METAL ELEMENT PRACTICE

As we move away from the heat of the summer, the days shorten and temperatures slowly start to decrease and mornings are characterised by clean, crisp air.

As you take a deep breath there is an energising feeling as your lungs fully open and lead the qi throughout the body. Lungs and Colon are the organs associated with this season and they control both contractile function that will help us store the energy harvested from nature and the ability to let go of things and emotions that are no longer useful.

As the autumn progresses the fruits ripen and they replenish yin lost during the summer months and store energy for the arrival of cold winter days. Brown skin pears, ginger, cinnamon and prunes are especially good at nourishing yin and yang aspects of metal element.

Lungs are externally expressed through skin and strong metal element is evident in good complexion and clear skin whereas weakness can result in dermatological problems as well as asthma and pulmonary diseases. People with predominantly metal element constitution are often very good at organising and are ready to take action, converting plans into reality.

Deficiency of Lung qi can make those qualities turn to rigidity, dissatisfaction and inability to accept change. The yang organ is Colon and it’s action of letting go can result in physical constipation as well as emotional holding on where the natural course of action would be to let go and move with the flow. Sadness and grief are healthy emotional reactions to change and loss but inability to accept change eventually can grow to be an insurmountable obstacle.

TCM Overview

The Lungs function is dominating qi and controlling respiration.

Dominating qi has two aspects: dominating the qi of respiration and dominating the qi of the entire body. Dominating the qi of respiration means the lung is a respiratory organ through which the qi of the exterior and the qi from the interior are able to mingle. Via the lung, the body inhales clear qi from the natural environment and exhales waste qi from the interior of the body.

Dominating qi of the entire body means that the function of the lung in respiration greatly influences the functional activities of the body, and is closely related to the formation of pectoral qi, which is formed from the combination of the essential qi of water and food, and the clear qi inhaled by the lung.

The Lung has five principle functions:

• governing qi and controlling respiration. They take in clear and expel turbid Natural Air Qi (Kong Qi)
• controlling disseminating and descending
• regulating the water passages
• controlling the skin and body hair
• opening into the nose
• housing the Po