Late Summer: A Season of Balance and Grounding

Late Summer spans from mid-August through September 22nd and represents a transitional period in Traditional Chinese Medicine it is a fifth season, when we shift from the expansive, outward energy of summer (Yang) to the more inward, reflective energy of autumn and winter (Yin).

The Earth Element: Spleen and Stomach

Late Summer corresponds to the Earth Element, governing the Spleen and Stomach systems. These organs thrive on routine and regularity, helping us feel centered and grounded. The Earth Element embodies nurturing, motherly energy—giving, supporting, and caring. However, people with strong Earth energy often excel at giving to others while struggling to replenish their own reserves.

Source: Pexels

According to TCM, one of the main functions of the Spleen is to transform and transport nutrients from food and fluids. Apart from the digestive part, the Spleen in TCM is responsible for many other functions:

* Produce Blood from the food and drink – lethargy could be a sign of Spleen deficiency

* Controls the blood vessels, keeping the blood from leaking – If you bruise easily, it’s a sign that your Spleen is a little bit weak.

* Helps keep your organs “upright” and in their proper place – prolapse according to TCM is thought to stem from a Spleen disturbance.

* Houses clear thinking, the intellect – so if your Spleen is out of balance, your thoughts may not be as clear and your thinking muddled.

* Control of muscles – weak muscles and atrophy can be a reflection of a Spleen imbalance.

TCM clock

Source: https://www.nirvananaturopathics.com/blog/traditional-chinese-organ-body-clock

In TCM each organ has its own time of day where it’s at its strongest, as for the Earth, it is in the morning,  Stomach’s between 7:00 and 9:00AM, the Spleen’s between 9:00 and 11:00AM. Eating your biggest meal of the day between these times means you’re going to have optimum digestion, and your body is going to be able to absorb the most Qi from the food and transform it to give your body the most energy available.

TCM theory recommends to abstaining from eating for at least 2 hours before bedtime, this allows for food to begin to digest before you sleep, giving an important break to the digestive organs overnight.  The Gallbladder and Liver (Wood element) are at their strongest from 11pm-1am (Gallbladder) and from 1-3am (Liver).  During these hours, it is important for your body to be in a deep sleep state and not distracted by digestive tasks, otherwise the Wood will not be able to perform its many functions and you may struggle with sleep, become irritable or dysregulated.

That is why in TCM we recommend eating during daylight and resting at night, we should ideally restrict our eating to daylight hours. I often get asked about intermittent fasting, where most people eat in the second part of the day, skipping breakfast. In TCM we would advice against it, as you are wasting your strongest digestive energy, and by eating in the evening slowing your system down. It is best to eat regularly, starting when the digestive energy is strongest and finishing before the Wood element becomes active.

Source: Pexels

Signs Your Spleen Needs Support

Watch for these common symptoms of Spleen imbalance:

·       Morning fatigue and difficulty waking up

·       Poor morning appetite or nausea

·       Morning digestive urgency or diarrhoea

·       Undigested food in stool

·       Unexplained weight gain, feeling sluggish

·       Loose/ mucusy bowels

·       Chronic bloating, accumulation of water

·       Sugar cravings

·       Easy bruising

·       Persistent worry, overthinking, or catastrophizing

Dampness

Poor energy of Earth can develop what we call “Dampness”, that can be translated as thicker fluids, that have propensity to block the channels and make us feel heavy, sluggish. Some other symptoms of Dampness include fatigue, foggy heads, low appetite, bloating, loose mucusy stools, UTIs and yeast infections. Dampness can come from the poor function of the Stomach and Spleen, eating Damp forming diet or external Dampness, which can be persistent in UK during autumn months.

Remedies for Damp

1.     Limit or exclude completely:

·       Greasy, deep fried, spicy foods

·       Processed sugary foods

·       Excessive raw foods and dairy products

·       Cold foods and icy beverages

·       Tropical fruits (bananas, oranges)

·       Peanuts- considered as congealing

2.   Include foods like

Grains: Corn, barley, basmati rice

Vegetables: Alfalfa sprout, button mushroom, caper, corn, pumpkin, radish, turnip,

Fruit: Papaya, lemon, umeboshi plum

Beans: Aduki, lentils

Fish: Eel, tuna

Herbs & spices: Aniseed, garlic, horseradish, marjoram, nettle, parsley, white pepper

Beverages: Green tea, raspberry leaf tea, jasmine tea, orange peel tea

Other advice would be regular daily movement and stress management.

Nourishing Foods for Late Summer

Late Summer is the harvest time, when naturally sweet foods are abundant. The sweet flavour strengthens digestion when it comes from whole foods:

Naturally Sweet Fruit and Vegetables:

·       Peaches, plums

·       Apples, pears

·       Cherries

·       Grapes and any berries

·       Pumpkin

·       Long-cooked onions

·       Carrots and parsnips

·       Mushrooms

·       tomatoes

·       Winter squash varieties

·       Sweet potatoes and yams

·       Yellow and orange bell peppers

·       Beetroot, celery root

·       Corn and millet

Meal Guidelines:

·       Choose well-cooked, easily digestible foods

·       Eat meals at regular times

·       Include small amounts of fermented foods

·       Focus on warming, grounding preparations

Some Ideas for Late Summer

Breakfast

·       Warm porridge with cinnamon, honey, nuts, seeds, and berries

·       Warming Herbal teas instead of

-       Fresh ginger tea

-       Fennel tea

-       Orange peel tea

·       Cooling drinks if the weather is still hot

-       Mint water or tea

-       Lemon/ lime, and cucumber water

Lunch

·       Warming soups featuring butternut squash, sweet potato, carrot, or pumpkin

·       Whole grain pita or bread

·       Lightly cooked vegetables

Dinner

·       Hearty stews, stir-fries, or rice dishes with some beef,  lots of root vegetables, squash, leafy greens, and fresh ginger

Snacks

·       Seeds and nuts in moderation

·       Stewed fruit with warming spices like cinnamon

·       Oatmeal cookies made with natural sweeteners

Enjoy that ripe peach, take a mindful walk and if your body’s feeling out of balance, come see me for an acupuncture session — your Earth element will thank you.

Sending lots of nurturing energy your way

Kate