10/30/2025
“In autumn, all things in nature reach their completion. The grasses and trees bear fruit, the grain ripens, and the harvest is gathered. It is the season of balance and reflection — to conserve what is essential and release what is not.”
— Huangdi Neijing
In Classical Chinese Medicine and the Huangdi Neijing, fall is tied to the Metal element and the organs of the Lungs and Large Intestine. These systems are responsible for letting go on emotional, mental, and physical levels. This is a time of supporting boundaries, protection, immunity, respiration, elimination, detoxification and exhalation. Trees shed their leaves; their energy goes from the outer branches deeper into its trunk and root structure. This autumn season invites us to begin that process of returning to our roots later in the winter, but first its best to release what no longer serves us by finding ways to exhale fully, this could include releasing habits, beliefs, clutter, old emotions, or relationships that create stagnation. This also could mean releasing pent up areas of stagnation in the body via acupuncture, which is one of the main original indications for receiving acupuncture.
Nature beautifully mirrors the internal shifts we experience during the fall. Animals gather and conserve energy. Plants retreat into their roots. Days shorten, signaling the need to rest more and do less. Leaves fall and return to the soil, becoming nourishment for what will grow in the seasons to come. Our bodies naturally respond to these changes, often through shifts in mood, digestion, energy levels, skin health, and immune function.
Fall encourages us to slow down and realign with our inner rhythms and to nourish ourselves more intentionally. After the outward expansion of summer (Yang), fall begins the return inward (Yin). Restorative practices like meditation, gentle movement, nourishing foods, and acupuncture strengthen our Wei Qi (defensive energy) and prepare us for winter’s stillness. 🍂
