by Judy Pruzinsky

Chinese medical principles were founded by observing nature. The external world — seasons, daily rhythms, the interplay of hot and cold — are all related to our internal health. For example, let’s look at late summer, when fruits, which have been ripening during the summer, come to fruition. The Chinese divide the year into five, not four seasons: spring, summer, late summer, autumn and winter. Late summer corresponds to the earth element, with spleen and stomach as the affiliated organs. Stomach and spleen are referred to as “the Official in Charge of Rotting and Ripening” and “the Official of Transportation and Distribution.” This transformation of nutrients occurs on all levels: body, mind and spirit.

Looking at nourishment from a physical level, are you digesting your food properly? If not, you might experience bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, low energy, lack of concentration, even cold hands and feet. Now, let’s explore some of the reasons for poor digestion.

Do we have enough food? In our culture, disease is rarely a question of having enough. We are a culture of excess. Look at the soaring rates of obesity.

Are we getting the right balance of foods? Chinese medicine looks for a balance of five flavors — sweet, spicy, salty, sour and bitter — relating to the five seasons, relating to the five organ systems. Too much sweet, the flavor of late summer, is one of the chief reasons for the increase in Type 2 diabetes. Sweet comes not only from pure sugar, but also from too much bread and pasta (which easily break down to simple sugar), from excess wine, and from drinking fruit juice (to say nothing of soda) instead of water.

Too much sweet can lead to accumulation or “dampness.” Since the spleen is in charge of distribution to all organs, dampness can inhibit its effectiveness. This can show up as cysts, lung congestion, cloudy urine, discharge, clogged arteries and heart disease. The brain may also be affected. Have you ever been talking with someone who just stares back with a blank look? That’s dampness or fog of the brain.

This brings us to the need to nourish on all levels, not just the physical. The mind wants nourishment. Remember how it feels to be fully engaged, to really sink your teeth into a project? If you find a subject fascinating you have no problem devouring the material, chewing on ideas for hours. If you’re bored it may take forever to study or prepare for a presentation.

Turning our attention to the spirit, if all you do is work, never giving time to nourish the soul, your spirit will scream and cry. Unfortunately, people are sometimes so numb they don’t even hear the screams from within. Both obsessive eating and anorexia are often tied to the spirit in crisis. Whatever fulfills you (such as going to church or temple, a walk in the woods, singing in a choir), make it a weekly, if not daily, routine.

Earth loves routine. It thrives on rhythms. When earth goes off balance, your internal cycles may suffer. Women’s menstrual cycles are often affected. Sleep can be disturbed. In Chinese medicine, we suggest people go to bed at a regular hour, usually by 10 p.m. It’s good to eat at regular times. Grazing and late-night consumption are not optimal. Having time off from eating, work, even from socializing or caretaking, is essential to the balance of body, mind and spirit.
What does it feel like to have the earth element, often represented as “mother,” in balance? If your earth is happy and properly mothered, you’ll feel secure within yourself, with a sense of belonging, grounding, centeredness. When your earth is off balance, you may feel needy, even compulsive, toward food or attention, seeking sympathy or entertainment. Taking care of your earth allows you to feel your own harvest, to finish projects, and to feel fulfilled, not needing anything more or anything different. With a healthy earth you feel at home in any situation.

So enjoy your home and garden, the fruits of your labors and the space in which to love, relax, and nourish self, family and friends.

Judy Pruzinsky, L.Ac., practices Classical Five Element Acupuncture and Herbology, teaches Wu-style Chi Gung, and is on staff at Five Branches Institute. She has offices in Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz and can be reached at 650-576-9749 or 831-426-5717.