Advice for Health and Long Life: Helpful Tips from the Heart of the Medicine Buddha

In the classical Tibetan Medicine Texts (Gyud Zhi), the wise and compassionate Medicine Buddha, known as "The Great Sage", instructs his students on the proper diet, lifestyle, medicines and therapies to promote long life, health, and happiness.

Considerations for the Autumn Season:

The changing seasons can influence our health. The reason for this is related with the Five Elements, both inside our bodies and in external conditions. As the elemental qualities of the seasons shift, for example from dry to rainy, or warm to cool, this affects the balance of elements within our bodies. Therefore, we should adjust our diet and lifestyle to be in harmony with the seasons.

As summer moves into autumn, there is an increase of the fire element. The weather is dry, the sun is hot, vegetation and crops are fully matured. This causes the arising of the tripa humor (bile) within our bodies. Arising tripa may increase symptoms such as headaches, heartburn, or diarrhea.

To balance the tripa humor in the autumn season, we should rely on cool-natured, sweet and bitter foods, such as fruits, fresh greens, and fresh milk. We should avoid spicy foods, greasy foods, and avoid drinking much alcohol. In the autumn it is healthy to accent one's clothes and living spaces with sweet, cooling fragrances, such as sandalwood, lavender, or fresh flowers.