Late Summer in TCM – Nourishing Our Centre

As I am writing these lines from Greece, surrounded by sun-ripened vegetables, fragrant herbs, freshly caught fish, tasty olive oil and long, shared meals, I find myself thinking about one particular season in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Late Summer.

In TCM, Late Summer marks the transition between the vibrant energy of summer and the quieter months of autumn. It is associated with the Earth element, the Spleen and the Stomach—our centre, responsible for transforming food into Qi and Blood, nourishing our body and supporting our overall vitality.

According to the Five Elements theory, Late Summer begins in mid-August and lasts until the end of September. It is an important transitional season, inviting us to slow down, reconnect with our centre and gently prepare for the energy of autumn.

What I love about this season is that it gently reminds us of something we often forget: good health doesn't only depend on what we eat, but also how we eat.

Here in Greece, meals are rarely rushed. Vegetables are cooked slowly with aromatic herbs, legumes and stews simmer for hours, fish is freshly prepared, olive oil is used generously, and meals are shared with family and friends.

From a TCM perspective, this is exactly what nourishes our Earth Element.

Caring for our centre

The Earth Element thrives on foods that are warm, cooked and easy to digest. Especially after weeks of ice cream, cold drinks, salads and barbecues, Late Summer is a wonderful opportunity to gently strengthen the Spleen and Stomach and support healthy digestion.

Foods that particularly support the Earth element include:

• pumpkin, sweet potato and carrots

• zucchini, green beans and fennel

• oats, rice and millet

• chickpeas, lentils and other legumes

• eggs, fish and gently cooked poultry

• good-quality olive oil

• aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil

  
  

Of course, enjoying fresh seasonal fruit is part of summer as well. Rather than eating large amounts of chilled fruit straight from the refrigerator, TCM encourages balance and moderation, allowing digestion to stay strong.

The emotional aspect of Late Summer

Every season in TCM also reflects an emotional landscape.

Late Summer is connected with nurturing, groundedness and our ability to feel supported.

When the Earth element is balanced, we tend to feel centred, calm and resilient. When it becomes depleted, we may notice excessive worrying, overthinking, mental fatigue, digestive discomfort or the feeling of constantly giving to others while forgetting to nourish ourselves.

Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons this season offers us: before we can care for others, we also need to care for our own centre.

Sometimes this begins with something wonderfully simple: a warm meal, eaten slowly, in good company and with a smile on the face.

My little Late Summer tip from Greece 🇬🇷

One of my favourite things to bring back from Greece is Greek Mountain Tea (Sideritis). This gentle herbal infusion has been enjoyed for generations in the Mediterranean and is a beautiful companion during the transition into Late Summer.

From a TCM perspective, we can appreciate its warm, aromatic quality as something that gently supports the Earth element, especially the Spleen and Stomach, by encouraging a harmonious digestive rhythm and helping us slow down.

For me, a cup of mountain tea is a reminder to nourish ourselves with intention.

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful summer wherever you are, finding moments to recharge, reconnect and nourish yourself.

As my time in Greece comes to an end, I look forward to returning to the practice on Monday, 27 July and seeing many of you again as we transition into this beautiful new season together.

Mounia

Late Summer flavours: Fish, okra and thyme.