"Nature has four seasons and five elements. To grant long life, these seasons and elements must store up the power of creation in
Cold, Heat, Dryness, Moisture, and Wind."
(The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine)

I - Spring (Wood)

II - Summer (Fire)

III - Autumn (Metal)

IV - Winter (Water)

V - The Earth in all seasons

The Chinese observed that everywhere in nature there is dynamic interchange. Yin as the seed grows into Yang as the plant, which itself dies and rottens back into Yin as the earth. This takes place within the changes of the seasons - winter's Yin transforms through the spring into summer's Yang, which in turn transforms through the fall into winter again.

The Chinese medical system draws extensively on these metaphors. This is most fully articulated in the system, of the Five Elements - Water, Fire, Wood, Metal and Earth. The theory of 5 Elements originated from an observation of the various groups of dynamic processes, functions, and characteristics seen in the natural world as well as each element is seen as having a series of correspondences relating both to the natural world and to the human body. The following diagram is to illustrate their relationships:

In the seasons, spring is Yin within Yang, while summer is the Yang within Yang and this divisibility of Yin and Yang provides Chinese medicine with a form of analysis that emphasizes qualities that conform to correspondences.

By staying in tune with the seasons, with the adaequate nourishing, exercises and protection against the negative influences of every season, QI will travel free through our body and that will help to avoid sickness and suffering and will give us the possibilty to have a long fullfilled life.

Spring
Spring is the season of awakening and new beginnings. The time for leaving what's old and starting new growth. Cleaning what's left, begin to rid the body of the old fats of last year and the winter's side effects due to the lack of fresh vegetables in that season.

Sexual urge is growing, but as Yang is new born, it has to grow and therefore it is not strong enough, sexual activities should be moderate in its expression. Even the weather starts to warm it brings wind, which can harm the QI as wind brings allergies and dizziness. The correspondending organs of the spring are the liver and the gall bladder.

A light diet of greens and sprouts is recommended. Avoid salty food by eating sweet and pungent meals, eat less than in winter.

Summer
Summer is the season of utmost Yang of full building and full growing of plants in the garden, the time when the body's QI moves in the outer Yang layers.

This is the season to express all the abilities the individual has, and sexuality comes to its full expression. This is the time for doing the most. The warm weather can be to hot and QI is vulnerable to summer heat and its fellow humidity, we might suffer from diarrhoea and vomoting. To avoid an excess of heat for the QI, we should have a short rest in the time of the midday sun and eating lightely by avoiding hot food (for example meat and eggs) and hot drinks.The correspondending organs of the summer are heart and the small intestine. Salad and summer vegetables and room temperatured fluids are recommended.

Autumn
Autumn is the season of gathering all we created and worked for during the summer, the sharing of the harvest as we need to build reserves for winter. Food is enough avaliable, we should take advantage of the foods of fall to put on the reserves for winter.

But the work and generally exercise should now slow down, from the summer's high to a moderate steady state. Sexuality should be doing like wise with the building of winter's nest. The weather changes from heat to first colds with all the drying effects and its possibiltiy to weaken the lungs.

If anything happens to the lungs now, the problem should be sorted out before winter time as this utmost cold season might worsen the problem. The correspondending organs of the autumn are the lungs and the large intestine, therefore baked or cultured and slow cooked foods, sour or bitter and solid vegetables are recommended.

Late summer and in all seasons
Late summer is both, the season that falls between the summer and the fall. Its earth and central and earth falls in between the last twenty days of all the other seasons as well. In the late summer is this time before and after a solstice and equinox.

This is the time for focus on the bascis and the precautions for the next year. For a smooth and clear transition, work, exercises and sexual activities should be retained. The changes of the seasons from one to another causes stress as disorders that develop during a given season will surface again.

The correspondending organs of the late summer are the spleen and the stomach. Simple meals sweet, and mild in taste, fruit or vegetable are recommended.

Winter
Winter is the season to act as if one has something to hide or a a secret, the time when the body's QI, like the QI of our natural surroundings, recedes into the deep Yin layers. It is more the time for hibernating less the time for work, exercises and sexual activities. Especially ten days before and ten days after the winter solstice the utmost time should be spended in resting and sleeping.

Winter is the most sensitive time of the year for health. The weather turns cold and causes colds and coughs caught in the autumn to go deeper into the body and bringing greater sickness to other organs as well. Now it is the time to eat warming meals like meat and eggs and drinking warm fluids. But as at any time of the year excess in eating and drafts should be avoided. What the body and therefore the QI does'nt need is waste, is junk.
The correspondending organs of the winter are the kidneys and the bladder. Soups with root vegetables slowly cooked and salted are recommended.

(c) Copyright 2000 by D Blumberg

V) References:

Maoshing N, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine:
                     A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen With Commentary. Shambhala Pubns 1995

Flaws B et al A Compendium of TCM Patterns & Treatments. Blue Poppy Pr 1996

Maciocia G The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Churchill Livingstone, London, 1989

Maciocia G Practice of Chinese Medicine. Churchill Livingstone, London, 1994

Kaptchuk T J Chinese Medicine - The Web That Has No Weaver. Contemporary Books, 2000