Autumn and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

According to TCM, living in alignment with the seasons is an essential part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. To do that, we need to understand the subtle shifts of each season so that we can adapt our daily habits and rituals to stay in balance. 

In Chinese medicine, each season is linked with an element that represents the energy, organ systems, and emotions tied to that season. In autumn, we are in the metal season.

Like metal itself, the metal season is cool, dry, and orderly. It encourages us to move inward and focus on what we deeply need. If you’re feeling a little more introverted, nostalgic, or melancholy, that’s normal! Those feelings are linked to autumn metal energy. Instead of fighting it, embrace it and move with this seasonal energy.

The organs of autumn are the Lungs and Large Intestine. These organs help us take in the outer world (through the breath - lungs) and release what no longer serves us (through waste elimination - large intestine). During autumn, the Lungs and Large Intestine need extra care, as they can become more stressed than usual. As a result, you might experience health issues like:

• Asthma

• Allergies

• Seasonal illness - colds, flu

• Sore throat

• Cough

• Nasal congestion

• Dry skin

• Increases in skin conditions like hives, eczema, psoriasis

• Breakouts 

• Constipation

• IBS

• Melancholy and depression

• Fatigue

5 Self-Care Habits for Skincare (and overall health) Support in Autumn

I like to categorize skincare into 2 parts:

• FORM - how things look - external

• FUNCTION - how things work - internal

  We are working on the outside, while simultaneously working from the inside. Use these tips to help you make the transition into fall as smooth as possible (and feel healthier and more vibrant come winter!).
  

FORM

1. Exfoliate, moisturize, repeat.

In most places, autumn is dry. Cooler temperatures, wind, and dry air leave skin feeling rough, dull, and even irritated. To keep your skin happy all autumn long, focus your skincare routine on hydration.

The first step in hydration is actually exfoliation. Exfoliate dead cells away to reveal brighter, glowing skin beneath the surface and a smoother, supple surface for moisturizer to then work on most efficaciously. I’m currently into glycolic acids as a busy mom, I need my exfoliants to be easy, fast and fuss-free (Options: Splurge: True Botanicals Facialist Peel, Steal: Versed Doctor’s Visit ) For my sensitive skin friends, lactid acids may be a better option - try all natural yogurt like Marie Veronique recommends (seriously!)

After exfoliating, replenish your skin with a nourishing serum like YINA’s Nourish Botanical Serum with Rhodiola + Bakuchiol. This serum is powered by phytonutrient-rich adaptogens and botanicals that deeply nourish and hydrate the skin and protect it from autumn’s driest weather. These are products that I personally use and love!

Of course, you can also consider cosmetic facial acupuncture for deeper moisturizing - facial acu increases blood flow to the face to support healthy skin and increased collagen production.

2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

While we’re talking about hydrating the skin, let’s not forget to stay hydrated within, too! Dehydration will quickly leave you with lackluster skin - not to mention breakouts, inflammation, brain fog, and a host of other health issues.

Stay hydrated all autumn long with plenty of fresh water and nourishing herbal teas like rooibos, rosehip, chamomile and butterfly pea flower. The anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic qualities of these herbs will support naturally glowing, hydrated skin and internal organs.

If you’re a coffee-lover (that’s me!), consider this: coffee is fairly dehydrating and acidic, which causes trouble in the dry fall seasons. While a coffee here or there probably won’t wreck your skin, regularly drinking cup after cup will leave you with dry, congested skin (plus increased stress, anxiety, jitters, and digestive issues). Limit coffee as much as possible.

Making the switch to a morning half-caff or matcha may be just as energizing, with none of the downsides of coffee.

Now is the time to take a break from cold salads and raw foods. Switch to warm, cozy soups - load up on collagen-rich bone broths and stewed vegetables. Cooking basically pre-digests food, which is wonderful for gut health. Your belly loves warm foods and drinks, so keep your digestive fire going all through autumn and winter.

FUNCTION

3. Practice breathing exercises.

In Chinese medicine, the Lung system is closely connected to the skin. Unfortunately, autumn tends to be hard on the Lungs as they combat dryness, allergens, and seasonal illnesses. And when the Lungs are stressed, the skin gets stressed, too.

Soothe your skin by supporting your Lungs. One of the easiest ways to do that is simple daily breathing exercises, like alternate nostril breathing or 4-7-8 breathing. Add your favorite essential oil for a deeper experience.

4. Clear blockages and breakouts with a belly massage. 

Gut trouble almost always leads to skin trouble. Use autumn to address an often forgotten part of a holistic skincare routine: healthy elimination.

Because the fall season pertains to the Large Intestine, now is a great time to give your gut a reset. Fill up on high-fiber, plant-based foods and consider taking a probiotic. Then, practice a daily belly massage (like this one) to encourage healthy circulation and regular elimination.

If you regularly struggle with breakouts, redness, or dry patches, your gut could be crying out for help. Bloating, constipation or irregular bowel movements are signs that your Large Intestine system is imbalanced. Without regular elimination, toxins and waste build up in your system and try to escape through the skin.

FORM & FUNCTION:

5. Release the old, make way for the new

Autumn is the season of letting go. Just as trees lose their leaves to reserve energy for the winter, we too can let go of anything that’s weighing us down or robbing us of the focus and energy we need to thrive.

Out go expired beauty products, clothes that no longer fit yet you hold on to, commitments you no longer enjoy, self-judgment, and even toxic relationships.

If you’re ready to release but feeling stuck, try a small decluttering session. Sorting through a messy drawer, or a forgotten bookshelf and clearing it out is a great way to tap into your metal energy. Decluttering itself has stress-relieving effects and starting small will give you the momentum you need to let go of more substantial things.

Embrace the Beauty of Autumn

There is so much to enjoy about Autumn - the crisp air, the colors, the coziness! But what makes autumn most enjoyable is feeling happy and healthy in your own skin. To do that, you need a self-care routine that fits your lifestyle, balances fall’s dryness, and helps you feel at peace. 

I’m here to help. Book a treatment at Haven Acu so we can start the conversation.