\r\n \r\n Late Summer and the Spleen/Stomach
\n
\nLate Summer is considered the "dog day afternoons" when in late August and
\n"Indian Summer" are hotter and damper days rich in humidity and a feeling of
\nheaviness in the air. This often parallels the way our bodies feel during this
\nperiod.
\n
\nDampness is associated with the element earth and is most active in late summer.
\nAilments of excessive dampness can be induced by sudden exposure to fog or mist,
\nimmersion in water or exposure to rain, and living in excessively damp locations
\nor climates. The surface pores on the body are open. Because summer is humid,
\nthe pathogenic factors, which cause diseases in this season always mix with
\ndampness. The symptoms include excessive fluids in the body with symptoms of
\nabdominal bloating, abdominal pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting,
\nintestinal spasms, diarrhea, lethargy, lack of thirst, feeling of heaviness,
\nheaviness in the chest or being sluggish and stiff, aching or sore joints - are
\ncharacteristically heavy and sluggish in nature and tend to block the flow of
\nenergy throughout the body.
\n
\nDamp Heat is a condition of dampness and heat combined with symptoms of thick
\nyellow secretions and phlegm such as jaundice, hepatitis, urinary problems, or
\neczema.
\n
\n"Inner-dampness" is caused by excess cold consumption of liquor, tea, cold
\nmelons, and sweet, greasy foods. These impede spleen functions.
\n
\n
\nThe Spleen and Stomach
\n
\nIn Chinese Medicine, the spleen and stomach are associated with Late Summer.
\nThey belong to the element of Earth. The stomach\'s function is to rot and rippen
\nfood and break it down for transportation. The spleen\'s functions: transform and
\ntransport foods and body fluids to make ready for absorption. The spleen raises
\nour (Qi) energy up. The spleen controls the blood and keeps it in the vessels.
\nThe spleen also nourishes the muscles.
\n
\nSigns and symptoms of poor spleen function include dizziness, pale complexion,
\nlow energy, prolapse of organs such as the rectum (hemmorhoids) and uterus.
\nSpontaneous bleeding, muscle weakness and muscle atrophy can all be due to
\nproblems with the spleen.
\n
\nSigns and symptoms of poor stomach function are numerous. Stomach heat manifests
\nas too much heat in the stomach and is represented by bad breath, bleeding or
\nswollen gums, burning sensation in the stomach, extreme thirst, frontal
\nheadaches and/or mouth ulcers.
\n
\nThe spleen transforms the ingested food and drink to extract the Qi. The
\nfunction of transformation and transportation is crucial in the process of
\ndigestion and the formation of Qi and blood. If this function is impaired there
\nmay be a poor appetite, poor digestion, abdominal distention and loose stools.
\nThe spleen separates the usable part of fluids from the unusable. If this
\nprocess is impaired there can be an accumulation of dampness, phlegm, and/or
\nedema. The Spleens ability to transform and transport can be adversely affected
\nby the excessive consumption of cold drinks and raw foods. The action of chewing
\nprepares food for the Spleen to transform and transport. If Spleen-Qi is
\nabnormal, there may be an impairment of the sense of taste or the presence of an
\nabnormal taste , lack of appetite and the lips may be pale and dry. If the
\nSpleen has heat a person may complain of a sweet taste in the mouth and have dry
\nlips.
\n
\nThe stomach transforms food and drink by the process of fermentation. This
\nprepares the ground for the Spleen to separate and extract the refined essence
\nfrom food. After transformation in the Stomach the food is passed down to the
\nSmall Intestine for further separation and absorption.
\n
\nThe Stomach together with the spleen is responsible for transporting food
\nessences to the whole body, especially the limbs. If Stomach Qi is strong a
\nperson will feel strong and full of energy. Stomach Qi also ensures that the Qi
\nof the organs reaches the pulse. A pulse with good stomach Qi is said to be
\nneither weak or strong with yin and yang harmonized and it has a regular, slow
\nbeat.
\n
\nThe stomach is responsible for the coating on the tongue. A thin white coating
\non the tongue indicates the Stomach is functioning properly. The absence of
\ncoating indicates that the stomach\'s function of digestion is impaired. A thick
\nwhite coating reflects either cold or dampness and a thick yellow coating
\nindicates heat.
\n
\nhttps://peacefulmind.com/summer.htm\r\n

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