Late Summer: Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Fifth Season
Most of us think of the year in four seasons, but in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is a fifth season: late summer. This transitional period occurs in the weeks between the height of summer and the beginning of autumn. The classical text Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) describes late summer as the season of dampness and transformation—a time when the earth yields its harvest, and our bodies mirror this process by digesting, absorbing, and transforming nourishment.
The Earth Element and Its Energetics
In TCM, late summer corresponds to the Earth element, which is the foundation of balance and stability. The Earth is what nurtures and sustains life, and in our bodies, the Earth element is expressed through the organ systems of the Spleen and Stomach.
- The Spleen transforms food and drink into the energy (Qi) that fuels our bodies.
- The Stomach receives nourishment and begins the process of digestion.
Together, they represent our ability to process not only food, but also thoughts and experiences. When our Earth element is strong, we feel centered, grounded, and nourished both physically and emotionally.
Worry and Overthinking: The Emotion of Earth
Each element in TCM is associated with an emotion. For Earth, it is worry or overthinking. Just as dampness in nature creates heaviness, mental “dampness” can manifest as circular thinking, rumination, or difficulty finding clarity.
During late summer, we may be more prone to:
- Over-analyzing or feeling mentally “stuck”
- Digestive upset brought on by stress or irregular eating
- Fatigue that comes from giving too much without replenishing ourselves
This is why nourishing the Earth element is so important. When the Spleen and Stomach are supported, the mind becomes clearer, worry eases, and we feel more resilient in body and spirit.
Common Late Summer Symptoms
When the Earth element is imbalanced, symptoms often mirror the damp, heavy quality of the season:
- Excess worry, overthinking, or feeling ungrounded
- Digestive issues: bloating, nausea, loose stools, or poor appetite
- Fatigue, heaviness, or “brain fog”
- Swelling or fluid retention
- Sinus congestion or skin eruptions
Tips for Staying Healthy in Late Summer
- Favor Earth-nourishing foods. Choose warm, cooked meals with seasonal vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Avoid too much raw, greasy, or cold food, which can weaken the Spleen. Seasonal foods that support the Earth element include:
- Root vegetables: sweet potatoes, carrots, beets
- Squashes: butternut, acorn, zucchini
- Grains: millet, rice, oats, barley
- Legumes: chickpeas, lentils, peas
- Fruits: peaches, pears, figs, dates
- Mildly sweet foods: corn, yams, chestnuts
- Eat mindfully. Take meals at regular times, chew thoroughly, and avoid multitasking while eating.
- Stay balanced with fluids. Sip warm or room-temperature drinks and avoid iced beverages, which can disrupt digestion.
- Move your Qi. Gentle exercise like walking, qigong, or yoga helps transform dampness and lifts energy.
- Nurture your mind. Journaling, meditation, or setting aside quiet moments can help ease worry and restore clarity.
- Schedule acupuncture. Treatments can strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, clear dampness, and calm the mind, helping you feel grounded now and better prepared for autumn.
Preparing for Autumn
Late summer isn’t just a season of its own—it also serves as a bridge to autumn, which in TCM is associated with the Metal element and the organs of the Lung and Large Intestine. The strength of the Earth element directly supports the Metal element, meaning that by fortifying digestion and grounding our energy in late summer, we prepare ourselves for the dry, contractive energy of autumn.
Think of it as tending the soil before planting the next season’s crop: the better we nourish and stabilize now, the healthier we’ll feel moving into fall.
Bringing It All Together
Late summer is a season of transformation, both in nature and within us. By caring for the Earth element during this time, we not only ease the challenges of the present season but also create a strong foundation for the months ahead.
👉 Book your acupuncture appointment today to nourish your Earth element and move into autumn feeling balanced, clear, and energized.
Book online or call us in East Nashville at 615-457-1979 or in Bellevue at 615-645-9866 to schedule your next appointment with us.
