Nourishing late summer

Renee Lehman

(9/2018) Are you enjoying the eating of fresh produce from your own or a neighbor’s garden? The Late Summer season in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is associated with the Earth Element, one of the Five Elements, and the Stomach and Spleen organs (see previous articles on the Five Elements within TCM).

Late Summer is the period of transition from Summer to Fall and is thought of as "Indian Summer." Think about how nature is changing during August and September. The afternoon air feels muggy, as the sun’s rays are not as intense as Summer. There is a feeling of heaviness in the air and even in our bodies. There can be alternating warm and cool days. The grass is beginning to lose its lush green brightness (well usually it does – with all the rain that we’ve received this summer it is still green). Fruits and vegetables are fully ripened and abundant. It is the time of year to harvest the blessings of nature ("to reap what we have sown"), such as peaches, apples, squash, potatoes, etc. There is an energetic change as we move from growth (Spring season) and activity (Summer season) to an inward focus (Fall and Winter seasons). The nourishment that we take in from what we harvest prepares us for the colder months of the year and relates to the qualities of the Earth Element.

The gifts of Late Summer include nourishment, harvest, abundance, thoughtfulness, and centeredness/grounding. It is from "Mother Earth" that we receive physical nourishment that helps us to replenish and invigorate the energy (Qi) that we are born with. "Mother Earth" also gives us mental and spiritual nourishment: thus, giving us a feeling of centeredness, groundedness, and stability that creates a solid foundation for us to build our life upon. So, now is an important time for nurturing ourselves. It is a time for us to use the energy of the season to support the "ripening" and transformation of our body/mind/spirits.

If your Stomach and Spleen, the organs related to the Earth Element are not in harmony with the energy of Late Summer, you may experience low energy, weight gain, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), blood sugar disorders, or other stomach problems.

To keep your Stomach and Spleen in a better state of balance consider the following helpful tips.

• Eat local and seasonal produce. In TCM, foods are classified according to their energetic essences (or energetic qualities of temperature, taste, and ability to moisten and strengthen the body), and are supporting to us in many ways. During this time of year, consider eating some foods that, based on the TCM perspective, are very nourishing to your Earth Element, and specifically your Stomach and Spleen. Consider eating foods that have a sweet taste like carrots, squash, red beets, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, fruit, and grains like rice. Add cinnamon, ginger, garlic, or black pepper to your foods because these spices help to warm the Stomach and Spleen. Eat yellow/orange foods (squash, carrots, yams), because they are energetically resonant with the Earth Element. Finally, since the Stomach loves warmth and dislikes cold, eat well-cooked foods, and eat soups on a regular basis.
• There are wonderful and simple recipes to help nourish your Stomach and Spleen that can be found under the recipe section of the TCM World Foundation website: www.tcmworld.org.
   
• Eat dinner before 6 or 7pm. This will give your Stomach time to process your dinner before going to sleep. Meaning, that your Stomach will have the opportunity to rest overnight along with your other organs.
   
• Massage the area between your navel and breastbone. This area is related to the Stomach and can relieve nausea or decreased appetite. Massage this area gently by placing one hand on top of the other and slowly make five circles. Reverse direction and make five more circles. Repeat this routine for five minutes.
   
• Deeply nurture/nourish yourself. Ask yourself, "How do I nurture myself?" There are many ways to do this. Find what works for you: maybe regular walks in the woods, enjoying the zinnias or other flowers in your garden, watching the hummingbirds in your backyard, sitting and enjoying sunsets, or learning a new and exciting. What is it about the activity that you chose that nourishes you? Go deep within and see what really "feeds" your soul. Do that!
   
• Don’t Worry. Be Happy! Bob Marley said it well! Why the emotion of worry? It is the emotion that deeply influences the energetic functions of the Stomach and Spleen. Worry is like having your wheels stuck in the mud, a lot of spinning occurs. There is no forward movement. Take a deep breath to break the cycle of worry. Can you see the situation from a different angle/perspective?

"A late summer garden has a tranquility found no other time of the year."
- William F. Longgood

"A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work."
- John Lubbock

"Women always worry about the things that men forget;
men always worry about the things women remember."
- Albert Einstein

Renee Lehman is a licensed acupuncturist and physical therapist with 30 years of health care experience. Her office is located at 249B York Street in Gettysburg. She can be reached at 717-752-5728.