Autumn Wellness in Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Art of Nourishing, Reflecting & Letting Go

By Rebekah Miller L.Ac

At Violet Wellness Spa in Fair Oaks, we are passionate about helping our patients feel their best by supporting the body’s natural ability to heal. In addition to acupuncture, we offer a variety of complementary wellness services, including herbal medicine, cupping, red light therapy, cosmetic acupuncture, guasha, and moxibustion. Our goal is not simply to address a symptom, but to understand the deeper patterns and imbalances that may be contributing to pain, illness, or discomfort. By taking a whole-person approach, we can support the body, mind, and emotions while encouraging long-term wellness and prevention.

This month, we are turning our attention to Autumn and the unique lessons this season offers us. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season has its own energy, and understanding these seasonal changes can give us helpful ways to care for ourselves throughout the year. Much of the information we share comes from the teachings of Dr. Tian Li in his book Staying Healthy with the Seasons, which is available through Tian Chao Acupuncture clinics.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn is considered to extend from approximately August through November. It is a time when the weather gradually begins to cool and the air becomes drier. Even when August days are still quite warm, we can often feel the change in the cooler mornings and evenings. Nature begins preparing for the coming winter, and we see this reflected everywhere around us. The trees begin to draw their energy inward, the leaves change color, and eventually the leaves fall to the ground. Autumn is a season of harvest—a time to gather what is valuable, conserve our energy, and release what we no longer need.

There is something beautiful about applying this same idea to our own lives. Autumn can be a wonderful time to pause and reflect on the experiences we have had during the year. What have we learned? What has nourished us? What do we want to carry forward? And what thoughts, habits, relationships, or emotional burdens might we be ready to release? In TCM, this process of gathering and letting go is closely connected to the lungs and large intestine, the organs associated with Autumn. The element of the season is Metal, and its associated color is white, reminding us of clouds, morning frost, and the clean, crisp feeling of an autumn day.

The lungs have an especially important relationship with Autumn because they are responsible for taking in the breath and helping to move qi throughout the body. Every breath gives us an opportunity to restore ourselves. When life becomes busy or stressful, our breathing often becomes shallow without us even realizing it. Taking the time to slow down and breathe deeply can be remarkably calming. It gives the body a chance to settle and can help us feel more grounded and restored. We sometimes describe this as filling our internal “energy tank.” When our energy is replenished, we may find that we are less easily overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life.

The lungs also have a natural relationship with moisture. In TCM, healthy lungs are thought of as soft and slightly moist, much like the dew that settles on the ground on a cool autumn morning. When the lungs become too dry, we may experience a dry cough, throat irritation, or difficulty taking a deep breath. When there is too much fluid or congestion, coughing and mucus can occur. Supporting the lungs during the dry Autumn months can therefore be especially important.

One simple food-based remedy we often share with patients is baked pear with a little honey, lemon, and cinnamon. Gently baking the pear creates a warm and soothing food that can help comfort a dry throat and provide gentle hydration. It is a lovely example of how small, nourishing choices can become part of our daily wellness routine. Of course, persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, or other concerning respiratory symptoms should always be evaluated by an appropriate medical professional.

Autumn also brings our attention to the emotional experience of grief. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, grief is associated with the lungs, while the large intestine is connected with the process of letting go. This does not mean that grief is something we should simply “get over.” Grief is a natural part of being human, and it can take many forms. We may grieve the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, a chapter of our lives, or even a version of ourselves that we have outgrown.

Sometimes emotions that have been quiet during the spring and summer can become more noticeable as we move into Autumn. The inward energy of the season can create a natural opportunity for reflection. We have noticed in our clinic that some patients experience stronger waves of grief during this seasonal transition. If this happens to you, remember that there is nothing wrong with you. You do not have to be frustrated with yourself or feel that you should already be “past” an emotion.

One simple mindfulness practice we teach is to gently place one hand over your heart and the other over your stomach when a wave of grief arises. Rather than trying to push the feeling away, take a few slow, comfortable breaths and remind yourself that you are here and willing to be present with what you are experiencing. Grief often comes in waves. The intensity can rise, peak, and then gradually soften. Learning that we can experience an emotional wave without being consumed by it can help us feel less afraid of our feelings. If grief becomes overwhelming or begins to interfere significantly with daily life, reaching out to a qualified counselor or mental-health professional can provide valuable support.

The large intestine offers us another important lesson for Autumn: the strength of letting go. Think about the trees around us. They do not hold tightly to every leaf simply because it was once part of them. They gather their energy, conserve their resources, and allow the leaves to fall when the time is right. There is wisdom in this natural process.

Letting go in our own lives does not mean that something was unimportant. Sometimes it means honoring what an experience taught us while deciding that we no longer need to carry all of its emotional weight. We can appreciate what has been valuable and still make room for something new.

A grounding meditation can be a helpful way to reconnect with ourselves when we feel emotionally scattered or depleted. Begin by sitting or standing comfortably and gently pressing your feet into the ground. Imagine roots extending from the bottoms of your feet deep into the earth. As you breathe slowly and comfortably, imagine drawing supportive energy upward through those roots and into your body. Feel yourself becoming more present, steady, and connected.

Once you feel grounded, you can think about the people, situations, or responsibilities that may have been taking more of your energy than you have available to give. With each inhale, imagine gathering your energy back to yourself. With each exhale, imagine allowing what belongs to others to return to them. You do not have to carry everything for everyone. Sometimes caring for yourself means recognizing what is yours to hold and what you can lovingly release.

Autumn gives us a beautiful reminder that wellness is not always about doing more. Sometimes it is about slowing down, breathing deeply, conserving our energy, and creating space. It is about gathering the experiences and relationships that nourish us while gently releasing the things that no longer serve us.

As the leaves begin to change and fall, we invite you to take a little time for yourself this season. Notice your breath. Spend time outside. Nourish your body with warm, comforting foods. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions arise without judgment. And perhaps most importantly, give yourself permission to let go.

As practitioners, we believe that healing is not always a straight line, and it does not require us to have everything figured out. Sometimes healing simply begins with being present, taking one breath at a time, and listening to what our body and heart are asking for. Autumn reminds us that there is a natural rhythm to life: we gather, we grow, we release, and we begin again.

This season, we encourage you to ask yourself: What is worth carrying forward, and what am I ready to let go? Sometimes the space we create by releasing what no longer serves us becomes the very space where healing, peace, and something new can begin.