Autumn has arrived unnoticed. As the season begins, while enjoying the crisp, clear weather, remember it also brings the predominant seasonal energy—dryness. How does autumn dryness affect the body, and how should we respond?
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that dryness readily damages the lungs.Thus, "lung dryness" is the most common diagnosis patients hear during autumn medical visits. In dry climates, the body may develop various "dryness syndromes" characterized by insufficient fluids. For instance, lung damage often leads to coughing. Autumn coughs are typically dry with little or no phlegm, or with sticky phlegm that is difficult to expel—known as "dry cough."The nose, being the orifice of the lungs, experiences dryness or nosebleeds more frequently after the start of autumn—the former being nearly universal. The throat and pharynx, serving as the gateway and passageway for lung qi respectively, often suffer discomfort like dry throat, parched mouth, or hoarseness when attacked by autumn dryness. The lungs also externally connect with the skin and hair; thus, autumn-related dryness is linked to skin roughness, cracking, and even lackluster hair.Moreover, the lungs maintain a close connection with the large intestine—traditional Chinese medicine describes them as "mutually interdependent." When lung dryness descends to the large intestine, intestinal dryness manifests as constipation...
Although autumn dryness affects the body in myriad ways, numerous preventive and therapeutic methods exist. As the saying goes: "A wooden boat cannot sail without water; in treating dryness, moisturizing is paramount."In autumn, dietary choices should focus on nourishing bodily fluids. Moderate consumption of plain water, light tea, soy milk, and similar beverages is advisable. Select foods that moisturize the lungs, clear dryness, nourish yin, and generate fluids, such as autumn pears, sugarcane, water chestnuts, persimmons, lily bulbs, and white fungus. Minimize intake of spicy, fried foods, strong alcoholic beverages, and dry, puffed snacks, as these tend to generate dryness and heat within the body.
For localized "dryness syndromes" in different body parts, appropriate treatments should be applied. For nasal dryness, especially in those with atrophic rhinitis or deviated nasal septum, applying menthol nasal drops can provide cooling and moisturizing effects. For throat dryness, consuming Xuanmai Ganju Granules yields good results. Persimmon frost, effective for clearing heat and calming coughs, is particularly suitable for "dry coughs."Dry skin should be moisturized and protected with pearl cream. For intestinal dryness, honey or sesame seeds with laxative properties can be consumed to relieve constipation. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine offers a renowned formula called "Zengye Decoction" (15g Scrophularia root, 12g each of Ophiopogon tuber and Rehmannia root), which moisturizes the entire body. It can be decocted and drunk as tea throughout autumn. In daily life, preventing autumn dryness from harming the body also requires regulating air humidity and maintaining moisture in the environment.Place air-purifying, moisture-retaining green plants in courtyards and indoors. Before bed, position a basin of cold water in the bedroom to mitigate the fierce, urgent nature of dryness. Simultaneously, it must be noted that the crisp, clear autumn weather presents an ideal season for physical fitness. When autumn dryness is still mild around the start of autumn, one should engage in outdoor exercise early, practicing breathing techniques to enhance lung function, thereby making it harder for dryness pathogens to invade.