White Fog and Cool Dew: Breathe Deep in Autumn
In the foundational text of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Huangdi Neijing Suwen (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic of Medicine), autumn is emphasized as a critical period for the Lung (Fei). According to this ancient text, autumn correlates with the Metal phase, which governs the Lung and Large Intestine organ systems. The season is characterized by the movement of Qi inward and downward, mirroring the falling leaves and the preparation for winter.
This is a time for the body to begin gathering and consolidating energy, to prepare for the colder months ahead.
The three months of autumn,
they denote taking in and balance.
The qi of heaven becomes tense.
The qi of the earth becomes bright.
Go to rest early and rise early,
get up together with the rooster.
Let the mind be peaceful and tranquil, so as
to temper the punishment carried out in autumn.
Collect the spirit qi and
cause the autumn qi to be balanced.
Do not direct your mind to the outside and
cause the lung qi to be clear.
This is correspondence with the qi of autumn and
it is the Way to nourish gathering.
Opposing it harms the lung.
In winter this causes outflow of [undigested] food and
there is little to support storage.
(1)
The Lung in Autumn
The Lung is described as the Prime Minister that governs Qi throughout the body. It is responsible for the vital functions of controlling breath, maintaining the immune defense (Wei Qi), and regulating the pathways of water metabolism. During autumn, the Lung is particularly susceptible to pathogenic factors like dryness and cold. The Neijing advises that maintaining the health of the Lung in autumn is crucial to prevent disease and ensure vitality.
Zhang Zhicong: ‘To preserve the spirit qi and not let the mind be directed to the outside, all this is to follow the qi of gathering in autumn and causes the metal of the lung to be clear and pure.’
(2)
Dryness and the Lung
Autumn dryness can impair the Lung's ability to distribute and descend fluids, leading to symptoms such as cough, throat irritation, and dry skin. The Neijing suggests that to counteract the harmful effects of autumn dryness, one should focus on moistening the Lung and protecting it from exposure to harsh environmental elements.
Qi Bo:
‘Wind and warmth agree with the transformations [evoked by] spring.
Heat, the red-yellow [color of] dusk, and fire agree with the transformations
[evoked by] summer.
Dryness and coolness, smoke and dew agree with the transformations [evoked by] autumn.
Clouds, rain, haziness, darkness, and dust agree with the transformations
[evoked by] late summer.
Cold qi, frost, snow, and ice agree with the transformations [evoked by] winter.
These are the transformations of the five periods and six qi of heaven and earth.
This is the regular order of the alternating operation of abundance and weakness.’
(3)
Constitutional Autumn Formula
Shen Ling Spleen Support, based on the classical formula Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder), is a comprehensive tonic designed to augment the Qi, strengthen the Spleen, and produce clear fluids by draining Dampness and regulating the descending and ascending functions of Qi. This makes it particularly beneficial during the demanding autumn season.
This variation of Four-Gentlemen Decoction (Si Jun Zi Tang) is used when diarrhea and vomiting are the main symptoms or for chronic cough with copious sputum due to Lung deficiency. This is known as ‘cultivating the earth [Spleen] to generate metal [Lungs]’. It achieves its effect by focusing on the ascending and downward-directing functions of the greater yin [taiyin], tonifying the qi to raise the clear yang, and eliminating turbid yin by promoting the water metabolism.
(4)
A fascinating commentary described in Feng’s Secret Records from the Brocade Purse expands on the important role Jie Geng plays within this formula and in support of the treatment principle,
“Jie Geng enters the Lungs. It can ascend as well as direct [the qi] downward. Consequently, it connects the qi of heaven with the pathways of the earth so that one need not worry about obstruction," (4).
Wang Ang in Medical Formulas Collected and Analyzed expands,
Jie Geng... is able to carry all herbs upward to float. It also can connect the qi of heaven with the pathways of the earth, allowing the qi to ascend and descend, augmenting as well as harmonizing [the qi dynamic].
(4)
Autumn brings with it a cooler climate that can challenge the Lung and Spleen, leading to dry skin, respiratory issues, and a potentially weakened digestive system.Shen Ling Spleen Support is ideally suited to address the seasonal impact on these organ-networks by nourishing the body's Qi and managing fluid balance. It is best used when combined with formulas which support the qi and yin of the Lungs.
Seasonal Application:
- Supporting Lung Health: By strengthening the Spleen, which in turn supports the Lungs, the formula helps maintain a healthy immune system and respiratory function. This is crucial in autumn when the body is more vulnerable to dryness, cold, and invasion by other pathogenic factors.
- Balancing Fluids: The ingredients in Shen Ling Spleen Support help in regulating body fluids, ensuring that despite the dryness of the season, the body remains hydrated and nourished by beneficial body-fluid unobstructed by dampness or the lack of transformation due to deficient qi.
- Enhancing Qi Flow: The formula ensures the smooth flow of Qi throughout the Spleen and Lung systems, critical for maintaining warmth and preventing Qi deficiency or stagnation related to dampness during cooler months.
Post-Viral Recovery with Shen Ling Spleen Support
After a viral infection, many patients experience symptoms indicative of Spleen Qi deficiency, such as fatigue, weakness, and digestive irregularities. Shen Ling Spleen Support addresses these issues directly by bolstering the Spleen and Stomach, improving Qi transformation, and clearing accumulated Dampness from the Middle Burner.
Application in Post-Viral Context:
- Strengthening Spleen Qi: The formula's primary function is to enhance the Spleen's ability to transform and transport nutrients, crucial for recovering energy levels and overall vitality.
- Clearing Dampness: Internally generated dampness is a common post-viral symptom that can manifest as feelings of heaviness, bloating, and lethargy. Shen Ling Spleen Support effectively reduces Dampness, helping to alleviate these symptoms.
- Fortifying the Lungs: Given the connection between the Spleen and Lung Qi, this formula also supports lung function, which can be compromised following respiratory viral infections.
Selected Formula Integrations:
- With Zhi Sou San (Lung Qi Release): This combination can be particularly effective in managing dry-sticky coughs and ensuring the Lung Qi is spreading effectively, especially useful for coughs caused by lingering phlegm or following an acute illness.
- With Wise Judge (Sha Shen Mai Dong Yin, Sheng Mai San): Together, they can deeply nourish the Lung Yin and Qi, providing moisture and strengthening the respiratory system. This combination can be considered in older patients, those with “‘cracks”’ in the lung/spleen/stomach area on the tongue, or in those following an extended period of illness with a dry, unproductive cough.
- With Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen): Shen Ling Spleen Support enhances the effects of Yu Ping Feng San by boosting the Qi foundation necessary for defending against external pathogens, thus fortifying the body's protective Wei Qi. A potent combination for preventing respiratory and digestive pathologies from manifesting in the first place.
Shen Ling Spleen Support serves as a fundamental remedy in TCM for revitalizing the Spleen Qi and managing Dampness, both critical in post-viral recovery and during the challenging vulnerabilities present in autumn. Its role in supporting the Spleen and digestive health, and consequently the Lung, aligns with the holistic approach of TCM to strategically address underlying imbalances and promote overall well-being. This formula, especially when used alongside other sophisticated formulas like Lung Qi Release, Wise Judge, and Jade Windscreen, offers a comprehensive strategy for maintaining health through seasonal transitions and recovery phases.
These formulas, when used in accordance with the shifts of autumn as described in the Huangdi Neijing Suwen, provide a robust framework for maintaining health during this pivotal season. By understanding and applying these ancient principles, practitioners can effectively support and enhance Lung and Spleen Qi, ensuring that the body's internal environment harmonizes with the external seasonal changes, thereby optimizing health and preventing illness. This approach not only addresses immediate symptoms but also strengthens the body’s overall resilience, paving the way for a healthier winter season.
1. Unschuld, Paul U., and Hermann Tessenow. "Comprehensive Discourse on Regulating the Spirit [in Accordance with] the Qi of the Four [Seasons]." Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: An Annotated Translation of Huang Di's Inner Classic – Basic Questions, University of California Press, 2011, pp. 45-58.
2. Unschuld, Paul U., and Hermann Tessenow. "Comprehensive Discourse on Regulating the Spirit [in Accordance with] the Qi of the Four [Seasons]." Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: An Annotated Translation of Huang Di's Inner Classic – Basic Questions, University of California Press, 2011, p. 48n24.
3. Unschuld, Paul U., and Hermann Tessenow. "Comprehensive Discourse on the Policies and Arrangements of the Six Principal [Qi]." Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: An Annotated Translation of Huang Di's Inner Classic – Basic Questions, University of California Press, 2011, pp. 357-534.
4. Scheid, Volker, et al. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies. Portable 2nd ed., Eastland Press, 2015.