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The arrival of autumn brings many different colors to the land that nurtures us.
Yellowing leaves are playfully swept down by the autumn wind. The fine rain outside the window falls gently, creating a misty scene in Jiangnan. Someone walks in the long and lonely rain alley with an oil-paper umbrella, like a dream, melancholic and bewildered.
In the distance, the mountain tops are interspersed with yellow and red, the layers of trees are dyed in color. A maple forest, a dark green mountain, a river of autumn water, and a few scattered fires.
It seems like a scene from the human world, yet it surpasses the beauty of the human realm; such encounters are like a once-in-a-lifetime meeting.
That night, the rain evokes someone’s sorrow.
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The Autumn Equinox is an important solar term in the year, marking the true beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the sun reaches the longitude of 180 degrees, directly shining on the equator, thus dividing the 24 hours of the day and night equally into 12 hours each.“Autumn Equinox” is one of the earliest established solar terms by ancient people, just like “Spring Equinox”.
After the Autumn Equinox, the yin energy increasingly prevails, thunder ceases, swallows fly away, and the nights grow longer.In the Qing Dynasty, Zi Jingyi wrote in “Memories of the Autumn Equinox”: “The swallows will leave tomorrow, autumn is at this time.”
From high buildings, one can see the dusk approaching, and the rain patters on the leaves of the parasol trees.
After the Autumn Equinox, most regions of our country enter a cool autumn season, with rain beginning to fall incessantly, making the weather increasingly cold, as the saying goes, “A rain in autumn brings a chill; ten rains in autumn are good for wearing cotton.” During the Autumn Equinox, the temperature difference between morning and evening is significant,“On the night of White Dew and Autumn Equinox, one night cold leads to another.” It is essential to pay attention to weather changes and add clothing in a timely manner.
At this time, the northern regions, after being washed by autumn rain, are suitable for the growth of wheat. In North China, there is a farming proverb: “White Dew early, Cold Dew late, Autumn Equinox is the right time for wheat.” People sow winter wheat in the fields, waiting for the fertile soil and a rain to nourish it. Meanwhile, in the south, the rain is even more abundant, and people work in the waterlogged fields, singing songs,“The weather during the Autumn Equinox brings white clouds; everywhere is good for singing and planting rice.” This is a saying passed down in Jiangnan.
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The arrival of the Autumn Equinox signifies that we have truly entered autumn. The word “Equinox” reflects the main characteristic of this solar term, which is the balance of yin and yang. The “Su Wen · Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun” states:“During the Autumn Equinox, one must carefully observe the location of yin and yang, aiming for balance.”
This means that one should correspond with nature and pay attention to the balance of yin and yang in the body.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that achieving balance between yin and yang requires“to tonify the deficient and drain the excess, to warm the cold and cool the hot.” It is also necessary to adjust the body according to one’s specific condition to achieve balance.
Regulating the balance of yin and yang through mental will
As autumn brings less sunlight and the decay of all things, people’s feelings of sadness increase, hence the saying“Autumn wind and autumn rain bring sorrow.” Therefore, “mental nourishment” is very important during the Autumn Equinox. It is essential to cultivate an optimistic mood and maintain peace of mind.
On pleasant days, go out more to enjoy the beauty of nature and relieve autumn melancholy. For young people, the best exercise is climbing mountains; on clear autumn days, climbing high to see far, witnessing the mountains turn red and the layers of trees change color, brings joy and peace of mind. Climbing mountains not only uplifts the mood but also exercises the body, allowing both body and mind to relax, thus eliminating negative emotions.
Regulating the balance of yin and yang through daily living
In terms of daily routine, go to bed early and rise early, with the rooster’s crow; waking early helps to smooth the lung qi and maintain good energy throughout the day; the diet should be low in spicy and high in sour to nourish the lungs and support the liver. Spicy foods have a volatile and warming effect, and autumn is already the season of dryness, consuming too much spicy food can exacerbate the body’s dryness and lead to respiratory diseases. In contrast, sour foods have the effect of generating fluids and moistening dryness, helping to promote liver qi and consolidate lung qi.
Regulating the balance of yin and yang by alleviating autumn dryness
As the Autumn Equinox begins, symptoms of autumn dryness generally belong to cool dryness. Before the Autumn Equinox, there is residual heat from summer, hence it is often seen as warm dryness; after the Autumn Equinox, the autumn wind blows, causing drastic temperature changes and a rapid drop in temperature, leading to increased coolness and dryness.
Autumn dryness syndrome is a physiological response similar to a pathological state caused by the body’s weakness, where the ability to maintain warmth and dissipate heat does not adapt well to changes in weather and climate.
To prevent this syndrome, one must first strengthen moxibustion therapy, which can help prevent autumn dryness and nourish yin and moisten the lungs. Secondly, one should persist in exercising to enhance physical fitness and improve disease resistance, adapting to climate changes, such as the aforementioned mountain climbing.
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People can frequently use moxibustion on several commonly used health-preserving acupoints in autumn, which helps to activate meridians, soothe the liver, tonify qi, alleviate autumn dryness, relieve autumn fatigue, and stop autumn diarrhea. This allows the body to achieve a state of yin and yang balance, enjoying a leisurely and elegant autumn.
【Zusanli (ST36)】
Located on the anterior lateral side of the lower leg, 3 cun below the Dubi (ST35) point, at the lateral side of the anterior crest of the tibia.
It regulates the spleen and stomach, adjusts qi and blood, tonifies deficiency, and prevents disease. The “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Zhen” states: “Stagnation of blood in the chest, fullness in the chest and flanks, pain in the diaphragm that prevents standing for long, knee weakness and cold, this point is the main treatment.”
【Zhongwan (CV12)】
Located on the midline of the abdomen, 4 cun above the umbilicus.
It harmonizes the stomach and strengthens the spleen, transforms dampness and descends rebellious qi. The “Xun Jing Kao Xue Bian” states: “All diseases of the spleen and stomach can be treated.”
【Taibai (SP3)】
Located on the medial side of the first metatarsal bone, at the junction of the red and white flesh.
It promotes circulation and unblocks meridians, regulates the spleen and benefits the stomach. The “Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang” states: “Headache with cold and heat, sweating without aversion to cold; swelling of the knee and thigh, soreness and cramps.”
【Shenque (CV8)】
Located in the center of the abdomen, at the umbilicus.
This is the gate of life, which has the effect of returning yang and securing the escape, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. The “Shen Jiu Jing Lun” states: “For those who suffer from stroke, this point is the best. Luo Tian Yi says: For stroke medication, it can only support, to achieve full effect, moxibustion is best. It not only disperses wind evil and opens the blood vessels, but also has the true function of returning yang and benefiting qi, which cannot be fully described.”
【Dazhui (GV14)】
Located between the spinous processes of the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra, approximately level with the shoulders.
The Dazhui point is the “meeting of all yang,” which has the effect of releasing the exterior and promoting yang, tonifying deficiency, and calming the spirit. It is a key point for treating external diseases and reducing fever. The “Lei Jing Tu Yi” states: “Dazhui is the main point for five labors and seven injuries, fatigue, wind labor, food qi, lingering malaria, lung distension, fullness in the flanks, vomiting, and inability to turn the neck.”
Ai Ai Jun kindly reminds: A rain in autumn brings a chill; be sure to add clothing in time to prevent colds!
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