November from a TCM perspective - time of the great retreat

The November question

The Yellow Emperor: „Qi Bo, people ask: What does traditional medicine say about the eleventh month? Many people find November difficult - gray, wet, cold. What does TCM teach us about this special time?”

Qi Bo [looks thoughtful]: „Your Majesty, November is the last month of fall before winter. In the TCM calendar, we are in the transition from the metal element to the water element. It is the month of the pig - the time of ‚Hai‘, when the yang finally retreats into the depths and the yin takes over.”

Dr. Weber: „Meteorologically, November is actually the darkest month - even darker than December! Only around 50 hours of sunshine, high humidity, the first frosts. No wonder our biology reacts to this.”

The energetic quality of November

The Yellow Emperor: „What happens in terms of energy in November?”

Qi Bo: „November carries the energy of ‚collecting and storing‘. Nature shows us this:

• The last leaves fall - final letting go
• The sap of the trees is in the roots - retreating inwards
• The earth becomes hard - sealing and protecting
• The first snow falls - covering and preserving

People should understand these signals: This is NOT the time for big projects or expansion. It is a time for consolidation.”

Dr. Weber: „This is perfectly in line with chronobiology! In November, melatonin production is at its maximum and serotonin at its minimum. The body wants to hibernate - to shift down a gear. Anyone who fights against this is working against their biology.”

The November organs

The Yellow Emperor: „Which organs are particularly important in November?“

Qi Bo: „We have three systems to consider in November:

The lungs (still from the fall):

• Still vulnerable due to drought and first cold weather
• Needs moisturizing and protection
• Grief processing from the fall

The kidney (prepares for winter):

• Begins its prime time
• Must be strengthened and warmed
• Stores energy for the winter

The spleen (always important in transitional periods):

• Helps with the transformation
• Needs warmth and regularity
• No cold, raw food!“

Dr. Weber: „Immunologically, that makes sense! Lungs = respiratory infection season begins. Kidneys/adrenal glands = stress axis must function. Spleen/digestion = nutrient absorption essential for immune system.“

The November emotions

The Yellow Emperor: „Why are people often sad or anxious in November?“

Qi Bo: „November carries the residual sadness of fall and the incipient fear of winter. It is normal! Grief helps to let go of what is no longer needed. Fear - healthy fear - makes us cautious and prepares us for winter.“

Dr. Weber: „Seasonal Affective Disorder typically starts in November. But from a TCM perspective, this is not a ‚disorder‘ - it's a natural adaptation. It only becomes a problem when we pretend that November is like July!“

The November diet according to TCM

The Yellow Emperor: „What should we eat in November?”

Qi Bo: „November cuisine follows the principle: warm, cooked, nourishing!

YES - November food:
Root vegetables (carrots, turnips, potatoes)
Cabbage (sauerkraut!)
Legumes (especially black beans)
Nuts (walnuts, chestnuts)
Warming spices (ginger, cinnamon, cloves)
Soups, stews, congee
✅ Compotes instead of fresh fruit

NO - November error:
⛔ Salads, raw vegetables
⛔ Smoothies, cold juices
⛔ South fruits (too cooling)
⛔ Dairy products (mucilaginous)
⛔ Ice-cold”

Dr. Weber: „This diet provides exactly what the body needs: Warming foods increase thermogenesis, fermented vegetables strengthen the microbiome for the winter, cooked food is easier to digest and saves energy!”

The November activities

The Yellow Emperor: „What exercise does TCM recommend in November?”

Qi Bo: „Gentle and inward-looking:

Qi Gong (especially kidney-strengthening exercises)
Tai Chi (slow and meditative)
Walks (wrapped up, don't sweat!)
Yin yoga (long, calm postures)
NOT an extreme sport!”

Dr. Weber: „High-intensity training in November is counterproductive. Cortisol levels are elevated due to the season - additional stress from hard training can lead to a breakdown.”

Avoid the November diseases

The Yellow Emperor: „What diseases threaten in November?“

Qi Bo: „Wind and cold invasion! The November wind is particularly dangerous:

→ It penetrates via the neck (always wear a scarf!)
→ It combines with moisture (risk of rheumatism)
→ It weakens the Wei-Qi (defensive energy)“

Dr. Weber: „The first waves of colds, the onset of flu, vitamin D deficiency manifests itself. But also: depression, weight gain, lack of energy. The body is vulnerable during the transition.“

The spiritual dimension

The Yellow Emperor: „Does November also have a spiritual meaning in TCM?“

Qi Bo: „November is the month of the ancestors. Many cultures commemorate the deceased now - not by chance! The veils between the worlds are thin. It's a time for introspection, for reflecting on our roots and where we come from.“

Dr. Weber: „Interesting - psychologically, November is actually ideal for biography work and reflection. The brain is more active in ‚default mode‘ - perfect for integration and processing.“

The November paradox

The Yellow Emperor: „Why do modern people fight so hard against November?“

Dr. Weber: „The economy knows no seasons! The same productivity is expected all year round. Electric light gives the illusion of eternal summer.“

Qi Bo: „They have forgotten that humans are part of nature. If you want to live in November as you do in June, you'll be ill in December and exhausted in January.“

The Yellow Emperor: „So November fatigue is not weakness, but wisdom?“

Both: „Exactly! November fatigue is your body saying: ‚Time to shift down a gear!’

The conclusion of the 3 wise men

The Yellow Emperor: „What is your most important November message?“

Qi Bo: „November is not a mistake of nature. It is the necessary break before winter. Honor this time instead of fighting against it.“

Dr. Weber: „Scientifically speaking: November is the biologically programmed regeneration phase. Use it or pay the price.“

The Yellow Emperor: „Then I hereby proclaim: November is not the month of depression, but the month of depression in the original sense - of sinking down, of going into the deep, of taking root. Those who understand this will not only survive the winter, but will blossom in spring like never before!“

About our „3 Wise Men“ story

Who are the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo?

The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi, 黄帝) is said to have lived around 2600 BC and is regarded as the mythical founder of Chinese culture and medicine. Qi Bo was his most important advisor and personal physician. Their discussions about health, illness and human nature were recorded in the most important fundamental work of TCM.

The book: Huangdi Neijing

The „Huangdi Neijing“ (黄帝内经), also known as „The Yellow Emperor - The Fundamental Work of Traditional Chinese Medicine“, was probably written between 200 BC and 200 AD. It is the oldest surviving work of Chinese medicine and consists of dialogues between the Yellow Emperor and his advisors - mainly Qi Bo.

This work is to TCM what the Bible is to Christianity: the absolute foundation. All the important concepts - yin and yang, the 5 elements, qi, meridians and acupuncture points - are systematically described here for the first time.

Our modern approach: The 3 wise men

In our series „The 3 Sages“, we bring the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo together with the fictional modern doctor and microbiologist Dr. Weber.

Important note: All three characters and their conversations are purely fictitious and invented by us.

We use this narrative form, similar to the dialog form in the book Huangdi Neijing, to convey the often complex relationships of TCM in an understandable and entertaining way. When the 4000-year-old emperor is confronted with modern science, enlightening „aha moments“ arise which show that ancient wisdom and new research often speak the same language: Ancient wisdom and new research often speak the same language - just in different words.

This makes TCM lively, understandable and practically applicable for your everyday life.

The dialogs are creative interpretations - not historical documents. For medical questions, please consult a qualified TCM therapist or doctor.