You may have never noticed — but they’ve been quietly affecting your body all along. Most of us learned the four seasons based on the Western (Gregorian) calendar: Spring: March 20 – June 20 Summer: June 21 – September 22 Autumn: September 23 – December 20 Winter: December 21 – March 19 This approach is based on astronomy — particularly the equinoxes and solstices — and reflects changes in daylight and solar position. It’s useful for climate and weather, but from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, this calendar doesn’t fully align with the rhythms of the human body. If You’re Following the “Western Seasons” to Stay Healthy — You Might Already Be a Step Behind Have you ever noticed that: By the time the spring equinox arrives in late March, you still feel stuck in “winter mode”? Summer heat makes you restless or sleepless even though “summer” just officially began? You start coughing or feeling dry before the fall season even hits the calendar? You begin nourishing your kidneys after winter solstice, but you’re already feeling cold, tired, and depleted? These are signs that your body isn’t following the weather app or calendar — it’s responding to natural energy changes in nature. And over 2,000 years ago, TCM already had a more precise timing system for that: the 24 Solar Terms. How TCM Views the Seasons: It’s All About the Flow of Qi In Chinese medicine, the seasons are not just about temperature. They’re defined by the movements of Qi — the vital energy that flows through nature and your body. As nature shifts through phases of growth, maturity, decline, and rest — your body mirrors these same cycles. That’s why TCM follows the 24 Solar Terms (Jieqi), a sun-based calendar dividing the year into 24 seasonal markers, each lasting about 15 days. The 24 Solar Terms (with Approximate Dates & Meanings) Spring: Lichun (Start of Spring) — ~Feb 4: Spring begins; Yang energy begins to rise. Yushui (Rain Water) — ~Feb 19: Rain increases; dampness builds. Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects) — ~Mar 5: Thunder awakens nature; Qi becomes active. Chunfen (Spring Equinox) — ~Mar 20: Day and night equal; rising energy. Qingming (Clear and Bright) — ~Apr 4: Nature blooms; emotional tension may increase. Guyu (Grain Rain) — ~Apr 19: Nourishing rains support plant growth. Summer: Lixia (Start of Summer) — ~May 5: Heart Fire begins to rise; start of summer energy. Xiaoman (Grain Full) — ~May 20: Dampness appears; crops begin to fill out. Mangzhong (Grain in Ear) — ~Jun 5: Energy starts to peak; prepare to cool down. Xiazhi (Summer Solstice) — ~Jun 21: Longest day of the year; Yang at its peak. Xiaoshu (Minor Heat) — ~Jul 6: Hot and humid weather builds. Dashu (Major Heat) — ~Jul 22: Hottest days of the year. Autumn: Liqiu (Start of Autumn) — ~Aug 7: Autumn begins; Qi begins to descend. Chushu (End of Heat) — ~Aug 23: Heat fades; dryness begins. Bailu (White Dew) — ~Sep 7: Dew appears; lungs start to become vulnerable. Qiufen (Autumn Equinox) — ~Sep 22: Day and night equal again; dryness intensifies. Hanlu (Cold Dew) — ~Oct 8: Cold increases; protect the respiratory system. Shuangjiang (Frost’s Descent) — ~Oct 23: Frost appears; winter is near. Winter: Lidong (Start of Winter) — ~Nov 7: Begin winter storage; rest and conserve energy. Xiaoxue (Minor Snow) — ~Nov 22: Cold begins to deepen. Daxue (Major Snow) — ~Dec 7: Heavier snow; Yin energy dominates. Dongzhi (Winter Solstice) — ~Dec 21: Shortest day; Yang energy begins to rise again. Xiaohan (Minor Cold) — ~Jan 5: Cold strengthens. Dahan (Major Cold) — ~Jan 20: Coldest time of the year; prepare for spring. The TCM Four Seasons Start Earlier — And Focus on Your Internal Rhythm In Chinese medicine, each season begins with a “Li” term: Spring begins around February 4 (Lichun) — Governs the Liver. Focus: Smooth Qi flow, emotional release, gentle detox. Summer begins around May 5 (Lixia) — Governs the Heart. Focus: Calm the spirit, stay cool, nourish body fluids. Autumn begins around August 7 (Liqiu) — Governs the Lungs. Focus: Moisturize lungs, protect from dryness, slow down. Winter begins around November 7 (Lidong) — Governs the Kidneys. Focus: Conserve energy, warm the body, rest deeply. Why Following the Solar Terms Makes a Difference Let’s take a closer look: If you wait until March to start “spring detox,” your Liver has already been active since early February. If you only start cooling down in late June, your Heart has already been under heat stress since May. If you begin moistening your lungs in September, the dryness of Autumn has already affected you since August. If you start warming your kidneys in late December, you may have missed the key window that opened in early November. By the time you're reacting to seasonal changes — you're already behind. Living with the Seasons = Living in Sync with Yourself TCM seasonal living is about doing the right thing at the right time — not too early, not too late. When you start living in tune with the solar terms: Your immunity and digestion become more stable You feel less drained during seasonal transitions You avoid common issues like allergies, fatigue, insomnia, and emotional swings You’re proactively supporting your body before problems show up In short: it’s the art of being half a step ahead of imbalance. Many people say, “I try to be healthy, but nothing really changes.” Here’s the truth: Health isn’t just about what you do — it’s about when you do it. The 24 Solar Terms are like nature’s inner clock — and your body is listening. When you align your habits with these rhythms, you’re not following superstition — you’re following real biology, expressed through ancient wisdom. Let each season guide your actions. Let your internal energy match the energy of the world around you. And discover how powerful, natural healing can be — when you’re in sync with time itself.