Chinese Medicine & The Seasons
Chinese medicine is innately intertwined with the seasons. In fact, in Chinese medicine, the seasons are divided into not four seasons, but five seasons - Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Moreover, seasonal nodes exist within each of the five seasons. These nodes represent smaller, two week shifts of energy that can help guide us in attuning with the seasons.
Each one of these seasons have an associated element or phase:
Spring — Wood
Summer — Fire
Late Summer — Earth
Autum — Metal
Winter — Water
The nature of these phases give us a lot of insight into the nature of the seasons. This provides us with insight into not only the kinds of ailments that are common in each season, but also provides us with practices that can we can incorporate to keep us living in balance.
We can think of the changing of the seasons and elements similar to the life cycle of a seedling. In the winter, the water energy is stored beneath the ground in preparation for the seed to grow into a seedling. This upward energy reflects the growth of spring, which shifts into the fire element of summer where rapid, outward growth occurs. From summer we shift to late summer - the earth element - when the fruits can be harvested. And in autumn - the metal element - is when the energy descends downwards again, back into the earth.
These elements also help us make sense of the changes that occur in our health and in our bodies. For example, summer is the element of fire. In Chinese medicine terms, too much fire in the body can lead to heat-stroke and Liver Yang Rising. This is due to the hot and upwards nature of fire, manifesting in symptoms in the upper part of the body (e.g, irritability, insomnia, anger, and excess thirst).
In late summer, the element is earth. This is the transition time between the rising and outward nature of fire and the inward and grounding nature of Fall and Winter. In late summer, we often see more signs of dampness in the body, which can manifest as fogginess of the mind, heaviness of the body, and even diarrhea or edema.
In the fall, the element is is metal. Metal is considered purifying, astringing and somewhat rigid. This is often when people experience dryness - dry throat, mouth, hair and skin. This can also manifest as a dry cough or other lung issues.
In the winter, the element is water. Water is associated with moistening and storing of energy. The Kidneys also share this function and tend to need extra care during the winter. The storing of water energy in the winter then allows for the growth and transformation that occur in the spring. This storage of energy helps to explain why most of us like to bundle up, stay inside and often feel more lethargic during the cold, winter months. Our bodies are telling us to slow down, but often in our present day life, we ignore these cues and imbalance can occur without our bodies.
The practice of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) emphasizes the importance of spending time within the forest for overall physical and mental health. This practice aligns with the wisdom of Chinese Medicine as it helps our bodies attune to the shifting energies that occur throughout the change of seasons. Not only can it help your body transition easier from one seasonal energy to the next, but it can help you make connections to any imbalances that may arise for you during specific seasons.
Some people who lean more hot overall might find a worsening of their symptoms during the summer, while others who lean more cold might find they feel more energetic and balanced. Acupuncture is a great way to help the body attune to these seasonal shifts. Acupuncture helps to gently correct any imbalance that is present for so many of us who are unable to slow down due to our fast-paced lifestyles.
