In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there’s a unique fifth season called late summer, marked by the earth element. This transitional period sees Yang energy giving way to Yin, with cool mornings and evenings and warm, humid days.
Late summer and the doyo periods—transitions between seasons—require special care for health. The earth element governs the spleen, stomach, and digestion, emphasizing balanced eating. Harmonizing digestion during this time can prevent illness and enhance well-being.
Let’s explore TCM’s perspective on late summer, focusing on digestive health, the importance of full versus empty sweets, the impact of dampness, and tips for maintaining balance during this season.
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What is the Fifth Season in Traditional Chinese Medicine?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we have a fifth season, the season of late summer. This season is guided by the earth element and is thought of as the season of transition. This is when utmost Yang begins to dwindle into more Yin. The mornings and evenings begin to cool off, but the days are still very warm and often humid.
The earth element dominates late summer and the doyo period. The doyo is the time between each season, roughly 18 days around the solstices and equinoxes. It’s important to take care of yourself during this time because people often feel run down and can get sick or catch a cold during the doyo period between seasons.
Late Summer Digestive Wellness with TCM Principles
In traditional Chinese medicine, our bodies reflect the natural world we live in and being in harmony with the seasons increases health and well-being. In TCM, the spleen, stomach, and digestive system are at the center of health, regulating and harmonizing the effects of seasonal extremes and the digestive system is guided by the earth element. The earth element is all about food and nourishment, what we eat, and how it makes our bodies feel.
The TCM concept of digestion, elimination, and nourishment is complex. The Spleen guides the digestive process by guiding the transportation and transformation of food and fluids with a lifting, upward motion. This enables the Spleen to separate the clear (essential, usable nutrients) from the turbid (waste products).
The Stomach is also involved, breaking down food and then sending it down into the intestines. Eating well, taking time to sit and mindfully enjoy your food will help harmonize digestion and prevent you from getting sick during late summer and all of the doyo periods throughout the year.
Food Suggestions for Late Summer
In general, during late summer, yellowy and orangey foods are advised. This is because the earth element favors sweet foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and corn. Interestingly, these are foods that tend to be plentiful this time of year so it’s quite easy to eat plenty of them if you eat in harmony with the seasons. The yellow and orange foods are all high in vitamin A which is important for vision and improving your immune system function.
Late Summer Fruit and Vegetables to Eat
- Peaches – eat peaches with the skin on to maximize fiber, high in potassium and vitamin A
- Sweet potatoes – full of vitamin A and incredibly beneficial for the Spleen and Stomach and aiding digestion
- Root vegetables such as beets, carrots, parsnips – full of antioxidants, also incredibly beneficial for digestion and full of fiber as well as many B vitamins
- Squash – high in fiber, calcium, iron, and magnesium and very easy to digest
- Corn – shockingly high in protein compared to other vegetables
Full vs Empty Sweets
The Spleen can cause a person to crave sweets in TCM. It’s important to eat full sweets rather than empty sweets. We think of full sweets as fruits and vegetables that naturally have a sweet flavor. Cookies and other sweets full of refined sugars are empty sweets that have little nutritional value and can cause dampness in the body. Other foods that tend to cause dampness are excess dairy, greasy foods, fried foods, and highly processed foods.
How Does Dampness Affect the Body?
Dampness is a pattern, or syndrome, that can occur in the body causing symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, foggy thinking, and even joint pain. In TCM, dampness can easily happen related to factors such as overconsumption of sweets and alcohol, fatigue, stress, lack of movement/exercise, and even a damp climate. Dampness can also be made worse by irregular eating habits.
Dampness can cause someone to feel lethargic and swollen. It can cause achiness in joints, loose stools, difficulty concentrating, bloating, loose stools, and even sadness or depression.
Practical Tips for Avoiding Dampness
To keep your middle jiao, the center of digestion in TCM, feeling its absolute best, it’s a good idea to eat regular meals. Take time to mindfully eat and focus on what you are eating. Avoid distractions such as reading or working while eating.
Eat warm, cooked foods rather than too much raw or cold food which can weaken your digestion in TCM. Focus on getting plenty of exercise and stretching your muscles. This will also harmonize your Spleen in TCM.
It’s also a good idea to avoid alcohol during the doyo, the time between seasons. If you are experiencing sugar cravings, try eating more full sweets such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets. This should satisfy your craving and also nourish your Spleen and Stomach.
Do You Need More Seasonal Support?
If you feel like you need to harmonize and nourish your body then give acupuncture, herbal medicine, and food therapy a try. Your acupuncturist will use your tongue, pulse, medical history, and current symptoms to create a custom treatment plan that is just for you — because you deserve to feel better. To get started, head to our booking page and schedule your first appointment. If you’d like us to check your insurance benefits, we’d be happy to take care of that for you. Our acupuncture clinic in Washington, DC is in-network with CareFirst/BlueCross and Aetna.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Elyse, the go-getter who founded Cherry Blossom Healing Arts. I’m 100% a healer who loves to help people feel better! I absolutely love practicing acupuncture in Washington, DC.
