Late Summer is the pivot point of the year — the transition between outward expansion and inward withdrawal. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this short season belongs to the Earth element, the grounding centre that all the other elements depend on.
The five seasons of TCM
The Spleen: your digestive engine
The Spleen in TCM isn't quite the same as the organ Western medicine describes. Here, the Spleen is responsible for transforming food into usable energy, distributing that energy through the body, holding things in their proper place, keeping blood in the vessels, and nourishing the muscles and limbs.
When the Spleen is strong, you have steady energy, good digestion, and a clear mind. When it's weak, you feel it: bloating, fatigue, loose stools, brain fog, and heavy limbs. Late Summer is when the Spleen is both most vulnerable and most receptive to support.
Nourishing your Spleen
What to favour
The Spleen likes naturally sweet, warm, grounding foods — not refined sugar, but the gentle sweetness of cooked vegetables and grains.
- Yellow and orange vegetables — pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, carrot, corn
- Whole grains — millet, brown rice, oats, barley
- Warm, well-cooked meals — easier for the Spleen to process than raw food
- Root vegetables, mushrooms, and legumes in moderation
- Warm soups and congee — the classic Spleen tonic
- Naturally sweet fruit such as dates, figs, and apples
What to go easy on
- Cold and raw foods — salads, iced drinks, ice cream, which weaken the Spleen
- Dairy and greasy or fried foods, which create what TCM calls Dampness
- Excess sugar, fruit juice, and cold alcohol
A sample Late Summer day
- Breakfast: warm millet porridge with pumpkin and a little cinnamon
- Lunch: roasted sweet potato and chickpea bowl with sautéed greens
- Snack: a small handful of almonds and an apple
- Dinner: chicken and vegetable soup with carrot, celery, and barley
- Evening: chamomile or ginger tea
Late Summer at the Vancouver farmers market
This is one of the best seasons to shop local. Late summer in Vancouver brings squash, sweet corn, peak tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, fresh beans, early root vegetables, and the first local chanterelles. A trip to the Trout Lake market or Granville Island is the easiest way to eat with the season.
If your digestion feels sluggish or your energy is flagging as summer turns, Late Summer is a natural time to reset. The Spleen is the root of post-natal Qi — when you nourish it, much else follows.
If you're in Vancouver and curious how Traditional Chinese Medicine could support you, I'd be glad to help. I practice at Broadway Wellness and Performance Clinic.