Autumn is a time of adjustment and transition for our entire body and being. As we enter autumn, the first signs of readiness for dormant times ahead become visible on the land: cooler nights draw in, plant growth slows, some go to seed and others droop towards the earth under their own weight. All bringing us the cues we need to slow down and ready our bodies for winter.
As we navigate autumn around us, we may also be navigating our own inner autumns, or times of transition in our lives. These might be changes in our relationships, changes in our family or daily rhythms, changes in our health, in our menstrual cycle, our fertility journey or we might be navigating some fundamental changes at a soul or psyche level.
Then there are the much wider, global cycles of transition human kind are navigating, from climate change and ecological collapse, to the many socio-political crises we’re exposed to through our screens. These different transitions all at once will intensify or deepen our experience of the autumn season and effect how our immune system responds to it.
Yet transitions are always opportunities to resource ourselves and deeply nourish the roots of who we are. They are times to go more gently, to re-member and re-appreciate who we are and what we bring. Autumn is a time to discern what support we need and put in place the boundaries we need to receive it.
This is what the immune system needs from us throughout autumn.
How we traverse times of transition will impact how our immune system responds to the colds, viruses, bacteria, pathogens and toxins we will come in contact with everyday through autumn.
SOME PROMPTS TO EXPLORE FOR HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR IMMUNITY
Grab a journal or a listening partner and see what comes when you allow a stream of consciousness to flow as you answer the questions below. Exploring these themes and acting on any answers or insights will help you to improve the emotional root causes of any immune challenges.
Pace:
What helps you to shift pace and slow down?
What small changes can you make in your daily rhythm to align more with autumn?
Support:
What/Who supports you?
What patterns, conditioning or behaviours prevent you from receiving support?
How can you give yourself more permission to receive support?
Boundaries:
Do you know what to let in and what to keep out?
How are your key relationships going into autumn?
What are your exchanges like?
Are you able to assert your will and get what you need?
What will support you to put the boundaries you need in place?
Exploring the emotional root causes of illness and dis-ease like these are a big part of the work I guide people to explore during the 1:1 herbal consultations I offer. If you would like some holding and support to explore the emotional root causes that may be impacting your health, do get it touch.
What herbs can support our immune system through autumn?
Rugosa rosehips
Rosehip is a tonic offered by the land throughout autumn that brings us both the emotional holding and the physical nourishment our immune system needs for this time of transition. They are a very rich source of many vitamins, minerals and bio-active compounds including vitamins A, C and E which are vital for a healthy immune system.
Culturally, Rosehip is a remedy that guides us to remember and reclaim the value of holding space, deep nourishment and sweet nutritional comfort for ourselves and others ~ things we all need to support our immunity through autumn.
As we make our Rosehip remedies, we can infuse them with all our longings for the more life sustaining ways forward all of our bodies need.
The shift away from the ‘business as usual’ pace we see and experience around us STARTS HERE WITH US.
It shifts through our noticing of the earth rhythms around us, through the medicine we bring into our kitchens and in the loving ways we choose to tend to ourselves and those around us through this season of transition.
make your own rosehip Vit C shots
Wild/ Dog rosehips
To receive the most potent dose of Vitamin C to support your immune system, work with Rosehip fresh (studies show drying and freezing Rosehip can diminish Vit C levels). I harvest rosehips and make the infusion below in small batches every 4/5 days to keep our family in a fresh potent supply.
At the herb garden, I grow Rosa Rugosa (Rugosa rose) and Rosa Cannina (Dog/Wild rose) for their vitamin rich Rosehips. Both are great for making this tonic with but over the years I’ve come to prefer the Rugosa rose with her plumper, juicier hips.
Almost all varieties of Rose can be worked with in this way – search the Plants for a future database to check if yours is suitable. You’ll find Wild Rosehips growing in the hedgerows in most places.
INSTRUCTIONS:
~ Harvest your hips when they are soft and full of colour.
~ Remove tops and stems leaving an opening into the fleshy middle (where the medicine is).
~ Cover in filtered water and bring to the boil.
~ Simmer for 15-20mins until soft then mash or smash with a wooden spoon. You should then have a beautiful orange coloured juice which you can then strain with a fine wire mesh or muslin.
Careful when straining Rosehips. The layer of hairs around the seeds, just beneath the flesh of the fruit, can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract if ingested.
~ Enjoy a mug warm and share it around. Then transfer your juice into a sterilised glass bottle or jar. Let it cool and store in the fridge where it will keep fresh for a week (although use within 4/5 days best).
Each morning before or with breakfast, drink a small cup of this juice as a powerful Vitamin C shot. You can drink it neat or mix with a bit of apple juice for taste.
I am making this once a week at the moment to keep us with a daily stock during the transition into autumn. Doing this, we know we are giving our immune system the Vitamin C it needs to do its job well.
It is possible to preserve this juice for up to 6 months by re-heating it and steadily stirring in sugar, honey or apple concentrate until thick and syrupy to make your own Rosehip syrup.
Happy making!