The Real Tea: Drinking Your Way to a Peaceful, Restorative Autumn

As the fire and passion of summer 夏天 comes to and end and we look upon the upcoming season of autumn 秋天, we thought it might be nice to showcase some ways you can support yourself for through this colorful shift. One of the ways Traditional Chinese Medicine gifts us with this knowledge is through the power of herbal tea blends.

In today's post, we're talking all-things tea. Teas to support seasonal shifts, teas to help cultivate one's spirit in this upcoming season of reflection, teas to remind us of the great times we've had in this yang-filled time of year and that glide us into the nourishment of yin.

The Season of Reflection

While summer usually means big parties, tons of socializing, intense movement, all nourishing yang, autumn is different. It is a season of preparation, a season of reflection and one of beginning to move inward in preparation for the colder, winter months. This is a time to take space for peace, for quiet and for processing emotions like sadness and grief. Breath work is helpful during this time to nourish the lungs, and spending quiet time in nature is encouraged to cultivate stillness.

Autumn corresponds to the lungs (yin) and the large intestine (yang). Traditional Chinese Medicine encourages us nourish these organs this time of year by eating steamed fruits like asian pear and cooked foods like eggs, seeds, sesame, tofu and lily-bulb lotus root and Chinese yam. Avoiding dry roasted and spicy foods is also recommended. The lungs are large intestine do not like to be dry, so it's beneficial to stay hydrated and utilize steam and humidifiers to keep these parts of the body moist.

The element for this season is Metal, associated with helping both the lungs and the large intestine to clear out any physical or mental waste in order to relax and make room for fullness and light in the coming year.

Autumn Acupuncture

Before we hop into what healing tea blends will aid you along your journey to a peaceful fall season, we'd love to touch on some of the acupuncture points we see utilized most often during this time of year. Acupuncture literally allows one to 'tap' into the energy meridians in the body, healing and revitalizing the organs within to promote long-term healing and emotional release. So, why not share a few helpful points that we recommend you try to enhance the effects of those healing teas!

Here are a few points to try whilst you nourish both the lungs and the large intestine this autumn:

• Lung 1 (Zhongfu) - Located near the upper chest, the point is most often used to treat ailments like coughing, wheezing or allergies.

• Lung 2 (Yunmen) - Found right near the clavicle, it's used to treat chest tightness and shortness of breath. This is a great point for those with anxiety disorders.

• Lung 3 (Tianfu) - Directly found in the groove of the bicep. This point is related to sadness and the processing of grief, traditionally traced back to the Lungs.

• Stomach 37 (Shangjuxu) - Found on the legs, it's used commonly to treat anything from stomach upset to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

• Large Intestine 1 (Shangyang). - This point is known to revive one's consciousness, clear heat in the body and is a well for Jing.

Healing Tea Blends

As we stated in above, the main organs of this season (lungs and large intestine) like to remain hydrated throughout the season to promote optimal health throughout the colder months.

Here are a few herbs to carry you through this restorative, reflective time of year:

• He Huan Pi - A wonderful herb to start with. It helps to calm the nervous system, relieve stress by lowering both cortisol and adrenaline in the body while relieving emotional distress.

• Ba Hei - Some call this fella "The Heartbreak Herb," others "The Elixr of Grief." This mighty mint works to clear heat, sooth intense feelings and allow for emotional release.

• Ginseng - Known as the "king herb.' Ginseng helps us to not only boost our immune systems and protect against colds and flus, but it also works to tonify Qi and regulate intestinal flora.

• Rehmannia - A key to any TCM tea in the fall. This powerful herb works to both nourish Yin throughout the season and support adrenal function.

• Cinnamon and warming spices - Not only do these herbs taste good, but they also help to warm our bodies in the colder months, stimulating the flow of Qi and aiding in digestion.

More Fall Content to Come

We've been so excited to share these tips and tricks with you about how you can support your mind and body this season, and we cannot wait to dive into more autumn content this year! Fall is such a beautiful, melancholic time of year, and we're ready to support you every step of the way with tips, tricks and love!

Thank you for all you've done for us, summer 2026. We appreciate you and welcome your sister autumn!

With love, The Wildflowers.