Sept/Oct 2019 47
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1 KEEP THE LUNGS CLEAR. Healthy lungs
start with a clear nose. Use a neti pot or
sinus rinse daily once the dying leaves and
grasses start blowing. This rinses allergens
out of the sinus passages, preventing them
from reaching the lungs in the first place.
If you’re particularly sensitive to allergens,
rinse with the neti pot morning and night, or
immediately after spending time outdoors.2 PROTECT YOUR HANDS, NECK, AND
HEAD. It may be basic advice, but washing
your hands after each outdoor venture is the
perfect foil to germs. If you can’t reach a sink
for a full scrub, use hand sanitizer after a
trip outside.
When the weather takes a cold turn, wear
a hat and scarf outdoors. Covering the back of
the neck is particularly useful in helping your
body’s immune system stay strong, due to an
acupuncture point at the base of the neck,
called “wind gate.” This is the point where the
cold and wind most easily creep into the body.
If you catch a chill in the wind, use a blow
dryer on your neck for 30 to 60 seconds.3 EAT WARM FOODS AND DRINKS.
Some foods are particularly suited for
fall: cauliflower, daikon radish, chicken,
onion, garlic, leek, bone broth, cinnamon,
cardamom, pear, and rice are all great
options. Warm teas are also effective in
combating the incoming chill of fall. Nettle
tea specifically helps soothe the symptoms of
allergies. Fall is also a good time to break out
the chai tea, because the spices help warm
the body and ward off colds. However, if
you have a lot of mucus, avoid anything too
creamy or rich, such as milk.4 BREATHE. Deep breathing helps clear and
strengthen the lungs. Take deep breaths as
you’re driving or commuting; it’s an easy way
to boost your lungs and calm your nervous
system in a short time period. Breathe deeply
into your belly, inhaling through your nose,
and exhale fully through your mouth. If
you’re tired, make the exhale a little longer
than the inhale.5 HONOR GRIEF. In fall, trees and plants
are readying themselves for winter, changing
color, dropping leaves, and going dormant.
Humans, too, respond to the season and
many find themselves sad. While this may
be due to watching our natural world die,
or losing light and warmth, grief is part of
our emotional transition into fall and winter.
Rather than trying to just make the sadness
go away, or ignoring it, take some time to
honor your feelings. Grief can come up
around any kind of loss. Naming and allowing
your grief some space tends to help heal it.
Respect that nothing stays the same forever,
and your grief will not be here forever. Many
cultures leave offerings as part of the ritual of
loss and grieving. You can make up your own
version of this ritual by doing what resonates
for you and your situation.
Take 10 minutes to meditate, breathing
deeply and setting the stage with clear inten-
tion. Light a candle. Get a clean sheet of
paper and write down the gratitude you have
for the object of your grief. Remember and
feel your feelings. Thank the object of your
grief for all that it showed you, for all that
you learned and experienced together. Then
leave an offering that makes sense to you.
In some traditions or cultures, this means
putting objects or food of significance out.
The point is to recognize, express gratitude,
thank, and offer.
Understand that just
as nature transforms,
so do people, and
so will you.Maintaining Healthy Lungs
The season resonates with the energy of the lungs: They take in
air and exhale carbon monoxide, transforming oxygen into usable
energy. Ever notice how if you have allergies, or a cold, or a cough,
that your energy goes down? That happens because the lungs are
preoccupied with basic breathing. They’re fighting a virus, mucus,
or pollen, and don’t have as many resources for bringing oxygen into
the body.
By implementing some simple self-care habits into your daily
life, you can help the lungs and large intestine become more resilient
when they’re most vulnerable to health issues. Keep your lungs in
peak condition with these healthful practices.