The shift from the long, hot days of summer into the cool and quiet of autumn has always been regarded as a delicate moment in the calendar of health. Chinese medicine places great emphasis on seasonal rhythms, seeing the body as a microcosm that responds directly to the changes in the environment. When summer wanes and fall begins, we find ourselves standing at a threshold where yang energy, having expanded outward through spring and summer, begins to turn back inward. This transition is not always smooth. Many people experience a cluster of health concerns during this time, ranging from digestive upset to lowered immunity, mood changes, and skin disturbances.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this period corresponds to what is sometimes called “late summer,” a short season belonging to the Earth element. The Earth phase is associated with the Spleen and Stomach, the organs responsible for digestion and transformation of nourishment. When Earth is stable, food is digested efficiently, energy is abundant, and the mind feels centered. When Earth is weakened, particularly during its own season, dampness tends to accumulate, leaving the body heavy, the mind preoccupied, and the digestion sluggish. Because Earth also serves as the pivot between the outward warmth of Fire and the inward coolness of Metal, this seasonal crossing is especially sensitive.
It is no coincidence that so many people complain of digestive troubles as summer turns to fall. After months of barbecues, iced drinks, sweet treats, and late nights, the Spleen is often taxed. Add to this the damp humidity that lingers in the air during late summer, and we find a fertile ground for bloating, loose stools, loss of appetite, or, paradoxically, intense sugar cravings. In the clinic, it is common to see patients who arrive feeling tired after meals or heavy in the limbs, symptoms that point to dampness obstructing the middle burner. Acupuncture at points such as Zusanli on the Stomach channel or Yinlingquan on the Spleen channel can help regulate digestion, while gentle warming techniques like moxibustion on the abdomen restore vitality to the middle. Patients often notice not only that their digestion improves, but also that their energy and mood rise as the Spleen recovers its strength.
As the calendar moves further toward autumn, the Lungs come to the forefront. In the cycle of the five elements, Earth nourishes Metal. A weakened Spleen and Stomach can leave the Lung qi without strong support, and this is one reason why people so often catch colds when the weather first turns cool. The Lung governs the skin and the body’s defensive qi, what Chinese medicine calls the wei qi. When Lung qi is insufficient, the protective barrier is compromised and external pathogens enter more easily. A patient may present with a runny nose, a scratchy throat, fatigue, or a cough that lingers long after the initial illness. Acupuncture can be used to both strengthen the Lung and release external pathogens, with points like Lieque on the Lung channel or Hegu on the Large Intestine channel frequently chosen. A few sessions can shorten the course of illness and reduce the likelihood of repeated infections as the season progresses.
Another aspect of this seasonal shift lies in the realm of emotions. Summer is linked with the Heart and the Fire element, which flourish in joy, laughter, and outward expression. Autumn, on the other hand, belongs to Metal and the Lungs, which are associated with grief, letting go, and inward reflection. For many people, this change in seasonal resonance feels abrupt. After the extroversion of summer, autumn can bring an undercurrent of sadness, worry, or restlessness. If the Earth element is weak, the spirit lacks its foundation, and the emotions sway more easily. If the Lung qi is delicate, grief and melancholy may be more pronounced. Acupuncture offers gentle support here as well. Shenmen on the Heart channel or Neiguan on the Pericardium channel can calm the spirit, while Taiyuan on the Lung channel helps both to nourish qi and to process the feelings of loss or contraction that arise with the season. Patients often describe a sense of emotional lightness after treatment, as though they can move with the season instead of resisting it.
The skin, too, often mirrors the struggle between summer and fall. Damp-heat accumulated during the hot months may erupt as acne or eczema, while the dry winds of autumn draw moisture away, leaving the skin flaky or irritated. Classical Chinese medicine sees the skin as an extension of the Lung. Clearing heat through points such as Quchi or Xuehai while tonifying the Lung with points like Chize can bring relief. For dryness, supporting the yin with Sanyinjiao or Zhaohai may restore moisture. Alongside acupuncture, patients are encouraged to eat moistening foods such as pears or sesame and to avoid the greasy, sugary indulgences that exacerbate dampness.
Fatigue is another familiar complaint as the days shorten. Yang qi begins its seasonal retreat, and if the Spleen has already been overworked by months of dietary excess, the drop in energy can feel profound. Some patients describe this as heaviness in the body, others as brain fog or difficulty concentrating. In Chinese medical thought, this corresponds to the Spleen failing to lift clear yang to the head. Treatments that tonify qi and lift yang, such as acupuncture at Qihai on the Conception Vessel or Baihui on the Governing Vessel, often restore clarity and stamina. Moxibustion at Zusanli can give a noticeable boost, warming the body and strengthening its reserves.
One of the most important aspects of acupuncture in this season is its preventive role. In Chinese medicine, the highest physician is not the one who treats illness but the one who prevents it. Seasonal acupuncture sessions help the body align with the rhythms of nature. During the summer–fall transition, this means reinforcing the Spleen and Stomach to prevent dampness and fatigue, fortifying the Lung to guard against dryness and pathogens, and calming the spirit so that the inward turning of the season is experienced as peaceful rather than unsettling. Patients who receive a series of treatments at this time often report fewer colds, more stable digestion, and a steadier mood throughout autumn.
Lifestyle, of course, walks hand in hand with treatment. Chinese medicine texts advise adapting one’s habits to the season. This means choosing warm, cooked foods instead of raw salads, favoring grains and root vegetables that are naturally in season, and eating in moderation to avoid taxing the Spleen. Sleep patterns should also follow the longer nights, with earlier bedtimes supporting the inward movement of qi. Gentle breathing practices and moderate exercise such as tai chi or qigong strengthen Lung qi and calm the mind. These adjustments may seem simple, but they reinforce the work of acupuncture and help ensure that the seasonal transition is navigated smoothly.
The summer to fall shift is more than a passing change in weather. It is a turning point in the yearly cycle of qi, a moment when the body must recalibrate from outward expansion to inward consolidation. When we attend carefully to this moment, using acupuncture and seasonal living to support digestion, immunity, mood, skin, and energy, we set a foundation for health that will carry us through the colder months.
Chinese medicine teaches that health is not static but cyclical, woven into the same rhythms that govern the turning of the seasons and the ripening of crops. Acupuncture offers us a way to harmonize with these rhythms, to move gracefully from summer’s fire into autumn’s metal. By honoring this transition, we not only ease discomfort but also cultivate resilience, balance, and a deeper sense of belonging to the natural world.
