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The Secret Season of Chinese Medicine
by Steven Sonmore, L.Ac., OBT (NCCAOM)

Did you know Chinese medicine actually has five seasons instead of our typical four?

Summer is divided into two parts...summer and late summer. Late summer or "Indian summer" is that special time at the end of summer and before autumn when there often a hot spell.

The Spleen and Stomach rule the summer season. What that means is these organs are now most active and also the most vulnerable to problems at this time of year. These two organs are related to the "Earth element.” Our earth provides support and nourishment for all life. And your Spleen and Stomach provides nourishment for your body. Your food is ingested, digested, transformed transported and assimilated into your physical body creating muscle, bone, blood and energy. You are what you eat.

"The Spleen and Stomach are sentries guarding the governmental storage
rooms." Chinese Folk Medicine

The health of these two organs is critical to your total well-being....when your Spleen is out of whack your entire body is not up to par. So many people suffer from digestive problems today. Thirty-eight million Americans are victims of digestive disorders, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, celiac disease, IBS, constipation, diarrhea, GERD, Candida and food allergies. The economic impact of digestive disorders is $123 billion per year, compared to $17 billion for cancer.

Just walk down to your local drugstore and look at how many products are for sale to suppress various symptoms of poor digestive health. The only problem is they don't address the root cause of the problem. They just sedate the ill feelings and sensations.

The ancient founders of Chinese medicine taught that those who follow the laws of nature and use proper diet will be free of disease and their spirit of life will not be easily exhausted.

As a licensed health professional and practitioner of Chinese medicine I have been able to help many people with many kinds of digestive problems. Here is just one example:

Marie, 27, a single mother, on first glance appeared in good health. But for many years she had suffered with severe stomach pain. For pain relief she used strong prescription drugs, a method which was not always effective for her.

Marie explained that, for years, she had been maintaining an intense study schedule that involved staying up late to prepare for her bar exam. From a Chinese medical perspective, excessive concentration can weaken the Spleen, which is part of the digestive system and converts food essences into Qi (pronounced "chee") or vital life energy.

Upon initial examination, I found Marie's pulse to be wiry, which indicated to me that she had Heat in the Stomach and Liver. Chinese medicine diagnoses the body climatically; so, heat, cold, wind, dampness, and dryness are viewed as possible pathogenic factors. The nature of Heat is to accelerate metabolic activity, activate circulation, and dilate blood vessels. In Chinese medicine, it is not necessary to have a fever recorded on a thermometer to verify the existence of excess Heat. Hot conditions are often associated with thirst, dryness, constipation, agitation or difficult urination.

To address Marie's condition, I administered acupuncture to strengthen her Spleen, calm her mind and smooth out her excess Liver energy, The first treatment had amazing results. Marie’s stomach pain was completely gone. And she felt very calm and refreshed

But acupuncture is just one of many tools of Chinese medicine. Next, we needed to address her condition nutritionally. I prescribed a Chinese herbal formula based on her tongue and pulse diagnoses. This formula strengthened her Spleen, calmed her Shen (Chinese for Mind/Spirit) and sedated the rising heat from her Liver. Today she is a successful lawyer working for the state of Minnesota.

Over time, eating a poor diet together with irregular eating habits, eating late at night, over concentration, worry, or sitting too long can injure your Spleen and Stomach. By adjusting your lifestyle, adopting new eating habits your digestion will function better. As a result, your entire health will improve. You can enjoy more energy, better concentration and more fun! Caring for your health naturally with acupuncture and Chinese medicine will help get to the root of digestive problems.

Bon Appetite and enjoy the summer!

For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, Oriental bodywork therapist, and herbalist. He offers complete health care with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutritional counseling, and Oriental massage. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

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