How To Stay Healthy In Late Summer With TCM

Late Summer is a distinctive season in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), associated with the Earth element and the Spleen and Stomach organs. This period, spanning from mid-August to the Fall Equinox, is a time of transition. It’s important to focus on grounding and nourishing ourselves to maintain balance. Explore how to adjust your energy, diet, and lifestyle to align with Late Summer and the Earth Element to support your holistic health as you transition into Autumn.

Key Aspects of Late Summer Health

Digestion and Nourishment: The Spleen and Stomach are crucial for digestion. Support them by consuming a balanced diet with warm, cooked foods that are easy to digest. Minimize raw, cold, or excessively sweet foods to avoid weakening the Spleen.

Emotional Balance: The Earth element influences our sense of grounding and stability. Emotional instability or overthinking can affect the Spleen. Engage in mindfulness practices, meditation, or gentle yoga to maintain emotional balance.

Supporting the Spleen and Stomach: Incorporate foods that support the Spleen, such as whole grains, root vegetables, and legumes. Chew your food thoroughly and eat in a relaxed environment to aid digestion.

Understanding the Earth Element

In TCM, the Earth element is integral to health, representing stability, nourishment, and transformation. It governs the Spleen and Stomach, responsible for digestion and nutrient distribution. During Late Summer, the Earth element is most prominent, making it essential to support these organs.

The Earth element also impacts our emotional and mental processing. A strong Earth element fosters stability and resilience. Maintaining this balance is crucial as we transition from Late Summer to Fall.

Adjust To The Energy of Late Summer

Late Summer brings a final burst of nature’s energy before harvest. It’s often hot and humid, and fluctuating weather can be challenging. Adapting to this energy helps maintain balance and health.

Aligning with Late Summer’s energy involves understanding its characteristics, such as:

• The Earth element
• The concept of “Center” and grounding
• The Stomach and Spleen organs and meridians
• The color Yellow
• The mouth as the sense organ
• Muscles as the affected tissues
• Sweetness as a taste
• Damp and humid climates
• Worry or pensiveness when out of balance
• Empathy and nurturing when in balance
• The Spirit of Yi, or the Intellect

Focus on feeling grounded and balanced, both physically and mentally. This practice can help you stay centered and adapt to the season’s transitions.

Health And Dietary Changes In Late Summer

Supporting the Spleen and Stomach during Late Summer can enhance digestion. Imbalances may lead to issues such as nausea, bloating, weight gain, or digestive discomfort. These imbalances often stem from “Dampness,” a disruption in digestion and water metabolism.

Foods To Avoid That Cause Dampness

To prevent Damp conditions, limit the following:

• Sugar and sweets
• Dairy (except yogurt)
• Refined grains and starches
• Excess raw fruit and vegetables
• Cold beverages
• Fermented foods with yeast and vinegar
• Alcohol
• Deep-fried foods
• Excess fat and oils

For a more immediate impact on your health, consider following the Nourish To Heal Diet & Lifestyle Cleanse . This can help address any imbalances and support a smooth transition to a new season.

Chinese Medicine Spleen Diet To Resolve Dampness

Include the following foods to help resolve Dampness and support balance:

• Vegetables: Scallions, chives, leeks, celery, potato, lettuce, mushrooms, squash, daikon radish
• Fruit: Seasonal, local, and cooked (except melons, citrus, grapes), limited to 2-3 servings daily
• Herbs & Essential Oils: Basil, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, cilantro, parsley, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel
• Nuts, Seeds & Beans: Aduki beans, mung beans, pumpkin seeds, peas
• Animal Protein: Yogurt, fish, chicken, beef (organic, grass-fed)
• Grains: Corn, millet, barley, rice, rye (soaked before cooking)
• Sweets: Raw honey
• Teas: Green, chrysanthemum, barley

While protein is important, reduce its amount if you’re dealing with Dampness. Avoid overeating heavy, hard-to-digest foods and consider reducing dietary fats.

The Best Environments in Late Summer

It’s also wise to avoid damp and humid environment if you can, especially if this is your constitution and are prone to having the health imbalances listed above. You would do better with normal humidity or even drier locations. And if that’s not possible, then do your best to adjust the humidity level in your home.

Conclusion

Late Summer is a time to ground and nourish yourself while supporting digestion. By aligning with the Earth element and TCM principles, you can maintain health and balance during this transitional period.

I hope this information helps! If you have any health concerns related to Earth and Late Summer, consider making some changes today.

Feel free to comment below with questions or to share your experience. For personalized support, schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me here. You can also visit my practice in Belmont, CA for in-person sessions or explore online holistic healing options.

You can schedule a free 15 min. consultation with me here.