by Kate Barton, LAc
Living in the Northeast, late summer is always a complex time of year. We often grieve the long, languid days of a Summer that always seems far too short while looking forward to the sights and smells of the countryside having been touched by mother nature’s autumn paint brush. It is a time of harvest and reflection leading into the solitude of winter.
The late summer is often a chaotic time in life as well with folks with children and working in education focusing on back to school. We spend a lot of time worrying about what the school year might bring, or how bountiful this year’s harvest might be. This is also a time when we may struggle to maintain our fitness routine amidst all of the chaos leading to loss of muscle tone and strength. All of the worry, anxiety, and stress can lead to a disharmony within the Earth element.
In TCM, the late summer is ruled by the Earth element. The Earth element is associated with the major organs of digestion, the spleen and stomach. In TCM, the spleen and stomach are responsible for transforming and transporting nutrients from food all over the body to build and maintain muscle among other things. When faced with a disharmony within the Earth element, muscles begin not working as they should and digestion can become difficult or sluggish, compounding feelings of worry for many.
Acupuncture and eating nutrients that benefit the spleen and stomach can help overcome some of the hurdles of Earth element disharmony. The flavor associated with Earth element is sweet, with squashes and sweet potatoes being amazing foods to help nourish the spleen/stomach. It is certainly no coincidence that late summer is the time of year when these foods are freshly harvested! In that same vein, getting out and getting your hands dirty working in the Earth can also help strengthen the elemental connection within the body.
It is easy to lament the passage of another glorious Northeastern summer, but by embracing the sweetness of late summer, we can possibly help repair the disharmonies that sneak up on us within our internal Earth.