Supporting Your Metal

In Chinese medicine, Autumn is the season of the Metal element and Grief is the emotion of the Metal element. We all experience loss, separation, feeling of grief as we ‘let go’. Grief cleanses us of what is no longer needed in our lives.

There is more to this season than “letting go”, it is also a time to take in the pure. Think of waking up on a brisk fall day and filling your lungs with that clean, cool autumn air. Our lungs enable us to take in the pure, the new. They grant us the inspiration of a breath of fresh air. In classical Chinese medicine, the Lung is described as “the receiver of the pure Qi (Chi) from the Heavens.”

Just as metals give value to the earth (gold, silver, etc.), the Metal element within us gives our sense of self-worth. Each of us has a unique and priceless contribution to make to the world around us. When our Metal energy is imbalanced, we cannot sense our value, so it is imperative to include practices in our daily lives to support the energy of our lungs and the metal element that is within all of us. 

Below are 3 easy ways to support the Metal element in your body:

-A Morning Meditation Specific to Lung channel

As you wash your hands 

Focus especially on your thumbs

Sense or imagine Energy and blood 

Flowing freely through your thumbs

Balancing and strengthening your Lungs

Releasing any pent-up grief and sadness

Boosting Qi, blood and oxygen flow

Bringing a sense of freshness and vitality

To your day 

-Simple, Delicious Soup

Homemade egg drop soup: simply stir a beaten egg into a hot bowl of chicken stock or broth and sip slowly to reap the moisturizing benefits so as to combat the dryness that comes with Autumn season. 

-Acupressure Point

Point highlight: Lung 7

This time of year there are always all sorts of colds and viruses floating around now that we are cooped up indoors with the colder weather.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, before our more modern understanding, colds were thought to be the result of an "invasion of an external pathogen."  This pathogen then became trapped in our bodies and the ensuing battle between our bodies and the pathogen resulted in what we experienced as colds. 

One of the functions of Lung 7 is to "release the exterior", which essentially means to open the door and help to show the invading pathogen the way out of the body. We can interpret this as activating the immune system so that it can better fight off the cold. Lung 7 also "benefits the head and nape of the neck" as well as the lungs themselves. Since this is often where we experience many cold symptoms, Lung 7 is a useful point to help clear up that nasty head cold. 

So next time you are feeling a cold coming on, feel free to show Lung 7 a little love by pressing on this point with some pressure - even doing small, circular movements.