Late Summer is the time of year when nature gives us her abundance. Crops ripen and sweeten and it is a time of plenty and fertility. According to the Five Element theory that underlies both acupuncture and shiatsu, the energies that predominate at this time is Earth energy, which governs stomach and spleen/pancreas energy. Earth energy is the foundation of our existence. The food we eat is digested by stomach and spleen/pancreas to provide our bodies with vital energy. The Earth element grounds, centres and nourishes us with its abundance. The Earth accepts all this is rotten and decayed and transforms it cyclically into new life. It receives and gives and nourishes itself and all those who live on the Earth.
The physical process of giving and receiving is also mirrored on a mental and emotional level. In colloquial language we ‘chew over’ or ‘digest’ thoughts and ideas. Earth energy is a part of our intellect, our capacity for reflective thought and analysis grounded in empathy and compassion. It is the capacity to give love and emotional support to ourselves and others, as well as accept and receive love. People with balanced earth energy are able to solve problems on a practical level and recognise when to give and receive emotional nourishment and support in a smooth, harmonious manner. An imbalance becomes obvious in cases where someone gives and is unable to receive and masks this by continually giving, or in those who are always seeking their emotional nourishment from others but can never satisfied. One of the problems of an imbalance in the Earth element is that we often lack awareness of this behaviour.
As we move into late summer, it may become more difficult for those with Earth imbalances to cope with the season. On a physical level, we may consume overly-sweet foods, particularly refined sugars and grains. There may be abdominal problems such as gas and bloating, constipation or diarrhoea, belching, poor appetite and nausea or constantly nibbling and overeating, eating too quickly without chewing properly and menstrual problems. This also may be accompanied by an over-active mind, with thoughts going around in the head without resolution and lead to worry and obsessive thought patterns. Fatigue will then set in and there will be a lack of desire to exercise. Those with earth imbalances often prefer to lie down.
The path towards balanced Earth energy involves the following:
- reducing intake of refined sugars, alcohol and grains and substituting with the complex sugars from whole foods and grains
- eating regularly, including breakfast, without distractions and chewing well
- ensuring that all food and drinks are taken warm or at room temperature
- enjoying the nourishment of naturally sweet foods: carrots, pumpkins, beetroot, whole grains
- regular exercise and an active lifestyle
Those with chronic Earth energy imbalances may also need to avoid excessive raw foods, particularly fruit for a period of time as well as alcohol. The recipe for congee (rice porridge) on the Remedies page is an ideal way to satisfy the Earth element at the start of the day.
On an emotional level, we may need to direct empathy and compassion to ourselves. Fulfilment of our needs, on both a physical and emotional level, is one of the most difficult issues in our lives. If we can gently and compassionately recognise the emotional sources of the symptoms listed above, we can begin to nourish ourselves in a positive way, with love and without judgement. As we create small, positive changes in our external world – eating breakfast, chewing our food, focusing on how our food nourishes us – we may also begin to make changes in our internal world, by the action of nourishing ourselves and meeting our own needs.