Spring to Summer
How the Four Seasons Work Differently in Chinese Medicine vs. the Western Calendar
And Why It Matters for Your Health
How TCM and Western Medicine View the Seasons Differently
Most of us grew up learning the seasons based on the Western (Gregorian) calendar: •Spring: March 20 – June 20 •Summer: June 21 – September 22 •Fall: September 23 – December 20 •Winter: December 21 – March 19 These seasonal shifts are based on astronomical events, like solstices and equinoxes. But in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the seasons are defined very differently—and this difference plays a powerful role in how you take care of your health. In TCM, the Seasons Follow the Sun—Literally TCM follows the 24 Solar Terms (节气)—a system that divides the year into specific phases based on the position of the sun. These terms have been used in Chinese culture for over 2,000 years to guide agriculture, lifestyle, and medicine. In this system: •Spring begins around February 4 (Start of Spring – 立春) •Summer begins around May 5 (Start of Summer – 立夏) •Fall begins around August 7 (Start of Autumn – 立秋) •Winter begins around November 7 (Start of Winter – 立冬) Each season lasts about 3 months, but the timing is earlier than what most Westerners are used to. Why This Matters for Your Body In TCM, each season is linked to different organs, elements, emotions, and energies in your body. The idea is simple: if you live in harmony with nature, your body stays balanced. Let’s compare: SeasonWestern ViewTCM Solar StartMain Organ (TCM)What to Focus On SpringMar 20 – Jun 20Feb 4 – May 4LiverDetox, move, release anger SummerJun 21 – Sep 22May 5 – Aug 6HeartCalm the spirit, avoid overheating AutumnSep 23 – Dec 20Aug 7 – Nov 6LungsBoost immunity, release grief WinterDec 21 – Mar 19Nov 7 – Feb 3KidneysRest deeply, nourish energy reserves Real-Life Example: Why Spring Cleansing Starts in February In the West, we often do “spring cleaning” in March or April. But in Chinese medicine, the Liver (spring’s main organ) begins its activity around early February. So if you wait until April to “detox,” your Liver may have already missed the optimal window for renewal. That’s why many TCM practitioners start spring Liver cleansing, gentle movement, and emotional release right after Chinese New Year. Living in Sync with Nature = Living in Sync with Yourself The wisdom of Chinese medicine is not just about treating illness—it’s about preventing it by adjusting to seasonal shifts before symptoms appear. When you align with the TCM seasonal calendar: •You’ll feel less tired and sluggish when seasons change •Your digestion, sleep, and mood will be more stable •You’ll strengthen your body’s ability to heal and adapt Tip: Don’t Just Watch the Weather—Watch the Season’s Energy Even if it still feels like winter in February, your body is already beginning to shift into spring mode in TCM. That means: •Waking earlier •Moving more •Eating lighter, green-colored foods •Releasing pent-up emotions Understanding the TCM version of the seasons can help you make better choices for your lifestyle, diet, and emotional health all year long. Final Thought: If you’ve ever felt “off” when the seasons change—even if the weather seems fine—it could be your body responding to deeper energetic shifts that Western calendars don’t account for. Learning to live by the Chinese seasonal calendar isn’t just about tradition—it’s about empowered, personalized healing.
May 21-June 5, 2025
General Information
Seasonal Health Tips: Late May to Early June (May 21 – June 5) Spring is ending, and summer is beginning—this transition period is a key time to care for your body and emotions in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). What’s Happening in Nature (and Your Body) •The weather is getting hotter and more humid. This can lead to more sweating, tiredness, and digestive issues. •You may feel more irritable, anxious, or have trouble sleeping, especially if you’re under emotional stress. •The body’s natural energy (Qi) starts moving outward. This means your skin and sweat glands are more open, so you can lose fluids more easily—and you’re more likely to be affected by dampness and heat in the environment. Key Organs to Support Now: Heart & Digestion In TCM, this season affects the Heart and Spleen systems the most: •The Heart controls mental clarity and emotional balance. •The Spleen is the center of digestion and energy production. When the weather is humid and emotions run high, these organs can easily become unbalanced—causing fatigue, poor appetite, bloating, loose stools, insomnia, anxiety, or even breakouts. Common Symptoms in This Transition Period •Can’t sleep well, vivid dreams, or feel easily agitated •Tired, heavy limbs, or bloated after eating •Sticky stools or digestive sluggishness •Sweating more, but still feeling foggy or unwell •Red or swollen tongue tip, skin breakouts, or mouth sores •Women: increased vaginal discharge due to damp-heat What You Can Do •Eat lighter, easier-to-digest meals: Warm, cooked foods are best. Avoid cold drinks and greasy food. •Calm the mind and emotions: Take quiet time in the morning or evening to center yourself. •Stay cool, but not cold: Keep air circulating, but avoid over-chilling your body with ice or direct A/C. •Support digestion: Gentle herbs, teas, and acupressure on points like Sanyinjiao or Shenmen may help. •Move gently: Light exercise like walking or stretching helps release dampness and support energy flow. This Time Is a Preparation Period This phase prepares your body for the hotter, more intense summer ahead. Take care now to clear dampness, calm the Heart, and support digestion, so your energy doesn’t get overwhelmed in the next season.
May 21-June 5, 2025
Seasonal Healing Insights
Starting May 21, 2025, we enter the solar term "小满" (xiao man; Grain Full) in the Chinese calendar, which lasts until June 5, just before "芒种" (Mangzhong，Grain in Ear).This period marks the transition from spring to summer—a crucial seasonal shift in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as described in the Five Movements and Six Qi system.
Climate Shifts & Energetic Patterns 1. Rising Yang, Unsettled Yin •As the sun moves northward, daytime grows longer and warmer. Yang energy rises and expands outward—but has not yet reached its peak. •Earth’s Qi becomes moist; water vapor increases, especially in southern regions. This brings about damp-heat patterns in the environment. 2. More Rain = More Dampness •Increased humidity creates an external environment where dampness and heat easily combine, affecting both the air and the body. •According to TCM cosmology, this is when the Qi of "Fire generates Earth"—Fire represents the Heart, Earth represents the Spleen. This is a key moment where Heart and Spleen energy interact. 3. Wind Decreases, Dampness Rises •Spring winds subside as summer dampness ascends. The climate shifts from "wind-warmth" to "damp-heat," which affects the skin, digestion, and internal organ systems.
Five Elements, Organs & Emotions at Play ElementOrgan (Zang)Fu (Yang Organ)EmotionTasteColor FireHeart (governs spirit)Small IntestineJoy (can turn to restlessness)BitterRed EarthSpleen (governs transformation)StomachWorry/OverthinkingSweetYellow •This period is a time of Fire-Earth interaction, where strong Heart Qi can support digestion—but excess fire can damage the Spleen. •Damp-heat in the environment can overwhelm the Spleen and drain mental and physical energy.
Body Fluids, Qi Flow & Meridian Sensitivity 1. Surface Opening & Fluid Loss •Longer daylight drives Yang Qi to the body’s surface; pores open, sweating increases, and fluids are easily lost. •This opens the door for external damp-heat to invade, potentially causing fevers, fatigue, diarrhea, or colds. 2. Dampness Disrupts Digestion •Rising ground dampness hinders the Spleen’s function. This can lead to loss of appetite, bloating, sticky stools, fatigue, and a feeling of heaviness in the limbs. 3. Disturbed Shen (Spirit) •In summer, the Heart—the most Yang organ—is more active. Those with excess Heart Fire may experience irritability, insomnia, vivid dreams, mouth sores, and mental restlessness. 4. Meridian Highlights •Overactive meridians: Heart (Hand Shaoyin), Pericardium (Hand Jueyin) •Damp-affected meridians: Spleen (Foot Taiyin), Stomach (Foot Yangming) 5. Sensitive Points to Support This Season: •Heart meridian: Shenmen (HT7) to Shaohai (HT3) •Spleen meridian: Sanyinjiao (SP6) to Yinlingquan (SP9) •Triple Burner meridian: Waiguan (SJ5) to Zhigou (SJ6) 6. Target Organs & Common Imbalances: •Main organs affected: Heart (Fire), Spleen (Earth), Triple Burner (Fire pathway) •Secondary involvement: Lung (Metal stagnation), Liver (Wood stagnation)
Common Body Patterns & Symptoms Heart Fire Excess •Irritability, insomnia, vivid dreams, red face, mouth sores, red tongue tip, rapid pulse Spleen Deficiency with Dampness •Poor appetite, bloating, heaviness in limbs, loose stools, thick greasy tongue coating, soft pulse Damp-Heat Accumulation •Sticky mouth, bitter taste, chest tightness, yellow urine, acne, increased vaginal discharge External Damp Invasion •Fever, fatigue, body aches, muscle soreness, sticky tongue coating, heavy limbs
Key Health Strategies for This Season 1.Balance Heart and SpleenFire nourishes Earth—support both the Heart (Shen) and Spleen (digestion & energy). 2.Dampness is the Root of Many IssuesEven before peak summer arrives, dampness is already harming the Spleen—and may affect other organs if ignored. 3.Yin-Yang Imbalance BeginsYang is rising, but Yin is still weak. Overexertion or emotional stress now can lead to Yin deficiency or fluid loss later. 4.Spirit (Shen) is VulnerableEmotional turbulence is common. It’s essential to calm the Heart and settle the mind to avoid irritability, anxiety, and insomnia.
What’s Next?
The next phase, from Mangzhong to Summer Solstice, brings stronger summer heat ("Shu Qi").If dampness and fire are not properly managed now, you may experience internal heat accumulation and emotional burnout in the next stage. This current window is the best time to nourish the Heart, strengthen the Spleen, clear Dampness, and prepare for the summer heat ahead.
What You Just Read Is Only the Beginning… Now that you understand why this seasonal transition affects your sleep, digestion, mood, and energy—it’s time to go deeper. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, May 21 to June 5 (小满到芒种) is a unique window of energetic change. Behind the symptoms are specific organ relationships, meridian patterns, and climate forces at play. You’ll now discover: • Why this season activates Heart Fire and Spleen Dampness • Which meridians are most affected—and which points support them • The Five Element relationships shaping your emotions and symptoms • TCM body types and common patterns like “Damp-Heat” or “Heart Fire Rising” • Actionable strategies: acupressure, herbs, diet, and daily habits Keep reading to explore the professional-level healing wisdom that helps you truly align with nature—and transform seasonal challenges into vibrant health.
TCM Summer Wellness Details
Preventing Internal Dampness
As spring turns into summer, many people begin to feel sluggish, tired, bloated, or mentally foggy—even after a full night’s sleep. Digestion slows down, the skin breaks out more easily, and energy feels stuck. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these aren’t random symptoms—they’re classic signs that “dampness” may be accumulating in the body. But what exactly is dampness? It’s not just humidity in the air. It’s a pathogenic factor that can build up internally when the body’s systems are out of balance. It’s sticky, heavy, and stubborn—often linked to chronic digestive issues, skin problems, joint pain, and even emotional fatigue. This guide will walk you through: •Why dampness tends to worsen during late spring and summer •How to recognize it through symptoms, tongue signs, and emotional patterns •What makes dampness so tricky to treat—and how TCM classifies it •Simple lifestyle changes, foods, herbs, and acupressure points to help your body dry out and feel lighter again By the end, you’ll begin to see how this ancient wisdom can help you feel clearer, stronger, and more energized—starting from the inside out.