Here we are, officially in the thick of what we call ‘late summer’ season in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, you have heard me talk a lot about the seasons in Chinese medicine and how it relates to different organ systems, different pathology’s, and how it can correspond closely with body types, personalities, and even tastes and smells.
Late summer officially starts in the 3rd week of August and goes until the Autumnal Equinox. It is the Earth phase of the seasons, the fifth season. Interestingly enough, this extra season is also patched on every other season as a transition period between, taking up the space of the last 15 days of each season.
So, what does it all mean?
The Earth element is all about nourishment. Nourishment from foods, for the physical body, nourishment to the soul, and the emotional being. Receiving the bounty from the summer and digesting that into our bodies, minds, and spirits keeping us ‘well-fed’ through the coming winter months. The earth element takes on the personality of what you would expect of a motherly figure. It is associated with the digestive organs of the Spleen and Stomach in Chinese medicine. Late summer is the perfect time to support your Earth element and the stomach and spleen with diet and activity and to address any imbalances you might find within the network.
Diet & food therapy –
Focus on foods like squashes, zucchini, root vegetables, and leafy greens. Often it is helpful to the digestive system to lightly cook your foods so as to start the digestive process and ease the strain on the system – this makes all your nutrients easily available to absorb and process. Things to limit, which can be hard on the system are processed foods, refined carbohydrates, dairy, sugar, and cold drinks.
How to know if you have an imbalance?
Things like bloating, nausea, gas, constipation or loose stools can all be signs that your Earth element is out of balance.
What to do about it?
Schedule an appointment with your acupuncturist or herbalist, there are many ways in which to rebalance the organ networks with both acupuncture and herbs. This is also as good a time as any to just give your Earth network some extra support and love so that you are primed for the coming season, and limit health issues down the line. After all, we know how important a healthy gut is in all things – it affects your mood and emotions (depression/anxiety/brain fog), it affects your immune system and even your hormonal regulation.
Check out this chart for some other fun facts about the Earth Element in Chinese medicine. For more on all the elements check back in on this blog post.
