Large Intestine Meridian – the Energy of Fall
The season of Fall reminds us to let go of that which is no longer needed. This is the metal season in Chinese Medicine; the time when Lung and Large Intestine Meridians are most active. I’ve spoken about Lung Meridian the last few weeks and would like to focus on Large Intestine Meridian today.
The Large Intestine (LI) transports waste to be eliminated. It is closely aligned with the lungs and skin, which are also organs of detoxification. The LI “absorbs liquid and releases anything that is no longer needed in the way of food, toxins, emotions, thereby cleansing the body, mind and spirit.”
Since the LI is closely related to the lung meridian; it is also affected by the emotions of grief, sadness and worry. When LI energy is balanced, we can express grief, let go of thoughts and emotions which no longer serve us and move easily into the season of autumn.
Imbalance in LI energy can bring mindsets of stubbornness, rigidity, confusion, compulsiveness, regret and hanging on. Physical signs of LI imbalance include constipation, age spots, slow metabolism, diarrhea, colitis, diverticulitis, bloating and issues of control to name a few.
To nurture LI energy during this season:
- Drink plenty of water
- Chew food completely
- Exercise such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and yoga are very helpful
- Deep breathe
- Have massage or bodywork sessions
- Meditate
- Express emotions, especially grief
- Eat an alkaline diet rich in steamed fresh vegetables and greens
- Include onion, cinnamon, basil, rosemary, turnips, raw honey, nutmeg and fennel in your diet.
