Autumn Renewal: Letting Go and Embracing Change with the Metal Element in Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—each correspond to different seasons and organ systems. Autumn is aligned with the Metal element, which governs the lungs (yin) and large intestine (yang).
The internal branch of the lungs moves downward to connect with the large intestine, reflecting Metal’s core virtue of letting go—through the lungs’ exhalation and the colon’s elimination.
Quick Overview:
- Organs: The lungs and large intestine regulate breathing, immunity, and elimination, impacting both physical and emotional well-being.
- Emotion: Grief is associated with the lungs; releasing grief supports lung health.
- Theme: Autumn symbolises release, reflection, and preparing for renewal—like trees shedding leaves, it’s time to let go of what no longer serves us.
- Lungs (3–5 am): Responsible for breathing and linked to grief. Regularly waking at this time may suggest unresolved emotions or an imbalance in lung energy according to TCM. Processing and releasing grief supports lung health.
- Large Intestine (5–7 am): Governs elimination and letting go. Waking during these hours may reflect a need to release what no longer serves you, physically or emotionally, supporting renewal.
When the Metal element, particularly the lungs, is out of balance, you may encounter respiratory conditions (coughing, asthma, chronic colds) and skin issues, since the lungs also influence skin health. The large intestine, responsible for the final stage of digestion, can manifest issues like IBS, constipation, or diarrhoea when unbalanced.
Emotional Signs of Metal Imbalance:
- Difficulty letting go of the past
- Persistent or unresolved grief
- Emotional detachment or coldness
- Over-perfectionism or a need for control
- Rigid routines or thought patterns
Tips for Balancing Metal:
- Let go: Reflect on the physical and mental burdens you carry. Release possessions, habits, or emotions that no longer serve you.
- Honour your grief: Acknowledge and process grief, understanding its role in personal growth and deeper relationships.
- Nourish your lungs: Include pungent, warming, white-coloured foods (such as pears and apples), along with warming spices like ginger, garlic, onions, mustard greens, and cinnamon, to support lung and large intestine health.
- Reduce your intake of dairy products, as they can promote mucus production. Similarly, avoid consuming too many sweet or fried foods, since they may also contribute to mucus buildup.
Explore how kinesiology can balance your lung and large intestine meridians by identifying the key muscles associated with each of these energy pathways in the body.