TCM Late Summer Tips: Clearing Dampness and Building Spleen

Late summer — the transitional period between summer and autumn — is associated with the Earth element and the Spleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This is the season of dampness, when humidity peaks and the body's fluid metabolism faces its greatest challenge.

Why Late Summer Is Damp

TCM identifies five seasons, with late summer (approximately mid-August to autumn equinox) as the fifth. This period is characterized by heat combined with humidity — the perfect conditions for dampness to accumulate. The Spleen, which is responsible for transforming and transporting fluids, becomes easily overwhelmed during this time.

Signs of Dampness Accumulation

• Heavy, lethargic feeling in the body and mind
• Thick coating on the tongue
• Sticky or sluggish bowel movements
• Bloating and water retention
• Foggy thinking and poor concentration
• Nausea or poor appetite
• Joint stiffness that worsens in humid weather
• Skin conditions like acne or fungal infections
• Sinus congestion and post-nasal drip

Dietary Strategy for Late Summer

Foods to Emphasize

• Damp-resolving foods: Job's tears (coix seed), mung beans, adzuki beans, and lotus root
• Aromatic spices: Cardamom, fennel, coriander, and nutmeg — these wake up the Spleen
• Spleen-strengthening foods: Sweet potato, pumpkin, squash, and yam (the orange and yellow foods of the season)
• Fluid-promoting foods: Watermelon, cucumber, and celery (in moderation)
• Ginger tea: Warming and drying, perfect for late summer dampness
• Mung bean soup: A classic damp-heat clearing dish

Foods to Avoid

• Dairy products (the worst damp-generating foods)
• Refined sugar and sweets
• Cold and raw foods (impair the Spleen's ability to transform fluids)
• Ice-cold drinks
• Fried and greasy foods
• Excessive bread and wheat products
• Bananas (very damp-forming)

Herbal Support

• Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San: The primary formula for damp conditions. Contains patchouli (Huo Xiang) and other aromatic herbs that transform dampness
• Ping Wei San: "Calm the Stomach Powder" — dries dampness and strengthens the Spleen
• Liu Jun Zi Tang: Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Phlegm for chronic damp patterns
• Shen Ling Bai Zhu San: Spleen-strengthening with dampness-resolving herbs

Lifestyle for Late Summer

• Moderate exercise: Brisk walking and swimming promote sweating, which releases dampness through the skin
• Avoid damp environments: Don't sit on damp ground or live in damp, moldy spaces
• Clothing: Wear breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics
• Moxibustion: Applying moxa to Spleen 6 and Stomach 36 warms and dries the middle
• Avoid air conditioning that creates cold-damp: Don't sit directly under AC vents

Acupressure for Dampness

• Spleen 9 (Yinlingquan): Below the knee on the inner leg. The primary point for resolving dampness
• Stomach 40 (Fenglong): Lower leg. Transforms Phlegm and dampness
• Conception Vessel 12 (Zhongwan): Above the navel. Strengthens the Spleen
• Stomach 36 (Zusanli): Below the knee. The great Spleen-strengthening point
• Spleen 6 (Sanyinjiao): Inner lower leg. Supports all three Yin organs

Late summer is the time to strengthen your Earth element. By protecting the Spleen, resolving dampness, and eating seasonal yellow and orange foods, you prepare your body for the transition into autumn with strong digestive function and clear energy.

Start your wellness journey with SEASONS.