Have you felt the fresh chill in the air? Or noticed the shorter days? We are now in the throes of Late Summer, aka the fifth season of the year, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Late Summer bridges the gap between the hot, hazy days of Summer and the crisp days of Fall, spanning mid-August to the Fall Equinox. This period corresponds to the Earth Element and relates to balance, centering, and boundaries.
Why is this seasonal change important to us, you may ask? Because it impacts our health and well-being! Traditional Chinese Medicine knows that shifts in the environment are always reflected in our body. By living in accordance with the seasons and implementing appropriate lifestyle changes, we can maintain balance and prevent illness. It can also be a powerful way to ride the waves of uncertainty and challenge that we are currently being faced with. By getting back to basics and caring for our physical, emotional and spiritual Self, we are more able to stand in our power and navigate the path ahead with equanimity and sound judgement.
The shift from Summer to Late Summer is when we move from the most Yang (warm, hot, dry, bright, active) time of year, to a more Yin (cool, moist, dark, quiet, still) time of year.
The Earth element represents the center of the body, where we receive and process nourishment, and contributes to our boundaries by establishing a healthy balance in our relationship to giving and receiving. The Earth is connected to digestion and the organs of the Spleen and Stomach, which are responsible for transforming food and drink into the substances and energy we need for all bodily functions.
When the Earth Element is in balance, we are able to nourish ourselves and those around us in a supportive manner, and we have strong muscles, strong digestion, vibrant energy and the ability to think clearly. When Earth is out of balance, the body is weak, the muscles are flaccid, there are disharmonies of the digestive tract, and we may have weak boundaries (giving too much, oversharing, victimization). Related Western patterns include candida, diabetes, MS, fibromyalgia, IBS, prolapse, and failure to grow and thrive in children.
Takeaway: Late Summer is all about < nourishment and moderation > . Walk the middle path, reflect, and prepare for the Yin time ahead.
Now that you understand the basics of Late Summer, here are some simple ways that you can weave the tenants of < nourishment and moderation > into your daily routine.
Late Summer Tips for Optimal Health & Prevention of Illness
Sweet: Flavor of the Earth
The flavor associated with the Earth element -- and especially the Spleen -- is sweet. This means we want to incorporate a little bit of mild sweetness (found in fruits like melons and berries and veggies like beets and carrots) and cut back on excessively sweet and cold food and drink like ice cream, cookies, sodas, and processed food, as well as high sugar fruits like mangos and oranges. This is especially important for someone with a cold, damp constitution (manifesting as bloating, gas, indigestion).
Orange & Yellow: Glow of Late Summer
The colors associated with the Earth element are orange and yellow, so make this your guide for choosing foods. This includes fruits and vegetables such as carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, summer squash, lemons, peaches and apricots. Other foods that support the Spleen include millet, cabbage, chickpeas, soybeans, mung beans, potatoes, white mushrooms, green beans, rice, amaranth, peas, snow peas, and chestnuts. As late summer turns cooler, begin to incorporate more warming foods to support spleen energetics such as ginger, squash, pumpkin, fennel, and mustard greens.
Not Too Hot, Not too Cold
Again, think moderation when it comes to how you prepare your foods. Cook with moderate temperatures and time, such as sautéing with added water for a steaming effect. Avoid too much barbecuing, as it can cause an excess fire of the stomach, which can result in constipation, acid reflux, anxiety and hyperactivity.
Chew Thoroughly & Eat Mindfully
This may seem like a small thing, but strong digestion begins with how well we CHEW our food and taking our time. The more thoroughly we chew our food, the easier it is for the enzymes in the digestive tract to break it down, extract the nutrients from it, and get rid of the waste products. The more mindfully we eat, the easier our body can relax into a parasympathetic state, which is optimal for digestion.
Eat Local and In-Season
This is a guideline for each of the five seasons, as it helps us eat whole and organic foods. Not only will this support optimal digestion, but it supports your local farmer, and minimizes environmental impact by reducing food transportation. Here are a couple of favorite recipes for the Late Summer: Carrot and Ginger Soup and Simple Roasted Beets.
Late Fall Meditation: What do I need to harvest?
The spiritual practice for the Late Summer is to reflect on the question, "What do I need to Harvest?" The practice for Autumn, beginning on September 22nd, is to reflect on the question, "What have I Harvested?" Begin and end your day with a meditation on the question. If we take time to honor this energy, our Harvest will be ripe and abundant and it will be able to see us through the Winter. This is especially important given that the past several months have been extremely hard and taxing, and many of us have had to question the stability of our livelihoods, health and world around us. By asking, “What do I need to harvest”, we can proactively and positively focus on small steps and achievements.
If you need support in navigating this transition time and want to ensure that you are feeling strong, solid and balanced in the weeks and months ahead, I can support you in real-time with acupuncture, herbal medicine and dietary support.