According to the traditional Chinese medicine theory of health preservation, November marks the season for nourishing yin and lungs in Southern California. Dr. Huang Jinjun, a seasoned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Los Angeles, highlights the importance of adjusting diet based on the dry weather during this season and recommends some common healthy foods for nourishing the body.
Dr. Huang Jinjun, the inventor of the “Huang’s One Needle Therapy,” emphasizes that the lungs are associated with autumn in the “Huangdi Neijing.” The lungs are delicate organs vulnerable to the dry and windy autumn weather, making lung nourishment vital for autumn health.
Nourishing the lungs can be done through regulating daily routines, dietary therapy, herbal supplementation, acupuncture, and more. Traditional Chinese medicine advocates for the principle of “food as medicine,” with many everyday foods possessing natural healing properties that can support lung health during the autumn season. However, Dr. Huang notes that many people often make a common dietary mistake in the fall – consuming spicy foods like chili peppers.
She points out that Sichuan restaurants are popular, especially among young people who enjoy sweating while eating spicy food. Dr. Huang warns that despite the popularity of spicy foods, they should be avoided in autumn. According to Chinese medicine’s concept of the “nature and flavor return to meridians,” the heat-inducing property of chili peppers can lead to excessive sweating, resulting in the loss of bodily fluids needed to nourish the lungs during the dry autumn season.
Similarly depleting bodily fluids are coffee and alcohol. Dr. Huang explains that for individuals with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, coffee and alcohol can further deplete bodily fluids, exacerbating dryness. She stresses that moderation and consideration of individual health conditions are crucial when consuming these items.
Dr. Huang introduces a variety of seasonal foods beneficial for health, such as pomegranates, apples, citrus fruits, persimmons, water chestnuts, lotus root, jujubes, legumes, and astragalus, a food particularly suitable for people over 50 going through menopause.
Regarding persimmons, she mentions that there are several types available in Los Angeles – some are crispy, some are soft, and some can be frozen and enjoyed during winter, making them a favorite among young children. Persimmons have moisturizing and fluid replenishing effects, alleviating discomfort caused by insufficient bodily fluids, although individuals with diabetes should consume them in moderation.
Water chestnuts and lotus root also possess cooling and moisturizing effects. Lotus root, when juiced, is effective in soothing coughs and treating throat pain. It can be paired with peanuts in pork bone soup to nourish the kidneys and benefit the spleen and stomach. Water chestnuts also have excellent cooling properties and can be cooked for those with a cold stomach.
Jujubes are a must-eat food in autumn, known by the saying “three jujubes a day keeps aging away.” They help nourish qi, blood, and assist in the generation of bodily fluids. Jujubes can be eaten fresh, but Dr. Huang prefers jujubes that have been steamed three times in a pot for a sweeter and more nourishing effect. Additionally, jujubes boiled in porridge or infused in water have calming and blood-nourishing benefits.
Astragalus, with a slightly warm nature and sweet taste, acts on the spleen and lung meridians, providing effects such as replenishing qi, nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and eliminating dryness. Dr. Huang suggests various preparations with astragalus for individuals over 50, such as making soups, stews, or dishes with meat, emphasizing its long-term health benefits and potential beauty effects on facial skin, but cautions against its use for patients with colds, high blood pressure, inflammation, or during menstruation.
Other health-preserving foods in autumn include almonds, soybeans, black beans, red beans, and mung beans. Almonds, especially, have cough-suppressing properties – southern almonds are good for coughs, while northern almonds are beneficial for lung moisturization.
Dr. Huang emphasizes the importance of incorporating healthy eating habits and physical activity into daily life for overall well-being. She believes in the Chinese adage, “Doctors are like parents to their patients,” and aims to help more people benefit from traditional Chinese medicine for stronger health.