Summer Wellness: May 21 – June 5, 2025 (小满到芒种）
Introduction
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
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.
Seasonal Healing Insights: Late May to Early June (May 21 – June 5)
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.
1. 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.
2. Five Elements, Organs & Emotions at Play
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.
3. 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)
4. 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
5. Key Health Strategies for This Season
Balance Heart and SpleenFire nourishes Earth—support both the Heart (Shen) and Spleen (digestion & energy).
Dampness is the Root of Many IssuesEven before peak summer arrives, dampness is already harming the Spleen—and may affect other organs if ignored.
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.
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.
How to Nourish Your Health in This Seasonal Transition --will add in the future