Happy Fall!
Autumn, the season of the Lungs and the Metal element, also heralds the arrival of cold and flu season. The Lungs control our Wei (Protective) Qi, which acts like a forcefield around our bodies to keep illness and pathogens out.
How well we take care of ourselves in the weeks leading up to cold and flu season can greatly enhance (or weaken) our resistance to illness. Once we begin to fall ill, it can be too late! Wise use and nourishment of our inner resources can help us stay healthy, and diet is one of the foundations here. Even just cutting out white sugar, which reduces white blood cell activity by 30% for up to 5 hours after eating it, can do marvels.
The Taoist 5 Elements offer us a singular approach to building our Metal/Lungs/Immunity, based on interrelationsips between the elements and the seasons.
In 5 Element Theory, we work with the relationships of the elements in our environment and within ourselves. There is a 5 Element saying, “In order to nourish the Child, nourish the Mother.” Each element exists in a circle of generation, Water creates Wood, Wood creates Fire, Fire creates Earth, and Earth creates Metal. If Earth, the Mother of Metal, is well nourished and healthy, this in turn engenders healthy Metal (the Child). Since Earth is the Mother of Metal, feeding our Earth in order to support Lungs/Wei Qi/Metal is essential now.
The Lung (Metal) channel begins in the Stomach (Earth), so there is no better place to start! Squash and pumpkins are a wonderful, seasonal food that nourish the Earth and in turn the Lungs. Their yellow orange color, round shape, and sweet flavor tell us they are an Earth element food. The flavor of Earth is sweet,and eating balanced healthy sweet foods can help us- while eating empty unhealthy sweet like sugar depletes immunity, and unsettles the Spirit.
Below is a recipe for pumpkin soup, with a classic herbal immune combo- miso (which feeds beneficial bacteria and directly promotes immunity via the gut) ginger (warms and enhances bloodflow and kicks pathogens out from the body) and fresh green onions (which fortify and stimulate the immune system).
Nourishing Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
1/2 inch finely grated ginger
half pumpkin, peeled & chopped in small pieces
2 tablespoons miso paste
3-5 fresh green onions, finely chopped
1. Put the pumpkin in a pan and add 3 ½ cups of water. Bring to a boil and cook over low heat to soften- about 20 minutes.
2. Save the water, and once the pumpkin is cool enough, mash it, add the miso paste (stirring well to dissolve) fresh ginger, and green onions. Add a little extra water to make a soupy consistency.
3. Top with nori seaweed.
Enjoy!
Copyright 2023 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt, L.Ac, DAIM
The statements in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness