THE EARTH ELEMENT, LATE SUMMER AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Late summer is connected to the stomach and spleen. These organs represent the earth element in the body. The earth element helps centre and ground us. It gives us a sense of stability and connection to the ground beneath us.
In some parts of the world, late summer is not a particularly long or clearly defined season. This does not make it any less important.
The energy of the earth element is strongly linked to our mental energy and is closely associated with worry and overthinking. Responsibilities, obligations, workloads, financial concerns, and everyday worries can therefore easily become more noticeable during the late summer period.
STOMACH AND SPLEEN
The stomach is part of the digestive system. It stores food and begins the process of digestion. This process is supported by gastric juices in the stomach, known as stomach acid, which contain hydrochloric acid and
digestive enzymes. Once the food has been broken down into a semi-liquid form in the stomach, it moves on to the duodenum.
The spleen has several important functions. It acts as a filter for the bloodstream and helps cleanse the blood of waste products, bacteria, and viruses. It also stores red blood cells and produces some of the body’s white blood cells, which are essential for the immune system. The spleen is an integral part of the lymphatic system and plays an important role in supporting the body’s immune system.
STOMACH AND SPLEEN, THE EARTH ELEMENT AND CHINESE MEDICINE
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the stomach and spleen are closely connected and work together to ensure healthy digestion and the body’s physical and mental energy.
The stomach is the yang organ.
Energy peak: 7 AM–9 AM. The best time for a nourishing breakfast – ideally with protein, fibre, and healthy fats.
The spleen is the yin organ.
Energy peak: 9 AM–11 AM. An ideal time to be active and work. It is also the best time of day for concentration, as mental energy is often at its highest during these hours.
For more information, see the section on the “organ clock” in the chapter on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
You can learn more about Chinese medicine and the organ clock in my book The 5 Seasonal Energies, available in my webshop.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the earth element – represented by the stomach and spleen – is influenced by dampness. At the same time, it is also responsible for regulating moisture in the body. Imbalances in this element can therefore affect the body’s balance between dampness and dryness. Because these two qualities are closely connected, many people experience dryness during autumn and winter.
The elements nurture each other. Our earth element nourishes the metal element (lung and large intestine), which is associated with autumn. Because the metal element helps regulate dryness in the body, an imbalance in the earth element – especially a lack of moisture – can easily affect the metal element and lead to dryness.
SYMPTOMS OF IMBALANCE IN THE STOMACH AND SPLEEN ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
WORRY, THOUGHTS AND STRESS
Late summer is an ideal time to become aware of worry, overthinking, and stress. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, late summer is associated with the stomach and spleen and is often described as the season of worry.
After the more relaxed and enjoyable energy of summer – when many people take time off and allow themselves to slow down – returning to work and everyday routines can bring a renewed sense of pressure. For some, this pressure may gradually develop into stress. Late summer is therefore considered a very mental season. The spleen is associated with mental strength and concentration. However, there is an important difference between using our mental capacity in a healthy way and reaching a point where worries and mental burdens begin to take over.
We all worry – to different degrees and in different ways – but we all worry from time to time. We can worry about almost anything, and when we do, our thoughts can easily begin to race.
Worry is a state in which the mind focuses on possible negative outcomes in a situation. Thoughts often revolve around “what if” scenarios. A certain amount of worry can help us think ahead and prepare ourselves. However, when worry becomes constant or overwhelming, it can begin to affect us negatively. Too much worry can lead to exhaustion, stress, and a sense of helplessness, and in some cases even anxiety. Worry can feed fear, just as fear can also arise from worry.
Spending so much time in our heads often means that we forget to be present in the moment. Our thoughts move easily between the past and the future – reflecting on what has happened or planning what is to come – while the present moment quietly passes by.
As late summer is associated with the earth element, it is the perfect time for grounding and slowing down. A time to simply be with what is and to become more aware of everything you take on – or that may be placed upon you.
SEASONAL ADVICE FOR LATE SUMMER
THE BRAIN AND STRESS
Stress is a natural state in the body. Like any other emotion and hormone in the body, stress has a purpose. Stress can be caused by fear.
When we become afraid, the amygdala in the brain is activated. It is often described as one of the brain’s most important centres for detecting danger and initiating the fear response. The amygdala then sends signals to the hypothalamus, which initiates the body’s stress response and releases stress hormones.
When stress hormones are released, they activate the body. The purpose is to defend and protect us from danger. Blood is directed towards the muscles of the extremities, that is, the arms and legs, giving us increased energy to fight, flee, or freeze (remain motionless). This function is effective if we need to defend ourselves against a dangerous animal, but perhaps less helpful when we need to solve tasks or handle several tasks at once.
The amygdala becomes more activated when we repeatedly release stress hormones due to constant pressure. We may therefore become increasingly conditioned to release stress hormones, which is not particularly helpful if we wish to reduce stress. When the amygdala is activated – especially over longer periods of time – the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex can simultaneously become weakened. Or rather, the activity in these areas is reduced. These are considered important centres in the brain for concentration, learning, problem-solving, and memory.
This is where we can begin to take action. With knowledge and awareness comes the opportunity to change things. We can actively work to activate the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex through exercises such as concentration exercises, yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, grounding, memory exercises, mindfulness, among others.
Of course, we also need to address the underlying cause and not just try to change the symptoms. We cannot continue putting ourselves under extreme pressure while also doing exercises that aim to activate the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. We would need to make changes in other aspects of our lives as well. However, sometimes the symptoms hold us back and make it difficult to move forward, so doing exercises can help us actively change direction.
MINDFULNESS AND THOUGHTS
Research suggests that we may have somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts each day. Many of these are recurring thoughts – the same ideas and reflections returning again and again. Whether these thoughts are mostly positive or mostly negative will naturally vary from person to person.
But what is a thought? And are you your thoughts – or are they simply something that passes through your mind?
Most of us have an ongoing inner dialogue. We speak to ourselves through words, images, memories, or impressions that arise in the mind. A single thought can quickly trigger a feeling, and suddenly something begins to unfold inside us. Emotions arise, reactions follow, and yet we may not always know exactly what started the process.
We may feel deeply attached to our thoughts and feelings and sometimes even identify with them, as if they were an essential part of who we are. Just because our thoughts arise within us does not mean that we are our thoughts. Our thoughts are often shaped by the input we receive from the outside world and by the many filters through which we experience life. These filters are shaped by our experiences, upbringing, and cultural and social background.
Our thoughts are therefore coloured by the lenses through which we see the world – lenses that are constantly being adjusted. They help us interpret our experiences as “right”, “wrong”, or “neutral”. They also influence the choices we make and the emotional responses that follow. This happens both consciously and unconsciously.
GROUNDING
Grounding is a simple yet powerful practice – especially in times when the mind tends to take over. When our thoughts become more active, it becomes even more important to stay connected to the body.
Grounding is a powerful way to bring yourself back into the present moment and reconnect with yourself. It means being both physically and mentally present in your body – here and now. When you are well grounded, your ability to perceive yourself and your surroundings becomes clearer and more balanced. You may begin to see things more as they are, or at least gain enough distance to view them from a broader perspective.
Grounding involves gently shifting your attention away from your thoughts and into the body. One simple and effective way to ground yourself is to bring your attention to your feet and notice their contact with the floor or the ground beneath you.
The breath is one of the most effective anchors for grounding. Try, for a moment, to close your eyes and simply notice your breath. At first, just observe it without trying to control or change it.
There are many different ways to practise grounding, but they all share the same intention: to guide your attention from the mind and into the body, bringing you back into the present moment. In doing so, you give your mind a break and allow thoughts, worries, and everyday stress to settle for a while.
Often, you may notice that things feel lighter afterwards. Grounding has a way of creating space and distance, allowing you to step back from your thoughts and emotions. From this place, it often becomes easier to see things more clearly and realistically.
YIN YOGA FOR STOMACH AND SPLEEN
Generally speaking, the stomach meridian begins just below the eye and runs down along the face and neck, across the collarbone, and then continues down through the chest, passing through the nipple, down the abdomen to the groin, and continues along the front of the thighs and legs all the way to the second toe.
The spleen meridian runs from the big toe and travels up along the legs and thighs, slightly further in than the stomach meridian, continuing up the abdomen and ending just below the armpit – around the level of the bra line.
During late summer, try to focus on working with your feet, thighs, and abdomen – especially the thighs.
Below, you will find a few examples of yin yoga poses for the late summer season.
Please keep in mind! The poses are meant as inspiration – always listen to your body and tune into what feels right for you. Forget about how a pose is supposed to look, and focus instead on how it feels. You may even find your own variation.
The key is to feel a stretch in the areas you are working with, while taking care not to overstretch the joints or any other part of the body as you go deeper into a pose.
THE 5 SEASONAL ENERGIES
