Way before people were taking lab tests and scans, medicine was about people using their senses.
Thousands of years ago, ancient humans spent so much of their time noticing the natural world around them and recognizing the patterns they saw.
They spent time watching the weather, the seasons, the plants, animals, the soil, their own bodies, and from all of that they built an entire intricate and uncannily accurate medical system that is difficult for my western brain to even comprehend!
Chinese medicine is wildly sophisticated, linking organs to everything from emotions, to times of day, and seasons, even colors! And the more I explore it, the more it feels both wise and highly intuitive. It feels like something I’ve always known, but didn’t really know at the same time.
It’s incredible that this system has stood the test of time over thousands of years, passed down for generations, and it’s still relevant today! Think of how much has changed in even just the last 1,000 years that we’ve done away with!
For the past few years, I’ve felt a strong pull to slow down.
Maybe it’s because we entered this strange, sped-up reality after COVID. Or maybe it’s because that time lifted a veil and made it impossible to keep going the way we were. Either way, I’ve craved more simplicity.
That’s why the idea of tuning into each season as actual living phase instead of a backdrop outside of the window has felt so comforting. It’s drawn me to a deeper interest in these ancient systems that have been built from an alignment with the natural world.
I’m certainly no expert on Chinese medicine but I’ve spent a considerable amount of time learning, but what I will share today is a scratch of the surface, but it is stuff that has been incredibly helpful in my personal life!
I didn’t even know late summer was its own season until a few years ago, I always just thought of this time of year as kind of a bummer because it’s freaking hot and also sad because summer is over… but also there is a light at the end of this hot tunnel because it’s pre-fall!
I was intrigued and delighted to find out that late summer is its own season, the fifth season in Chinese medicine. To me finding this out was like a rebrand of this time of year, and I love it.
Late summer is a time when things ripen, transform, and nourish before we head into the colder months. Harvest season!
Chinese medicine connects this season to the Spleen and Stomach.. These are more than just physical organs, they’re a whole system concentrated on digestion.
In Chinese medicine digestion is HUGE.
It’s the process of turning food into nourishment… so if digestion isn’t flowing, it affects everything.
Each organ has a pathway, or “meridian,” that carries its energy through the body. The Stomach’s pathway ends on the face, so when digestion is off, the skin often shows it first. This might look like redness, oiliness, breakouts, even that dull, heavy “blah” feeling… These are all signs your body’s processing too much and doesn’t quite know where to put it.
The Spleen and Stomach work together to transform what we eat into usable nourishment.
In Chinese medicine, the Stomach is often called the “sea of nourishment.” It takes in food and drink, starts breaking it down, and sends it along to the Spleen. The Spleen is in charge of transforming that food into Qi (energy) and Blood. This is basically the usable stuff that fuels every cell and keeps your skin glowing. When the Spleen is strong, digestion feels smooth, energy feels steady, and skin looks vibrant.
But when that system gets overwhelmed, from eating on the go, constant overthinking, cold or raw foods, or greasy, heavy meals… It tends to struggle. I mean we know this right? Our skin tells the story first.
This is where soup comes in.
In Chinese medicine, foods like soups, stews, and congee are considered deeply nourishing. They give your digestion a break. When you eat soup your digestive organs aren’t fighting through dense or cold ingredients. When your body isn’t using up all its energy breaking down food, it can redirect that energy to replenishing your skin.
These foods are also hydrating in a way that water alone isn’t.
The minerals, healthy fats, and slow-cooked ingredients help your body hold on to the fluids you drink, which can show up as skin that feels plump, supported, and nourished from within.
I’ve been craving all of it lately. Warm meals. Slower eating. Even gentler rituals like face massage feel more supportive right now. I’ve been eating all of the cooked veggies, starting the day with congee or stewed green apples, and sipping broth.
If your skin’s been feeling weird, it might be adjusting to the season. Late summer is the season of nourishment, of ripening before we get to the release of fall.
Consider these the first step in your “how to transition from summer to fall” skincare routine:
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Eat at consistent times (helps Spleen/Stomach feel stable)
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Chew your food thoroughly (it’s basic advice because it works)
Incorporate ginger, fennel, or cardamom (digestive herbs that support this season) -
Avoid late-night eating (gives the digestive system proper rest)
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Limit overthinking or rumination (Spleen gets depleted by mental worry)
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Create simple routines (the Earth element thrives on rhythm)
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Declutter (it creates space for the shift ahead)
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Tend to your home. Late summer is a homebody season in many ways.
- In Chinese medicine, late summer is connected to the Earth element, which is all about grounding, stability, nourishment, and the feeling of being centered. Earth is the “home” element. It’s literally what holds and supports everything else!
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Lymphatic drainage (helps move that damp/puffy feeling)- I have a YouTube video to show you how to do it with your hands, or check out the Lymph Brush.
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Castor oil packs on the belly or over the liver (supports digestion and detox pathways) I love this castor oil and this pack.
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Foot soaks (grounding + encourages downward movement) I love doing this before bed, and extra points for adding magnesium body butter to your feet after!
None of these are complicated, but they're making a noticeable difference both in my skin and in how I feel day to day. Give it a try and tell me how it goes!
