Late Summer, The Earth Element & Digestive Health - by Lourdes Gonzalez - Malaya Center for Health + Healing - Pleasant Hill Wellness Center - Massage Therapy Yoga Acupuncture Skin Care Personal Training Nutrition Mat Pilates

The Earth Element, Nourishment & Digestive Health

by Lourdes Gonzalez, MAc., A.P., M.M.Q.
(August 2007)

In a few weeks the season of Late Summer will begin. The Late Summer is referred as the time of the harvest, a period of abundance. It is the time when we can sit back and receive the fruits of our labor. A good harvest means that we will have the supplies we need to survive during the autumn and the cold winter months.

The time of the Harvest is associated with the Archetype of the Mother, meaning our physical mother and also Mother earth. Our mothers provide food, care and nourishment, which we also receive from Mother Earth. Hopefully, this love and care will serve as an example and it will allow us to learn to care for ourselves and others.

The Chinese relate the Late Summer time of the year to the Earth element. The Earth element teaches us integrity and nurturing. We experience the balance energy of the earth element when we connect with nature and feel connected to our community, when we enjoy activities such as gardening and backpacking or when we take the time to eat balance meals and take great care of our bodies.

In Chinese medicine the digestive function not only has to do with processing food, but also how do we process our emotions, our thoughts and actions. Unbalance function in the Earth element may be felt as worry and obsessive thoughts patterns. Circular thinking may lead to getting stuck in obsessive patterns that may prevent the person from experiencing nourishment at the physical level as well as emotional and spiritual nourishment.

In our bodies, the Earth element is represented by the stomach and the spleen. These organs receive food then process and transform it so that our bodies receive the nourishment we need.

The time of the Stomach is the period between 7 and 9 am. Consequently, this is the best time to take in food and begin the day with the most important meal, the breakfast.

The process of digestion begins in the mouth when we take food and mix it with saliva. When we chew the food well, it allows the activation of digestive enzymes, which aid in breaking up the food into nutrients to be converted to energy. In addition, having a healthy breakfast prevent us from overeating, it helps to ground us and provides enough energy to face what ever comes up during the day.

The time of the Spleen is the period between 9 and 11 am. In Chinese medicine, the Spleen is called the official of transportation. This is because the Spleen takes what the stomach has transformed and transports it to every aspect of the body for nourishment.

The nourishment will reach our cells but also will reach our spirit. When we don’t eat or eat unhealthy meals, the Spleen struggles to find substance and essence to nourish to our bodies and our spirits.

The quality of the Earth element is present in each person in the same way that is present in Nature. Where are you in relation to the Earth Element?

? Are you able to express sympathy toward others and able to receive as well or is it the opposite?

? Do you enjoy eating balance meals or do you let your emotions rule the food you choose and eat?

? Do you take time to savor the food or do you eat on the go without integrating the gift of nourishment?

? Are your thoughts cleared or are you constantly worrying and experiencing obsessive thoughts or circular thinking?

? Do you feel grounded and centered in who you are?

? Do you experience any digestive problems such as indigestion, or have a feeling that the food is “stuck” and not moving?

? Do you have lack of appetite or too much appetite?

? Do you have constipation or diarrhea?

If some of these situations sound familiar to you may be is time to pay attention to the state of the Earth element in your life. Take time to explore the situation and find why things are manifesting this way. The best we can do is to recognize when we can resolve things on our own and seek help when we need it.

The following are simple things we can do daily to experience Earth balance:

? Take a moment to give thanks and appreciate each meal.
? Practice mindful eating.
? Chew the food well.
? Eat whole foods.
? Enjoy the abundance of fruits and fresh vegetables in season.
? Take time to enjoy family and friends.
? Be conscious about how the harvest is manifesting in your life, your self, your relationships, and your community.
? Take time to enjoy the beautiful time and gifts of the Harvest.

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The Earth Element, Nourishment & Digestive Health