Why is Autumn the "Season to Catch Colds" & Staying Well

Sniffles, coughs, colds.. It has begun.

Every year like clockwork, sicknesses begin when the season really makes a shift toward Autumn.

Our bodies aren’t always able to smoothly transition alongside the seasonal changes depending on each person and what is going on in each person's body. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda both have beautiful ways of explaining this in their own verbiage.

If we were to simply look at the “why’s” behind our body being unable to smoothly shift with the seasonal change, however, they all seem to come down to one thing: disrupted flow.

Disrupted flow could be from any number of causes - physical or mental/emotional. It is disrupted flow in that the body’s systems may not be functioning at their optimal level any longer. It is disrupted flow in that there may be stagnant energy within the body. It is disrupted flow in that maybe the energy has been depleted and is exhausted.

P.S. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in the photo above is a phenomenal herb to support those dry lungs!

With Autumn being the season that is associated with the Lungs (and the Large Intestine) in Traditional Chinese Medicine, seeing/feeling symptoms arise within these organs, especially the lungs, during this seasonal shift simply makes sense. The lungs and large intestine are the organs most prone to imbalance at this time.

So how can we tend to our bodies so that we can better shift with the season (and stay well)?

There are truly so many ways but today I’m sharing some of my favorites.

And, in case you are wondering, all of the tips I shared a couple letters back are still very applicable. The more we enter into Autumn, the more we will benefit from shifting our lifestyles, diets, etc. with the season.

Lifestyle

1. Eating more warm, cooked foods - homemade soups/broth (add in some herbs!), seasonal veggies (sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, squash..), etc.

2. Sipping on warm water or tea throughout the day.

3. Stewed apples or pears for a treat or added to oatmeal in the morning with plenty of spices (cinnamon, fresh ginger, cardamom).

4. Processing and releasing what no longer serves - physically, emotionally.

5. Body Oiling (Abhyanga in Ayurveda) - oil your whole body with warm oil, gently massaging it in as you go. I love to practice this before each shower starting around this time of the year and through winter as a moisturizer, grounding practice, and self nourishment practice. Not to mention our skin is our largest organ!

Herbs

1. Plantain Salve: as strange as it sounds, I swab the inside of my nostrils with a little dab of plantain salve when I suspect I’ll be around lots of people. With the nose as a main pathway into the body, this really does work in helping prevent catching what isn’t mine.

2. Elderberry Tincture: I keep this on hand and will start taking it if I suspect I may be starting a cold/sickness. It will support my body in working through the sickness more efficiently if taken at regular intervals at the first sign of sickness.

3. Fire Cider: Packed with pungent herbs to help increase immunity and move out mucous - as well as support circulation and digestion. I enjoy adding fire cider into vinaigrettes, onto soups/stews, and straight off the spoon. It is another I often work with if I feel I may be starting a cold, best to catch it early!

4. Working with an Herbalist to help the body find balance once again ;)

I offer Plantain Salve, Elderberry Tincture, and Fire Cider for sale, if you would be interested in stocking your home apothecary. Simply reach out/respond! Both the Plantain and Elderberry are ready currently while the Fire Cider will be ready by about mid October. I would happily put you on the “first to know list” once this year's batch of Fire Cider is ready, just let me know!

Be well,

Kara