As autumn draws to a close, “Frost Descends” marks the transition from gathering to storing. Nature is beginning to turn inward, and we can follow its example. Take a little time to reflect on what you have achieved this year, appreciate what you have gathered, and gently let go of what you no longer need. As the days shorten, and the clocks change make space for quiet and allow yourself to slow down.
Food & Drink
Our focus now is warmth and nourishment. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spleen supports digestion, while the Lungs are particularly vulnerable to autumn’s cold, dry air. Warm soups, root vegetables, pumpkin, chestnuts and Chinese yam or sweet potato are excellent seasonal choices. Try a gently stewed pear to soothe a dry throat, or try ripe persimmons if it is available. White radish is a useful addition to richer soups and stews. Favour cooked foods and warm drinks over iced drinks and excessive raw foods.
Exercise
Keep moving with brisk walks, jogging over running, gentle stretching, Tai Chi or yoga. Aim to stay comfortably warm without becoming drenched in sweat. If exercising outdoors, change out of damp clothing promptly.
Rest
As the nights draw in, give yourself permission to rest a little more. A regular bedtime and sufficient sleep help you adapt to the changing season.
Lifestyle
Protect your warmth, particularly around your feet, neck and abdomen. As the first frosts arrive, it is time to put away the lighter layers and prepare for winter. A Haramaki or Kidney warmer is a wrap that is worn around the waist and can be really useful in keeping you comfortable.
Seasonal Advice
“Frost Descends” reminds us that preparation is better than rushing to catch up. Gather your strength, nourish yourself gently and make room for the quieter months ahead.
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, to make an appointment.
This is the point in autumn when the change in the season becomes much more noticeable. The air is colder, the mornings are darker, and the natural world begins to draw its energy inward.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is the transition from Warm Dryness to Cool Dryness. It is a time to look after our warmth, protect our Lung Qi, and make sure we continue to nourish the body’s fluids.
Nature gives us some lovely reminders of this change in the 5 pentads of this Solar Term. The geese complete their journey south, the sparrows disappear as Yang withdraws into Yin, and finally, the chrysanthemums bloom through the frost. Even as the season becomes colder, life continues to adapt.
Mind and Meditation
Autumn is traditionally associated with the Lungs and with grief. As the days shorten, it is easy to become a little more inward-looking. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes we need to slow down and allow ourselves to gather our thoughts.
But don’t let turning inward become isolation. A walk with a friend, a good conversation, or simply spending time with people who make you smile can bring warmth back into the Heart and help keep the spirit lifted.
Food and Drink
Hán Lù is a good time to move away from cold and raw foods and towards warm, cooked, and nourishing meals.
Think soups, stews, porridges, and gently cooked fruit. Pear is particularly useful at this time of year, while sesame, honey, and other naturally sweet foods can help provide nourishment and moisture. The traditional combination of sour and sweet is especially appropriate for autumn: sour flavours help us gather and retain, while sweet flavours nourish.
A little less chilli, raw salad, and iced drinks; a little more warmth, nourishment, and moisture.
Exercise
Keep moving, but don’t feel that every walk needs to be an expedition. Walking, hiking, and gentle outdoor exercise are wonderful ways to open the chest, encourage deeper breathing, and keep the body moving as the weather cools.
There is something particularly valuable about getting outside in autumn, this way we are moving with the season, rather than trying to outrun it.
Rest and Relaxation
The mornings are becoming colder, so give yourself a little time before rushing out of bed. A few gentle stretches while still warm under the covers can help you wake gradually and prepare the body for the cooler air.
In TCM, the Kidney channel begins at the Acupuncture point- Yongquan, “Bubbling Spring”, on the sole of the foot. Keeping the feet warm is therefore a wonderfully simple autumn practice. A warm “root ginger” foot soak before bed can be deeply relaxing and is a lovely way to finish the day.
Lifestyle
Hán Lù encourages us to gather rather than scatter our energy. Nature is slowing down, and perhaps we can allow ourselves to do the same. This doesn’t mean becoming inactive. It means choosing where our energy is best spent and giving ourselves enough warmth, food, rest, and connection to support the months ahead. There is no need to fight autumn.
As the world around us contracts, we can gather ourselves inward, keep warm,
stay connected, and prepare gently for winter.
Blog Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, to make an appointment.
Qiu Fēn, the Autumn Equinox, marks a moment of balance as Yin begins to grow and Yang gradually declines. In TCM, autumn is a time of Shōu – gathering and drawing inward.
Mind and Meditation
Use the shortening days as a natural cue to slow down, reduce stimulation and make space for reflection. Gentle breathing, meditation, quiet evenings and meaningful connection can help settle the mind and ease the tendency towards Autumn Sadness.
Autumn is about honouring the Moon. As the sun sets, dim your lights and put screens away, Step outside for a few minutes, let the evening air and fading light signal to your body: the active day is done. Taking time to sit quietly, watch the cool silver light, and slow the mind is a practical way to calm the Shen (Spirit) and reduce restless outward desires, support the body’s natural shift from spending energy to preserving it.
Food and Drink
As Autumn Dryness begins to increase, shift away from the cooling, dispersing foods of summer towards moistening and nourishing foods. Pears, apples, root vegetables, squashes, Sweet potato, walnuts, honey, soups and congee (Rice Porridge) are traditionally used to support Yin and body fluids. Reduce excessive chilli, garlic, raw foods, iced drinks and heavily fried foods. The traditional principle is “less pungent (spicy), more sour” This helps conserve rather than disperse energy.
Exercise
Choose moderate, steady movement rather than exhausting exercise. Walking, stretching – especially opening the chest to allow the lungs to open, mobility work, gentle Qi Gong and breathing exercises are particularly appropriate. Avoid excessive sweating and protect the joints, neck and chest as cooler weather arrives.
Rest and Relaxation
Begin moving towards earlier nights and calmer evenings. Dim lights, reduce screen time, take a warm Orange peel and Ginger root foot baths and practise gentle stretching or breathing before bed using Citrus Aromatherapy oils to defend against Autumn Sadness. Keep the bedroom comfortably warm and avoid becoming chilled.
Lifestyle
Qiu Fēn invites us to gather our resources and prepare for winter. Enjoy daylight, protect yourself from wind and cold, keep your feet warm and make time for family, friends and community. And protect the Gate of the Wind (acu-point – Da Zhui) by wearing a scarf.
Seasonal Treatment
In TCM, autumn is associated with the Lung and Metal element. Seasonal treatment focuses on supporting Lung Qi (chi / Energy), Yin and the body’s protective Qi, while helping the body adapt from summer’s outward energy towards winter’s inward stillness.
White Dew marks a decisive shift into autumn. Although afternoons may still feel warm, cooler nights and morning dews tell us that summer’s Yang Qi (Chi) is retreating inward and Yin Qi is growing stronger.
In TCM, this is the transition from the lingering Warm Dryness of summer to the Cool Dryness of Autumn, – which produces a combination of cold type symptoms (chills, no sweating, headache) and dryness symptoms (dry nose, dry throat, dry cough).
The focus now is on protecting the Lungs from dryness and supporting the Spleen and Stomach from the increasing cold.
Over the next fifteen days in nature, birds sensing the increasing cold before we do: the wild geese migrate south to protect their warmth; swallows retreat from the cooling skies; and other birds begin storing food for winter. In the same way, TCM encourages us to gradually withdraw our energy inward, protect our warmth, and nourish our bodies by building up our reserves in preparation for the colder months ahead.
Mind and Meditation
Autumn invites us to slow down and gather our energy. Spend a few quiet minutes each day breathing gently and noticing the seasonal change. Ask yourself: What do I need to gather, protect and bring back inside? And what do I need to let go of?
Food and Drink
Choose warm, nourishing, easy-to-digest meals: soups, porridges, pumpkin, yam and millet. Pear and mushroom can help provide gentle moisture. Longan is traditionally enjoyed at White Dew for its warming, nourishing qualities.
Reduce iced drinks, raw summer foods, very spicy foods and heavy meals. Consider moving from cooling Green tea to warming Oolong as the season changes.
Exercise
Keep moving, but adapt to cooler mornings and evenings. Walking, running, mobility work, Tai Chi and Qigong are ideal. Warm up properly and avoid becoming chilled after exercise.
Rest
Protect your sleep – in fact try and sleep 1 hour longer than you did during the Summer. Keep your neck, abdomen, lower back and feet comfortably warm. Don’t rush into winter clothing, but don’t treat September as midsummer either.
Lifestyle
The traditional message is simple: protect what summer left exposed. Use layers, avoid cold drafts by closing windows at night and allow your body to gradually adapt.
Seasonal Treatment Advice
This is a good time to support Lung Qi and Yin, strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, and help the body transition from outward summer activity towards autumn’s inward, conserving energy.
White Dew reminds us: warm the digestion, moisten the Lungs,
protect the body and begin gently gathering your energy for winter.
Blog Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, to make an appointment.
This is the time of the year to consider moving from Green tea towards Oolong.
Green tea is traditionally considered cooling (good to drink in the summer), while Red tea (known as black tea in the West) is warming.
OOLONG tea sits between the two and makes a lovely seasonal bridge, a good Oolong can be enjoyed warm throughout the day, reflect upon the transition as summer cool through autumn towards winter, and ask yourself what that means to you.
WHITE DEW – OOLONG:
The balanced autumn brew moistens the Lungs and protect the Spleen from cool dryness with a balanced TCM tea ritual for the White Dew solar term.
Moisten skin and respiratory tracts without chilling the digestive “Spleen engine”.
THE “NEUTRAL” PIVOT:
Oolong sits between cooling green and heating black tea, mirroring the seasonal shift.
TCM BENEFITS & USAGE:
Supports the body’s “gathering” energy, helping to converge Yang Qi inward. Calibrated to moisten Lungs and resolve phlegm, addressing the “Autumn Itch”. Drink daily during the late summer and Autumn.
THE BREW:
Quantity: 1 teaspoon
Serves: 1-2 cups
Water Temp: 100ºC (Boiling)
Thermal Nature: Neutral to Gently Warming
SAFETY/CONTRAINDICATIONS:
NOT for active caffeine sensitivity or severe seasonal anxiety.
AVOID drinking after 3:00 PM for restful Spirit (Shén).
Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, please make an appointment
Have you noticed that subtle crispness in the morning air? Chùshǔ, meaning “End of Heat”, marks summer’s gentle turning towards autumn. Although warm days may linger, nature is beginning to draw inward. It’s a time for us too, to slow down, settle, conserve energy and prepare for the season ahead.
Mind and Meditation
Chùshǔ or the “End of Heat” marks the shift from summer’s outward energy to autumn’s quieter, inward movement. Begin to settle, gather and let go. Slow your breathing, clear mental clutter and consider what you no longer need to carry into the colder months.
Food and Drink
Follow the principle of “gentle clearing, soft moistening”. Summer may have left Dampness, whilst autumn brings increasing dryness. Choose pears, apples, grapes, lotus root, lemon white foods and sour& sweet flavours like home made lemonade, these support body fluids and the Lungs. Duck and fresh fish provide nourishing protein without being overly heavy. Reduce iced drinks and very cold foods, particularly melons, and favour warm, gently cooked meals.
Exercise
Gradually reduce very strenuous, heavy sweat-producing exercise. Aim for gentle movement and light sweating. Walking, running at an easy pace, Qi Gong, Yoga, stretching and moderate strength work help maintain movement without exhausting your reserves.
Rest
Autumn asks us to conserve energy. Allow a little more sleep and recovery time where possible. Protect yourself from sudden chills, particularly around the abdomen and lower back.
Lifestyle
Practise “the art of settling”. Clear clutter, simplify commitments and finish what no longer needs carrying forward. Remember the “Autumn Tiger”: warm weather can return suddenly, so adapt gradually rather than rushing into autumn routines.
Seasonal Treatment Advice
“End of Heat” brings attention to the Lungs and Spleen. Support Spleen Qi and gently resolve lingering Dampness whilst nourishing Yin and Body Fluids to protect against autumn dryness. The key is balance: clear gently, nourish softly and begin gathering your energy inward for winter.
Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, please make an appointment
Da Shu, meaning Major Heat, is the hottest and most humid Solar Term of the year. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Yang energy reaches its annual peak, yet beneath the surface the body’s digestive fire can become weakened. Excessive heat, humidity and sweating place the greatest strain on the Heart and Spleen, leaving many people feeling tired, heavy, irritable and mentally drained.
Mind and Meditation
High temperatures can agitate the Heart, causing restlessness, poor sleep and irritability. Slow the pace of life where possible and make time for meditation, gentle breathing or quiet reflection. Even a short period of calm each day can help cool the mind and restore emotional balance.
Food and Drink
Choose light, freshly prepared meals that help clear Heat and reduce Dampness. Foods such as winter melon, tomatoes, watermelon, bitter greens and adzuki beans are particularly beneficial. Drink regularly throughout the day but avoid excessive iced drinks, which can weaken digestion. Room-temperature or lightly warm drinks are kinder to the Spleen than ice-cold beverages.
Exercise
Exercise only during the coolest parts of the day, such as early morning or evening. Walking, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and gentle swimming are ideal. Avoid strenuous activity in the midday sun, as excessive sweating depletes the body’s fluids and places additional stress on the Heart.
Rest
Listen to your body’s need for rest. A short midday break of 10–20 minutes helps replenish energy during the hottest weeks of the year. Aim for a regular sleep routine and avoid staying up late, allowing the body time to recover from the day’s heat.
Lifestyle
Keep your home comfortably cool without overusing air conditioning. Large temperature differences between outdoors and indoors can place unnecessary stress on the body. Maintain good ventilation and reduce indoor humidity where possible. Wear loose, breathable natural fabrics and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunshine.
Seasonal Advice
Da Shu reminds us that true cooling comes from balance rather than extremes. Instead of shocking the body with ice-cold drinks or excessive air conditioning, support your Heart and Spleen with gentle cooling foods, adequate rest and moderate activity. This is also the traditional season to strengthen the body’s Yang through treatments such as moxibustion during the San Fu period, helping prepare the body for the colder months ahead.
Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, please make an appointment
Xiao Shu, meaning Slight Heat, marks the beginning of the hottest and most humid period of the summer, known as the “Dog Days” or “San Fu Tian” lasting until the end of August. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this combination of Heat and Dampness can leave us feeling tired, heavy and restless while placing extra strain on the Heart and Spleen.
Mind and Meditation
The summer heat can make us feel irritable or unsettled. Take time each day for quiet reflection, meditation or slow breathing. Gentle activities that calm the mind, help keep the Heart balanced.
Food and Drink
Although iced drinks are tempting, they can weaken digestion (TCM spleen), choose warm or room temperature drinks instead and eat light, seasonal meals. Include foods that gently clear heat and dampness, such as lotus root, mung beans, (please ask for Recipes). Reduce greasy foods, excess chilli and large, heavy meals.
Green tea with mint, chrysanthemum and watermelon rind tea can help cool the body while remaining gentle on digestion. While a morning warming ginger tea can gently support the spleen.
Exercise
Exercise during the cooler parts of the day, preferably early morning or late evening. Gentle exercise such as walking, Tai Chi, Qi Gong or swimming are ideal. Avoid intense workouts that cause excessive sweating, as this can deplete the body’s energy and fluids, aim for a fluid movement and a gentle glow of sweat.
Rest
Aim to be asleep before 11pm and, if possible, enjoy a short rest around midday of about twenty minutes, this could be a quiet relaxation, helping restore energy during the hottest weeks of summer.
Lifestyle
Humidity is just as important as heat during Xiao Shu. Keep your home well ventilated, dry bedding thoroughly in the sunshine and avoid cold air blowing directly onto your abdomen. Sip water regularly throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts in one go.
Clothing
Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing made from natural fibres such as cotton or linen. Long breathable garments protects you from the sun while allowing sweat to evaporate slowly, helping you stay cooler.
Seasonal Advice
The key to Xiao Shu is balance. Although the weather is hot, your digestive system (TCM Spleen) benefits from warmth and gentle care. Eat lightly, rest when needed, move gently and avoid overcooling the body.
By following nature’s rhythm during this Solar Term it will help you maintain energy and wellbeing throughout the height of summer.
Treatment Advice
If you naturally have a Yang deficiency (Yang deficiency in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Characterised by insufficient warming energy, causing coldness, fatigue, sluggishness, pale complexion, weak circulation, and oedema.) Why not book in for – for a speciality treatment of – “treating winter conditions in the summer”
Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, please make an appointment.
This is a really busy, active and almost urgent time of the year, in nature right now we can see the hatching of insects such as dragonflies showing the shift in seasons.
The air is heating up and the humidity is rising. It is best to acclimatise to warmer weather, and cope without air conditioning and iced drinks. Dress lightly with a thought about protection from sun exposure.
Mind:
Prepare to close the chapter of Spring and open up into Summer, the aim is to prevent springs upward and outward momentum becoming a source of summer frustration by keeping the nervous system grounded.
Food:
Sour flavours are good this time of year, they are astringent and contracting, drawing the energy inwards, and tightening the pores, retaining vital body fluids that would be lost to heavy summer sweating.
Sour flavours includes lemon or lime water, grapefruits, apples, cherries, pomegranates, raspberries, and currents.
Bitter foods are often recommended for summer, but excess bitter can be too cooling for the digestive system this Solar Term, as they can dowse the digestive cooking fires, we look to using mild, earthy, sweet foods to support the digestion, for example grains like millet, and root vegetables yam, sweet potato and carrots.
Energies of this Solar Term:
The summer fire of the body can be squashed by a heavy lid of environmental humidity, and in some people this can lead to the heat being trapped in the chest, which agitates Mind or Shen, causing mental unrest, anxiety and insomnia.
The body senses humidity and heat and the warm yang energy rushes to the surface of the skin to manage sweat and regulate temperature, leaving the core organs especially the digestive system cold and vulnerable even as the sun warms the exterior.
This can lead to something called “Summer Wasting,” a heavy midday lethargy, with heavy limbs. That is easily countered by Acupuncture treatments and the following practices.
Exercise:
A regular, slow, yet meaningful upward stretch helps to clear the bodies internal water passages and allows stagnant dampness to move and give the body room to function.
Exercise can be moderately active during the cool of the day, but balanced with a rest, especially between midday and 1 pm. Look for signs of fatigue and avoid pushing beyond your limits.
Meditation:
Focus on mental clarity and the change of the season will helps prevent overwhelm.
Practice the “Jade Fluid Practice” – to help replenish fluids without the shock of cold water.
1 – Sit quietly for a few minutes.
2 – Begin to slowly and gently click teeth together 36 times.
3 – Swirl collected saliva three times around the mouth.
4 – Swallow in three intentional portions,
5 – Follow the movement of each swallow down into the stomach.
6 – Rest in the calm space for a few minutes before resuming your day.
This nourishes your natural yin and provides hydration at your bodies natural temperature.
By gently changing habits you can move smoothly and comfortable through even the stickiest days of the year.
Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—and is not a substitute for individual medical care or a one to one consultation and treatment.
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist you in this season, please make an appointment.
• Reduce damp-producing foods: sugar, dairy, excessive raw foods
• Morning sunlight exposure (very important for resetting yang)
• Gentle Spleen support points: ST36, SP6 (ask if appropriate for you, check with your Acupuncturist at your next appointment)
• Don’t oversleep — it actually worsens dampness in this pattern
This is essentially: the system waking up, but still has winter residue hanging around.
Open Gate
Boundaries becoming porous and letting in aggravating elements – leading to Allergy type symptoms. This is a beautiful but sometimes destabilising season.
What’s happening energetically:
The Liver’s natural function is to “spread and open”. In Clear and Bright, this becomes very active — almost like doors opening internally and externally and letting in the pollen.
It can be healthy (creative flow, emotional release), but if ungrounded it becomes chaotic.
• Emotional volatility but not necessarily anger — more “rawness”
• Strong urge to change life direction or clear everything out
How to help yourself:
• Grounding practices: slow walking, barefoot time on earth if possible
• Consistent routines (this is stabilising medicine in itself)
• Wind protection: scarf around neck, avoid strong wind exposure
• Going out for walks is good wear sunglasses and a face mask when outdoors or go out after the rain has settled the pollen.
• Acupuncture focus: LV3 + DU20 often used for centring and smoothing qi (ask if appropriate for you, check with your Acupuncturist at your next appointment)
• Emotional containment: avoid over-processing everything at once
• Keep meals regular — this anchors the Spleen and stabilises the “open system”
Think of this as: the doors are open — but you still need a frame so they don’t swing wildly.
Disclaimer
This content is offered to support awareness, not to “fix” you. It reflects a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and is for informational purposes only—it is not a substitute for individual medical care.
Dan Lloyd the Acupuncturist – dan@whatisthepoint.net – 07815814886
