As summer begins to soften into autumn, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognizes this transition as a unique time of year: Late Summer, or the Fifth Season.

Unlike the four seasons familiar to Western culture, TCM describes a fifth transitional season associated with the Earth element. Late summer is a time of nourishment, digestion, grounding, and gathering our energy inward. It offers an opportunity to slow down, strengthen the body, and prepare for the cooler months ahead.

In Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, supporting the Earth element during this season can be a beautiful way to create balance: physically, emotionally, and energetically.

The Earth Element: Nourishment & Centering

The Earth element is associated with the Spleen and Stomach in Chinese medicine. These systems are considered central to digestion and to the body's ability to transform food and fluids into usable energy, or Qi.

Earth energy is also connected with nourishment in a broader sense. It relates to how we nourish ourselves, how we receive support, and how we care for others.

When Earth is balanced, we may feel:

Grounded and centered
Nourished and energized
Comfortable with routine and stability
Able to digest both food and life's experiences
Supported in giving and receiving care

When Earth energy is depleted or out of balance, TCM may associate it with symptoms such as digestive discomfort, fatigue, bloating, loose stools, cravings for sweets, or feeling mentally overwhelmed or "stuck in your head."

The Earth element reminds us that health isn't only about what we add to our lives, it's also about what we are able to digest, transform, and let go of.

Late Summer:

A Season of Transition

Late summer can feel like a strange in-between time. The days may still be hot, but the quality of the season begins to change. The intensity and outward energy of summer gradually give way to the inward movement of autumn.

In TCM, transitions between seasons are important opportunities to pause and recalibrate.

Rather than pushing through the end of summer at full speed, consider using this time to:

Slow down.
Simplify.
Nourish.
Ground.
Prepare.

Think of it as gathering your resources before the natural contraction of autumn and winter.

Eat to Support

Your Earth Element

Food is one of the most accessible ways to support the Earth element.

From a TCM perspective, the digestive system generally benefits from foods that are warm, cooked, nourishing, and easy to digest. While everyone's constitution is different, late summer can be a good time to gradually move away from an exclusively cold, raw, and iced-food diet.

Try incorporating more:

Cooked vegetables
Soups and broths
Rice, oats, millet, and other whole grains
Squash and root vegetables
Sweet potatoes
Beans and legumes
Gently cooked fruits
Warming spices such as ginger

This doesn't mean you need to eliminate salads, smoothies, or your favorite summer foods. Instead, notice how your body responds and begin creating more balance as the weather changes.

A simple bowl of warm oatmeal, a nourishing soup, or roasted seasonal vegetables can be a small act of Earth-element care.

The Earth Element & Overthinking

The emotions associated with the Earth element are often described as worry, pensiveness, and overthinking.

Have you ever noticed that when you are worried about something, your digestion changes? Maybe you feel a knot in your stomach. Or that when your stomach feels unsettled, your thoughts seem to become more difficult to settle?

The mind and body are deeply interconnected.

Late summer is an excellent time to create practices that bring you back into your body rather than keeping you caught in an endless cycle of mental activity.

Try:

Taking a walk without your phone
Eating meals without screens
Practicing slow, mindful breathing
Spending time outdoors
Journaling before bed
Creating a consistent sleep routine
Taking a few minutes each day simply to sit and be still

Grounding doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it begins with putting both feet on the floor and taking a breath.

Acupuncture &

Seasonal Wellness

Acupuncture is one way people use Traditional Chinese Medicine to support overall balance and wellness throughout the changing seasons.

Rather than waiting until you feel run down, seasonal Acupuncture treatments can be viewed as an opportunity to check in with your body and support areas that may need attention.

Your practitioner may consider your digestion, sleep, energy, stress levels, constitution, and other individual patterns when developing a treatment approach.

Because TCM is individualized, there isn't one Acupuncture protocol that is appropriate for everyone.

Preparing for

Cold & Flu Season

As late summer transitions into fall, many of us naturally begin thinking about the upcoming cold and flu season.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, this is a good time to focus on the foundations of health:

Strong digestion.
Adequate rest.
Consistent nourishment.
Stress management.
Seasonal living.

Instead of waiting until you're exhausted to start taking care of yourself, use late summer as your reminder to build supportive habits now.

Protect Your Energy as the Seasons Change

TCM encourages us to live in relationship with the season rather than constantly moving against it.

Summer invites expansion, activity, connection, and outward energy.

As autumn approaches, the energetic direction begins to change. We may naturally feel drawn toward more reflection, organization, rest, and inward focus.

You don't have to abruptly change your entire routine. Small adjustments can make the transition gentler.

Go to bed a little earlier.
Choose a warm meal instead of another cold salad or smoothie.
Create more space in your schedule.
Spend time outside while the weather is comfortable.
Pay attention to what your body is asking for.

These simple practices can help us move from one season to the next with greater awareness.

A Simple

Late-Summer Ritual

Try this simple practice at the end of the day:

Sit somewhere quiet and place your feet firmly on the ground.

Take five slow breaths.

Ask yourself:

What is nourishing me right now?

Then ask:

What am I carrying that I no longer need?

Finally:

What would help me feel more grounded as I enter the next season?

You don't need to solve everything. Simply noticing can be enough.

Coming Back to Center

The wisdom of the Earth element is beautifully simple: nourish what sustains you.

Late summer gives us a natural pause between the expansive energy of summer and the inward movement of autumn. It is a time to strengthen our foundation, support digestion, tend to our energy, and prepare for the months ahead.

Whether through Acupuncture, nourishing food, restorative movement, time in nature, or simply creating more space to breathe, this season invites us to come back to center.

And perhaps that's the greatest lesson of the Earth element:

When we are well rooted, we can meet the changing seasons with greater resilience.

This article is for educational purposes and reflects concepts from Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent illness. For concerns about cold, flu, vaccination, or other health conditions, consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

“Late Summer,” the 5th Season in Chinese Medicine