By Hayley Stobbs R.Ac, CNC
As summer days begin to shorten with temperatures rising and falling, we can feel a shift in the external pattern of nature, which manifests internally. The Chinese Medicine (CM) season of Late Summer marks the transitional period between the two yang seasons of Spring and Summer, toward the yin seasons of Autumn and Winter. This short period of hot and often humid (damp) seasonal weather extends from mid August to the Autumn Equinox or first day of Fall. This post focuses on a few main resonances of Late summer: the earth element, the Spleen, and the emotion worry.
BEFORE WE BEGIN: Clarifying the Chinese Medicine term ‘Organ’
When acupuncturists refer to a specific organ we are describing a system of interrelated physiological functions and senses, meridian and paired organ processes, mind-body-spirit aspects, and cosmic-seasonal resonances that collectively refer to one’s inner-external state of balance and patterns. This is unlike western medicine, which focuses on physiological functions related to anatomical structures in health and disease.
THE SPLEEN SYSTEM | FOOT TAI YIN
The associated organs of Late Summer, the Spleen and Stomach, represent the entire transformative process of our digestive system from mouth to anus. When our mind and body are in balance, we are able to assimilate and absorb nutrients (and life) into qi and blood for the health of our entire being. Our digestive system is akin to the earth’s soil: it must be fed, watered, and tended to in just the right amount for our constitution and climate in order to thrive and flourish/produce flower and fruit.
Here is a review of its main functions & relations:
Governs transportation and transformation of food and water into nourishment. Separates distilled food essences from the Stomach to help create Qi and blood.
Controls blood. Helps make Qi and blood and keeps (holds) it in vessels.
Controls the muscles and the four limbs: tone, texture.
Opens into the mouth and manifests on lips. Controls clear saliva.
Controls raising (ascending) of pure Qi.
Houses the spirit of Yi: thought/intellect.
Affected by worry and overthinking.
Circadian rhythm energetics: 9 – 11 am
Associated with the Earth element: the sweet flavour and smell, singing sound, and the colours yellow and orange.
Interior-exterior relationship with the Stomach.
Six channel theory pairing: Lung hand tai yin.
SPLEEN + EARTH ELEMENT IMBALANCE
Digestive symptoms: loose stool and undigested food, any chronic digestive symptoms.
Hormone imbalance: hypothyroidism, PCOS, diabetes, menstrual disorders, fertility.
Excess worry, overthinking, obsession, neediness.
Over-nurturing others while not taking care of self or refusing help.
Foggy thinking, hard to concentrate.
Heaviness of the limbs and poor muscular tone.
Organ prolapse.
Low appetite.
Eating disorders.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE SPLEEN
The three most effective ways to support Spleen health include food nourishment, meal timing, and stress or worry management. The Spleen system is strengthened through the intake of warm and cooked foods and routine meals that are eaten at the same time every day. When you eat at similar times each day, with mindfulness and gratitude, your body naturally prepares digestive juices and enzymes to help break down the food into nutrients. You also want to make sure one of these meals is within its active circadian rhythm phase, between 9 - 11 am, to ensure adequate Spleen nourishment. Please see the end of this post for related links and read on to learn more about the mental-emotional realm of the Spleen.
SPLEEN STRENGTHENING FOODS
Natural sweet foods nourish the Spleen and Stomach and moistens dryness. The flavour sweet harmonizes all of the other flavours and when digested effectively produces Qi and blood in combination with air (breath). There are two different types of sweet foods, “full sweet,” and “empty sweet.” Full sweet includes mild sweet foods such as root vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy, nuts and seeds. Empty sweet includes fruits and natural sweeteners. Full sweet is generally strengthening and warming whereas empty sweet is more cooling and cleansing. In balance, this flavour can be enjoyed at every meal alongside meat and non-starchy vegetables. With too much consumption of sweet, especially empty sweet foods, a build-up of damp, phlegm, and heat can form. Over-eating this flavour can cause deficiency of the Kidney and Spleen, and can weaken bones.
My favourite resource for food energetics information is from the book Helping Ourselves by Daverick Leggett.
Grains: barley, buckwheat, job’s tear’s, kamut, millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, spelt.
Vegetables: alfalfa sprout, asparagus, aubergine (eggplant), broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, swiss chard, cilantro, cucumber, dandelion leaf, fennel, Jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi, leek, mustard leaf, parsnip, plantain, potato, pumpkin, summer squash, winter squash, string bean, sweet potato, turnip, water chestnut, watercress.
Fruits: apple, avocado, banana, blueberry, cherry, date, fig, grape, grapefruit, kiwi, mandarin, mango, mulberry, papaya, persimmon, pineapple, plum, pomegranate, strawberry.
Beans: aduki, blackeye bean, broad bean (fava), chickpea, lentil, pea.
Nuts & Seeds: almond, chestnut, coconut, flax, hazelnut, hemp, pumpkin, sunflower.
Fish: anchovy, herring, perch, salmon, tuna, whitefish.
Meat: beef, chicken, duck, goat, goose, ham, lamb, pork, quail, rabbit, turkey.
Dairy: butter, cheese, egg, ghee.
Culinary herbs: anise, basil, cardamom, cayenne, chili, cinnamon, clove, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, hawthorn, horseradish, juniper, licorice, marjoram, nettle, nutmeg, oregano, rosemary, thyme, turmeric.
Medicinal herbs & spices: angelica, astragalus, barberry, bitter orange peel, chamomile, chaste tree, chickweed, chrysanthemum, damiana, elecampane, frankincense, gentian, geranium, ginseng (Chinese, Korean), goldenseal, hemp, jasmine, juniper, lovage, mugwort, myrrh, osha, rhubarb root, rose, sassafras, saw palmetto, white horehound, wormwood, yarrow.
THE EARTH ELEMENT
Symbolically this transitional period represents the Earth element, which depicts each change of season as the angle of its axis tilts. The Earth element energy is therefore active approximately 7 - 14 days prior to each change of season; this is a great time to do a light cleanse and to take time for reflection. During transitional pre-season periods it’s helpful to cleanse the digestive system and support immunity to buffer upcoming inside-out climate changes that may offset mind-body balance.
Transitional times are periods of preservation for adaptation. During late summer we want to preserve the yang abundance of Spring and Summer so that we may carry its essence in our flesh, bones, mind, and spirit through darker Fall and Winter months. Practices may include reflecting with gratitude from cell to soul the highlights of our summer days while preserving nature’s abundance through canning, dehydrating, and freezing.
When we observe this element we see that it offers a place for rest, nurturing and nourishment, and mentorship in its ways. The Earth as our true mother represents the embodiment of feeling grounded and centered, of giving and receiving, cyclic adaptability, and the nurturing of our inner mother and body as home throughout every phase of life.
What does feeling grounded and centered mean?
Connecting to neutral awareness of your earth body while observing somatic sensations such as your feet on the ground; feeling stable, calm, and balanced.
”The earth provides stability by governing movement in the center of the body. The more stable the middle is the more stable the emotional life is. When the middle is obstructed or too weak, the amility to process expereince is compromised and the ability to remain calm and think our way through things is affected.” - Yvonne Farrell, DAOM, LAc
3 STEPS TO FEEL MORE GROUNDED
1) Connect your feet to the earth daily. Go for a walk or hike to absorb nature’s essence; this cleanses, grounds, and supports the energy body. For extra impact, take off your shoes and socks and feel your feet against the soil, sand, or rocks. As you do so practice breath-work and visualize roots extending from the soles of your feet into the earth.
2) Decrease screen time. Excess electro-magnetic energy of cell phones and computers can cause a rising and stagnation of energy within and decreases melatonin production via blue light exposure. Aim to disconnect Wifi at least a few hours before bed to ensure a good nights sleep.
3) Nourish your body. Decrease sugar, caffeine, and processed foods, and make the intention to prepare a variety of balancing whole foods meals throughout the week. Foods that increase feelings of calm energy include root vegetables, meat, broths, and sea salt. Take 3 deep breaths prior to eating and keep reading below for further nutritive support.
"If it can be solved, there's no need to worry, and if it can't be solved, worry is of no use." - Dalai Lama
WORRY + THE SPLEEN
The primary emotion related to the Spleen and Stomach is worry, along with associated feelings such as overwhelm, overthinking, rumination, guilt, and nervousness. When out of balance these emotions raise concerns such as, “Do I have enough, am I doing enough, and am I enough?” When the earth element is in balance, listening to our truths from the centre of our being while allowing ‘the mud to settle’ arises with greater ease.
Food for thought: In Chinese Medicine (CM) worrying or overthinking (such as in studying) can cause digestive symptoms and digestive imbalances can cause extra worry in one’s life. We can also observe direct influences of our thought processes on digestion through somatic phrases and feelings such as:
Let me chew on this for a while
I need some time to digest this information
These nerves are causing butterflies
My stomach’s in a knot
5 TIPS FOR WORKING THROUGH WORRY
1) Zoom out and look at the big perspective.
Will this matter 5, 10 years from now?
So what?
Have I gone through this before and how did I deal with it?
Is the worry worth the depletion of my energy?
2) Inquire within.
Is the worry presenting itself to distract myself from something deeper that I don’t want to deal with?
What is true here; what am I feeding?
What’s the best that could happen?
Working with a counsellor can help guide this process along.
3) Increase self-nurturing. Ask yourself, “What can I do to take care of myself right now?” Schedule time to take care of your foundational health and do something every day that makes you authentically feel good. Nurturing your reserves means that you will have more energy to work out problems toward solutions, and will be less likely to cling on to negative thoughts.
4) Write out your worries; practice free writing. Take 10 minutes every day at the same time to write out your worries, starting with “I feel…” and let the words flow without judgement. As you finish, consider writing 3 things that you’re grateful for and reflect on how a difficult experience or situation has helped to serve you in some way.
5) Move it out while focusing on the senses. Exercise, dance, or walk to increase endorphins which will help to soothe thinking patterns. Pay attention to your senses (touch, sound, sight, etc) to practice being in your body in the present moment. See above, 3 tips for increasing groundedness,
If you’re interested in nutrition and acupuncture I’d be happy to guide you along. Please visit www.vcaspa.com to book online or call 250-590-4341. To learn more about my acupuncture practice, follow @hayley_stobbs on Instagram.
Wishing you love & vitality,
Hayley Stobbs R.Ac, CNC
Related Posts:
My Acupuncturist Tells Me I’m Damp!
Basic Whole Foods Guidelines
Mindful + Intuitive Eating Guidelines
Change of Season Soup
References:
Leggett, Daverick. Helping Ourselves: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Food Energetics. Totnes, England: Meridian Press, 1994.
Pitchford, Paul. Healing With Whole Foods. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, 2002.
Hicks, Angela; Hicks, John; Mole, Peter.Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture.Churchill Livingstone, 2011.
Robertson, Jason D. Applied Channel Theory In Chinese Medicine. Seattle, Washington: Eastland Press Inc., 2008.
Disclaimer
Hayley Stobbs shares general Chinese medicine, nutrition, and health information solely for informational purposes of the reader. The contents displayed are not intended to offer individual medical advise, diagnosis or treatment. Information by the blog author is not a substitute for medical care and if you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider first and foremost.