the fruits and foods that are ripe and ready to eat are foods that are particularly good for both the lungs and large Intestine. These include loquats, juicy pears and Nashi pears, apples, rhubarb, plums, kiwi fruits, bananas, watermelon and avocados. But why these organs? It’s because they are most sensitive to the effects of dryness…they lungs are delicate sponges that detest being too dry (or too wet as those with weak lungs know well) dry coughs are very common in autumn, many who have asthma may find their symptoms that have been latent become triggered.

The large intestine is also very affected by the dryness and constipation can be exacerbated in autumn and the very foods that help are ripening now. Stewed plums are wonderful, as are stewed apple and rhubarb a treat and are so delicious! Kiwi fruits also moisten the bowels and contain a big hit of Vitamin C to prepare you for the winter. Pawpaw needs to be in your diet if you have sluggish bowels, also in season now, just a couple of spoons a day in the morning with brekky gives valuable digestive enzymes essential for protein digestion. If you have ‘fussy kids’ just mash a little Pawpaw into yoghurt and it really picks up the appetite then serve with stewed plums (add some brown sugar and cinnamon when stewing and only cook until tender) YUM!

Dry coughs at this time of year respond very well to pears, loquats and nashi’s as they are said to moisten the lungs and help clear sticky phlegm. Honey is also at its peak in Autumn so keep an eye out for local farmed honey that not only assist with dryness for bowels and the lungs but also contain local enzymes and pollen from local flowers boosting your immune systems resilience to coughs and allergies.

A fantastic easy to make cough syrup recipe is as follows. Keep this in your recipe book!

HOME COUGH SYRUP

2 cored pears skin on cut in quarters (any kind but nashi’s are great)

1 dried mandarin or tangerine peel (organic best, peel and sun dry for a few days or bake in a low oven until dry)

2 good slices of fresh ginger

1 tablespoon honey

1 whole lemon

3 cups water.

Put pear and peel in a small pot, bring to boil then simmer adding ginger. Reduce by half.

Add halved whole lemon squeezed in to put and honey. Mix well turn off and let cool. Can store in a jar for a month in the fridge and take as often as required. Or you can grab some NIM JOM (the worlds favourite natural cough syrup) to have on hand.

Stay well, eat fresh and local when you can.

Until next time Dr Angela Palmer

Kinglake Chinese Medicine