Finding serenity in autumn: calming the mind and balancing the emotions

The days are getting shorter, the air drier, and often it's not only nature that is changing: our emotions waver too.

Do you feel a gentle melancholy, like nostalgia for the summer slipping away? Or, on the contrary, greater impatience and sharper irritability?

These two reactions can share the same root: Qiū Zào (秋燥), autumn dryness, a phenomenon that dries out body and mind alike.

Why autumn changes our mood: the role of Qiū Zào

The concept of Qiū Zào comes from the Huangdi Neijing, which associates autumn with the Lung and a "dry" climate (Zào). But this "dryness" is not limited to the skin or mucous membranes: it depletes the internal fluids (Yin, Jīn Yè).

When these fluids run low, two imbalances can emerge:

• Lung affected → melancholy, sadness:
  The Lung is linked to the emotion of sadness. When Lung Yin weakens, breathing tightens, energy drops and a feeling of nostalgia or inner emptiness sets in.
• Liver and Heart disturbed → irritability, restlessness:
  When the fluids can no longer hold internal heat, Liver and Heart Fire rises. The result? Irritability, restlessness, sleep problems, whirling thoughts.

So autumn dryness can show itself as gentle sadness, or on the contrary as growing nervousness: two sides of a seasonal emotional imbalance.

Recognising your profile (gentle sadness or growing nervousness) helps you choose the right habits to restore balance.

Nourishing the Shen (神): the TCM path to serenity

The Shen (神) is the dimension of the mind, mental clarity and emotional stability. For the Shen to stay calm, it needs to be nourished by Yin, Blood and body fluids.

That is why, in autumn, TCM recommends nourishing Yin and generating fluids (养阴生津) to calm the heart, clear the mind and preserve emotional balance.

Profile 1 – Gentle sadness, "dry Lung"

Key signs: quiet sadness, nostalgia, fatigue, dry skin, irritated throat, dry cough.

Solution: nourish Yin and soothe the Lung and Heart to soften melancholy and dispel inner fatigue.

Favour a hydrating, nourishing diet: pear, winter melon, lily bulb, jujube, black sesame, honey, all known for easing dryness and nourishing the internal fluids.

• For states of stress or stagnant dampness, include draining grains such as Job's tears, which promote gentle, natural drainage.
• Keep your meals simple, warm, well cooked and digestible; avoid raw, cold or overly fatty dishes.

🌿 Calebasse tip

If your body is suffering from damp retention, our Wu Pi Yin formula offers a targeted solution to lighten the body and revive energy.

Profile 2 – Irritability and restlessness, "Liver and Heart Fire"

Key signs: nervousness, impatience, insomnia, racing thoughts, dry throat but sometimes a red face.

Solution: calm the Fire and relax the mind to soothe impatience and irritability and promote peaceful sleep.

Enjoy an evening herbal tea made with golden chrysanthemum flowers, recognised in TCM for helping to eliminate toxins and purify the Lungs.

To nourish the Shen and soothe the emotions, TCM also recommends herbs that nourish Yin, calm the mind and support inner energy:

Reishi (Lingzhi), for example, is valued for its ability to regulate immunity and calm the mind, promoting deep, restorative sleep.

Silk tree bark (He Huan Pi), nicknamed in China "the bark of joy", helps harmonise the emotions and calm the Shen.

Infusions such as the Relaxation & Sleep Herbal Tea, made with rosebuds and lotus plumule, bring everyday gentleness: they support your mood during the day and help you fall asleep at night.

💡 Calebasse tip

During periods of intense stress or overwork, the Calm & Relaxation Formula combines herbs that nourish Yin and strengthen the Shen to calm the mind and support energy.

Autumn is not only the season of harvests: it is also a time for introspection, conducive to calming the mind and maintaining emotional balance. By nourishing your internal fluids, choosing the right herbs and adopting a gentle routine, you protect both your inner serenity and your natural defences for winter.

Follow our Autumn in Balance theme and master the art of inner balance to get through the season in top form.