Late Summer and Chinese Medicine

Late Summer & Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine centres around living in harmony with the seasons and late summer is the ‘extra’ season that is not defined in our Western thinking.  Even though our climate is quite different to that in China and very few of us are able to plan our lives around the rising and setting of the sun, an awareness of how the seasons impact our physical and mental well being can still be of great benefit. 

Earth Element

Of the five elements (Wood, Earth, Fire, Metal and Water), late summer is associated with Earth and Earth is associated with the digestive system.  In fact, our energy always returns to the earth for regeneration at the end of every season and this highlights the importance of the digestive system as the centre of our body and our overall health. Imbalances in this area can manifest as issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diarrhoea or constipation and bloating. Earth is also responsible for dampness and this can lead to a number of issues including gaining weight that is difficult to lose, a feeling of sluggishness or heaviness, sinus issues and joint pain.

Emotions

On an emotional level, the earth element is nurturing and caring, it has its root in stability and harmony and thrives on planning. This correlates with the physical aspect of the digestive system which thrives on routine.  The root cause of issues with the digestive system in Chinese Medicine are often cited as irregular meal times or over or under eating. The challenging emotion associated with earth and the digestive system is worry, that washing machine brain that refuses to quieten just when you are trying to fall asleep. 

Nurture

So now we have arrived in September, it is the perfect time to nurture both your digestive system and the overactive worry you might be experiencing. You can do this through focusing on  the foods coming into season right now such as sweet potatoes, root vegetables, carrots and blackberries. Whole grains such as millet and rice also really support this element. Eating warm and nourishing foods is essential for digestive health if you are experiencing symptoms in this area as well as eating regular meals and taking your time to sit down and eat slowly. 

Activities that nurture are as important as the food we eat. Walks in the fresh air, yoga and qigong are all good choices and acupuncture of course has a strong part to play in rebalancing at this time. As well as this, do whatever is emotionally nurturing for you. A chat with a good friend, getting lost in a book or singing out loud. Whatever it is, nurturing is not just something we give as caregivers to others, it is something we must give to ourselves to replenish for the coming season.

Transitioning through seasons reminds us that change is part of life. Relax into it and you will feel the difference.

"If you realise that all things change,
there is nothing you will try to hold on to."
- Lao Tzu