Transition and the Earth Element

Five Elements in Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture plays close attention to the cycle of the seasons. As shown in the diagram, each season corresponds to a particular element and organ. Balance between these entities is key for achieving harmony in the world and health in the body.

The earth element comes into play at this time of year. This element is a central one. It is activated in late summer and also for short periods of time at the end of the other seasons. The earth element is associated with transformation. It's perfect in helping us make the shift from the relaxing, playful days of summer to the busyness of work and school.

Each element in the five element system has a corresponding organ, emotion, color, season and tissue. For the earth element, the organ is the spleen-pancreas (our digestive system), the emotion is ruminating or over-thinking, the color is yellow, the season is late summer and the tissue is muscles.

Here are ways to keep your spleen energy strong and improve your health at this time of year:

• Get good nutrition. In particular, limit your intake of dairy and sugar. These foods weaken the spleen. 

• If you find yourself thinking about the same thing over and over again, simply allow the thought to be there. Then picture it as an image and watch it float off, saying good-bye to it as it goes away.
  


• As you are reading this, rub your bare feet over the floor or carpet and feel your connection to the earth.
  


• Go out and take a walk. You'll connect with the earth and add movement into your life.
  


• Raise your shoulders up to your head. Now slowly release them and feel the tension dissipate. Bring focus to any areas of tension in your body and slowly release them.
  


• Massage the acupuncture point, spleen 9, located just below the knee. This helps you to relax your muscles and strengthen your digestive system. It is often a very tender spot.

Spleen 9 Acupuncture Point

Use the wisdom taught by Oriental Medicine over the ages to help you in your life today.