Autumn Prescription

Today as we hiked in the woods there was a feel in the air and a noticeable increase in the number of leaves changing colors or already falling. The change is happening and before long we’ll be thinking about hats, gloves and scarves. September is still summer, late summer but an excellent time to begin to shift gears for cooler months to come. There are some very nice practices which ready the body for a shift in temperature and lifestyle.
Sleeping

This is a good time to ground the body through resting more and setting a regular routine. Ideally retiring at 10 and awakening at 5 or 6 a.m. From 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. the liver is purifying while you’re sleeping, so it’s important to help the system rejuvenate and cleanse by giving yourself a routine sleeping pattern.
Eating

Every season is associated with one of natures 5 elements. In Autumn the metal element is at its peak, which governs the energy of our lung and large intestine health. Consider adding some of these foods to support your lungs and intestines as well as help ground and nourish your mind:
Pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, winter squash, spinach, parsley, parsnips, kale, turnip, carrots, onion, garlic, ginger, daikon, radish, pickles, adzuki beans, millet, barley, brown rice, fennel, kuzu (Japanese arrowroot – clears and tones lungs/colon), watercress, seaweeds (excellent to regenerate mucous membranes) ie kombu/arame/wakame.
Flaxseed oil (use in smoothies or add to foods), fenugreek spice.
Stewed apples and pears (peeled) with brown rice congee/porridge.
Mandarins
Marshmallow tea, raspberry leaf tea, green tea.

The Fall is the best time to enjoy local fresh apples. According to Ayurvedic medicine, apples help draw heat out of the body that accumulates over the summer. Heat can dry out and cause digestive distress in the winter season. The pectin in apples also helps to clean and heal digestive mucosa. A fun autumn Ayurvedic prescription is to eat as many apples as possible over a period of several weeks.
Drinking

It’s wise to look after your lungs in preparation for winter. The lungs are sensitive during Autumn, as the air quality changes to more cool and dry. Keep up your hydration with sufficient warm fluids like herbal teas, green tea, fresh ginger tea and liquorice tea. Dryness also affects our skin, so massage yourself after showering with good quality oils.
Yoga
Beneficial yoga asana includes pawanmuktasana ( wind relieving poses), all inverted poses where the head moves below the waist, all twists as this helps to regulate the intestines, slow sun salutation with breaths in each pose and extended shavasana (corpse pose) for proper grounding.