Embracing the change in season: the Earth Element
Feeling low? Overthinking everything? The change in season might be why.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine the seasons are believed to have a profound cyclical effect on our health and wellbeing. We are now entering ‘late summer’, signifying the move from the fire element, yang (summer), to the earth element, yin. This transition is not just about the climate around us changing, but about how it influences us; how we feel, what we should be eating & what’s happening in our bodies.
At this time the activities of summer start to slow down as we approach the time of the harvest.
The earth element is all about harmony and simplicity, it’s said to be the center of everything. This time of year is the space between extremes, the expansive growth of spring/summer and the contracting inward, cooling autumn/winter. The warmth of the summer sun is still here athough there is a damp coolness in the air as we move towards autumn.
Emotions:
On an emotional level the earth element is all about nurturing, grounding and caring. It is the ‘mother’ element. Whilst the fire element pushes us to connect with others and opens us up to instant connection (summer freedom and fun!), the earth is all about long term deeper connections as people share experiences. If you are feeling a slight pull back from wanting to go out all the time as we move back into routine after summer, embrace it during this change of season. Worry, anxiety and overthinking are the emotions associated with the Earth element. In extreme cases worry becomes obsession - a habit of clinging to the same unproductive thoughts over and over again.
Spirit:
Each organ houses a spirit, the spleen houses the Yi, the intellect. This influences our capacity to study, concentrate and take in information.
Organs: Stomach and Spleen
During this time we focus on the digestive system, nourishment and stability. In TCM the digestive system is the root of all health, and the earth element, spleen and stomach are the governor of this.
The stomach is responsible for receiving and ripening the food we eat and the spleen transforms and transports this food into our energy (Qi) and blood which are the basis for our general health, immunity, warmth, mental function and so on. The spleen also governs our blood and keeps it in the vessels. The spleen rules our muscles and is responsible for their tone and strength. The spleen also opens to the mouth and manifests in the lips.
I’ve spoken before about how the spleen and earth element are damaged by dampness. This is both by a damp climate but also by damp foods such as cold, raw, fatty/greasy/fried food, refined sugars and dairy. Examples of ‘healthy’ but super damp foods are smoothies, sushi and avocado.
When the earth element is out of balance (which we are more prone to at this time of year), you may see signs of loose stools, bloating, haemorrhoids, poor appetite or overeating, sleepiness after meals and IBS like flare ups (especially linked to anxiety and overthinking), muscle aches/weakness, easy bruising and pale/dry/cracked lips. Like the stomach churns our food, it also churns our thoughts - if digestion is out of whack so is our ability to deal with processing thoughts properly leading to circular thinking/overthinking/anxiety. Because the spleen governs the quality of thought, poor concentration is also a sign of a weak spleen.
The next season is autumn, the metal element. The kings and large intestine are the related organs. Taking care of your earth element now will also help boost your immunity and healthy lungs for the autumn and winter.
How to care for your earth element:
Eat warm, cooked food and drinks. Cold, raw food creates dampness in the spleen, interacting with its ability to transform and transport that food. Essentially, It is harder to digest. Swap yogurt & fruit to porridge in the morning. Eat slow cooked soups and stews. Time to ditch the salad, smoothie and sushi diet.
Don’t skip breakfast. The Chinese clock shows that the digestion is strongest between 7-9 am, the time of the stomach. This sets up your digestion for the day. Opt for a warming hot breakfast like congee or porridge.
Avoid ice water, dairy, refined sugars and fatty/greasy foods are also all considered damp and block the spleen.
Consume ginger, fennel and coriander to warm up the tummy.
Focus on in season foods and those that calm the center:
naturally sweet foods such as root vegetables (sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin). These nourish the earth element.
complex carbohydrates (quinoa, brown rice, millet) and legumes (beans, peas and lentils).
Tofu, soybeans, chestnuts, apricots, and cabbage.
Prepare food simply with minimal seasoning and mild tastes.
Chew well and don’t eat too late at night. The spleen loves routine. try to eat regularly and at similar times each day. Avoid overindulgence.
Calm your centre and find a way to feel grounded. The earth element is all about stability and nurturing. Everyone is different but ideas might include things like meditation, gentle yin/restorative yoga, acupuncture or long walks in nature.
Cleanse what you’re ingesting mentally. This might mean a social media or news cleanse or socialising less/more selectively. The autumn is all about letting go emotionally and this is the start of that. Overthinking comes from the stomach churning over and over and over the same thoughts. Just like ingesting hot nourishing food, surround yourself by nourishing friends and information.
The colours yellow, golden, brown (and in some texts oranges) are the colours of the earth element. Include these colours in your living space or clothing at this time of year.
Lastly, song is the sound of the earth element. So… SING! Sing in the shower. Sing whilst getting ready. Sing on the street… sing like no one is listening :)
The transition from summer to autumn can be tough, and some people dread this time of year. Resistance to the changing seasons can cause stagnation in the body and weaken the immune system. Acupuncture is particularly useful for helping our body and mind transition effortlessly between the seasons.
If you can’t get to an acupuncturist, here is a point you can acupressure at home:
Spleen 9 (Sp-9 Yin Ling Quan), the acupuncture point for resolving dampness anywhere in the body. located on the inside part of the lower leg in a dip. The easiest way to find the point is to run your thumb up the edge of the bone on the inside of your lower leg until it falls into a hole - if the point is active, it will feel tender. Gently press on this point for 20-30 seconds to help relieve a weak spleen (physical and mental-emotional symptoms listed above).