Spice it up! The pungent (spicy) flavor corresponds to the autumn season, the metal element, and the lungs and large intestine. Pungent foods and spices are powerful movers. Their scents, temperatures, and flavors promote circulation and break up stagnation in the body.

Here are some of my favorite pungent foods and spices ranging from hot to cold in temperature:

Hot: black pepper, cayenne, chili pepper, cinnamon, curry, horseradish, garlic, ginger, wasabi—In smaller doses these help to warm the body and strengthen digestion. In larger doses these help to treat colds and flus when there is excess cold in the body.

Warm: basil, bell peppers, lavender, onions, parsnips, radish, rosemary, sage, coriander—best used to create a deep overall warmth in the body and to decrease phlegm and mucus.

Cool/Cold: chamomile, hibiscus, lemon balm, peppermint, spearmint, thyme, watercress, wintergreen—best used to lower fevers and clear the sinuses when there is excess heat in the body.

Less is more when it comes to the pungent flavor. Try to get a little bit of pungent spice into your system every day during the fall. If you run cold, use the hot and warming pungent flavors, if you run hot, use the cool and cold pungent flavors.

PC: @maaspices