By Natalie Kilheeney, M.S., B.S., L.Ac
Most people know that we typically have four seasons throughout each year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. But, did you know that in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there is a very important fifth season that occurs around the last month of summer called “Late Summer Season?” This unrecognized season is very brief, normally only lasting about a month or so and transitions us away from the extreme heat of summer into the calmer, cooler, and declining season of fall. Late summer correlates with the Earth element or the central part of everything. According to the Chinese, in order to maintain good health, it is essential to harmonize oneself with the seasons.