Ah, summer! There’s a few weeks left to enjoy the long, lazy days of summer. It’s the time of steady harvest and abundance and vacation time, and we have barbeques to enjoy, ice pops to eat, and other fun activities to attend. How will you be spending yours?

In the world of Chinese Medicine, this is a distinct and transitional time; Earth season! It’s the short period between the height of summer heat and the cooling of autumn. This season carries special meaning in Five Element/Five Phase theory. 

Each season is denoted to a specific element, and we are currently in the Earth phase of the year. The Earth element correlates to our core body; specifically the spleen and stomach organs. Your core is the pivot point of your body. It is the center; the place of balance and stability, just as late summer is a major pivot in the year. 

The spleen and stomach’s role is to govern digestion, nourishment, and the transformation/transportation of food and fluids. When your Earth element is strong, you are grounded; your body works well and your digestion is good. However, summer can also be a time when Dampness accumulates in the body, a pathological condition in Chinese Medicine.

Dampness is a heavy, sticky, and stagnant type of energy or fluid that accumulates in the body, hindering the flow of Qi and potentially damaging Yang energy. Dampness is caused by external factors like prolonged exposure to humidity or internal factors like poor dietary habits. Summertime sweating takes a toll on the body, and our pores repeatedly open and close throughout the day as we go in and out of air-conditioned interiors. Throw in a lot of swimming and sitting around in damp bathing suits coupled with too many barbeques and alcohol, and this is where we see problems arise. All of these factors weaken our Earth element, so it’s not uncommon to see internal Dampness accumulation by mid to late summer. What does this look like? Dampness creates a feeling of fullness and sluggishness. Your body may feel heavy and hard to move. It causes poor appetite, brain fog, and nausea, and sometimes loose stool/diarrhea or bloating. 

So, how do we combat this from happening? Balance is key! Balance is one of the principle themes in Chinese Medicine; living a life of balance means that the body is more likely to be in harmony with itself and the world around it. To keep one’s self balanced and to avoid the pitfalls of internal Dampness at this time of year, try these tips:

Nourish your digestion! Eat at regular times, avoiding overindulgence.

Eat according to the season: Focus on nourishing, easy-to-digest foods: grains, legumes, lightly cooked vegetables. Moderate your intake of alcohol, cold, raw, greasy, sugary, and overly processed foods, which burden the Spleen and Stomach.

Naturally sweet (not refined sugar) flavors—like yams, carrots, squash, and dates support the Earth element. Barley, millet, and mung beans can help drain internal dampness if it’s excessive. Have watermelon or other fruit in lieu of ice desserts.

Grounding practices: Walking in nature, meditation, practicing Qi Gong, Tai Qi, Yoga, o

r other meditative activities help harmonize Earth energy. Late summer is about steady, centered living, unlike the high output of early summer or the withdrawal of winter. Get enough sleep!

Find balance: This is the time to stabilize and replenish one’s self, and prepare for the oncoming inward energy of autumn.

And of course, Acupuncture! It is common in Asian culture to prepare the body seasonally by receiving regular acupuncture treatments at each season of the year. This mindset of preparedness helps combat the cycle of indulgence leading to illness.