When we picture fall visually, we likely see crunchy, colorful leaves floating towards the ground. Maybe we have memories of playing in piles of them, or experiencing the lightening of smug humidity at last. Whatever the sensation or location, we all seem to experience a form of change and freshness caused by letting go that autumn delivers us.
The apple tree had to release the Macintosh for it to find its way to your grandmother’s countertop, and eventually her famous apple pie.
We can embrace this aspect of the season amongst various elements. Emotionally, we can let it all flow. Create time and space to sit with the emotions that are ready for movement. Journal, cry, connect with your understanding loved ones. This is the season for warm hugs and shared tears.
Spiritually, we may feel an urge to discern, to cleanse, to purify. To take what could have and accept that it wasn’t meant to. To take what was possible and solidify it into what will be. We are meant to walk down familiar, heavily treaded paths this season after dancing aimlessly through the summer. Stepping back towards what is familiar, safe, and comfortable is a natural impulse.
Physically, autumn brings about release. This leads us to mention the main detoxification organs and how to best support them as they select what they no longer need. The main areas to dive into supporting this season are the liver, the skin, and the lymphatic system.
- LIVER
If I had to choose, the liver would be my personal favorite organ. It does so much more than we realize, from regulating our blood sugar throughout the day to detoxifying our metabolic waste. In our modern world of high stress, sweet treats, and underlying toxins, our livers need more support than ever before.
First, the liver loves bitter foods. This also aids in digestion! Consuming digestive bitters before eating can be a beautiful two in one for both liver and gut support. Greens such as cooked kale, arugula, bok choy, and dandelion can be added to a warm autumn salad. Adequate protein, liver supportive herbs like Organic Olivia’s liver juice (https://www.pntrac.com/t/8-12680-316789-247296), broths, nettle tea, and dandelion root tea are other gentle ways to communicate love to your liver.
Castor oil packs are becoming increasingly popular- and it’s for good reason. If hanging out with a tablespoon of castor oil drizzled on a wool cloth for an hour or two had amazing health benefits, it almost seems like it would be too easy. But this is exactly how it works! Castor oil is very potent and mobilizing, and when absorbed into the liver can help to enforce contraction and the movement of what’s ready to be expelled. The benefits are truly systemic of this weekly practice.
- SKIN
Our largest organ, covered with millions of pores designed to detoxify and release. You may have guessed that sweating is one of the direct supports for utilizing the detoxifying properties of this organ. Your daily movement practice, regular sauna utilization, red light therapy, and exfoliating are all beneficial to incorporate for optimal detoxification.
Additionally, consuming adequate amounts of Vitamin C and hydrating with mineralized water is essential to replenish the stores that we may lose through our sweat.
- LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Another up and coming topic of interest. The lymphatic system deserves all of the attention it’s receiving, truly. Because this system of fluids doesn’t have it’s own pump (like how our blood is pushed along by our heart), it relies on our muscle contractions to keep things flowing.
The lymphatic system is deeply connected to the kidneys, skin, and bowels to excrete the waste that is constantly being filtered out. Resistance training, jumping, playing, and laughing all activate and engage muscles that can help to move our lymph throughout its pathways.
Additionally, self massage in the Big 6 points of lymphatic concentration is a gentle reminder to the system to move things along. The Big 6 include above and below the collarbone, both sides of the neck, within the armpit/ shoulder joint, the abdomen, both groin creases, and behind each of the knees.
A gentle, 5 minute massage touching on each of these areas paired with a brief dry brushing session before a shower is enough to wake things up and introduce support.
Our bodies were always designed to move and connect with the world around us. No matter how busy we may become or how far we may have strayed from this way of life, let this article serve as a quarterly reminder of how we can remain tuned into the changing symphonies of the seasons.
With practices like these, we can trust our bodies to let go of what it no longer needs and get back to our truest roots. Be gentle, be curious, and remember that the body only releases at the pace that the slowest parts of it feel safe to go.