Late Summer: Earth Element

Dr. Scott Greenapple

In Chinese medicine, when the seasons change, the elements change.

In Eastern philosophy, there are five elements, and summer has two parts: early and late summer. Late summer is the short period between summer and fall, a transitional period that prepares us for the fall season. The element is the Earth element.

The two meridians associated with the Earth element are the stomach and spleen (pancreas is combined with the spleen).

Earth is a stabilizing force during these times of transition. Being grounded to the earth is especially important this time of year. We need to get centered, balanced, and grounded as we start to organize and get ready for the harvest of fall. The meridians of the stomach and spleen/pancreas are the organs of nutrition, digestion, blood, and Qi (essence of life or energy). Digestion and nutrition were and are so important in Chinese medicine that centuries ago in China, they even formed a school, the Earth School because the brief was that the etiology of most diseases was the result of injury or malfunction of the digestive system. According to these theories, the spleen and stomach are considered to be the center of one’s health.

Interestingly, the relevance to today’s Western theories is that the gut and dysbiosis or poor GI function are the cause of many maladies, both physical and emotional. In functional and integrative medicine, the gut is the second brain.

As mentioned in my Motivation video, the spleen makes blood and QI, which are vital for staying healthy. The spleen and pancreas transform the food into energy. Various physical and emotional issues may arise when the spleen is weak or not in balance. In Chinese medicine, each meridian has an emotion attached to it. The emotions of the spleen/pancreas and stomach are worry and melancholy. Thoughts and mental clarity all relate to the spleen/stomach meridian, including what is known as “Yi” (intellect translation of Chinese), and affect concentration, studying, etc., all important this time of year for our children with school back in season.

The colors associated with the earth element are yellow and orange. The tastes associated are sweet and sour.

Some foods we should focus on and incorporate into our diets based on their associated colors and tastes. Sweet foods stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin for glucose metabolism. Now, this does not mean we should start binging on candy, etc.; sweet fruits and vegetables are what we want: carrots, dates, squash, figs, grapes, melons, apples, sweet potatoes, peaches, etc. Sour things like fermented foods, pickles, vinegar-based dressings, etc.

Remember, we are now slowing down, preparing for the more “Yin” (introspective and grounding) time of year. So, it’s a great time to practice your mindfulness or movement meditations like Qi Gong. Start easy with some mindful eating. Just slow down, chew your food, feel the essence of easy digestion, and nourish your digestive organs in

Chinese medicine with balance of your Stomach and Spleen meridians. Meditation, Qi Gong, and Acupuncture are a great way to create balance and harmony. We are in the Earth element, so it is a great time to get out into nature, slow down, pause, sink into the Earth, and have gratitude for the glorious planet we get to live.