As we navigate the deepening chill of late Fall around October 21 every year, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) reminds us we haven’t just emerged from the Metal season—we're on the cusp of transitioning out of Autumn's introspective energy toward Winter's deeply inward seeking depths. This shift, governed by the Chinese medicine Earth element, unfolds through the sacred 18-day Doyo (or transitional) period, one of four such Earth-bridging phases throughout the year. Starting around December 3, 2025, this Doyo will have accomplished its work easing us from Metal's contraction into Water's profound inward flow, making it a time when the body becomes especially vulnerable to imbalances like dampness or fatigue.
Rooted in the ancient Chinese medical text, the Neijing Suwen (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic), the Earth element embodies the fertile center of the Five Elements cycle—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. It acts as bridge or a sort of mediator that nourishes and stabilizes during seasonal changes. With the Autumn Equinox behind us (late September) and Winter Solstice approaching (late December), now's the perfect moment to fortify your TCM Earth element balance. By doing so, you'll build resilience against seasonal dips, supporting digestion, emotional grounding, and qi (vital energy) flow.
Let's explore Earth energy’s wisdom, backed by the Neijing Suwen classical text and contemporary studies, plus actionable tips to prepare.
The Earth Element: Pivot of Seasonal Harmony in the Five Elements Theory
In Chinese medicine, the Five Elements illustrate dynamic interplays.
Earth, at the core, is generated by Fire (Summer's harvest) and births Metal (Autumn's refinement), while it controls Water (preventing floods) and is checked by Wood (roots tilling soil).
The TCM Earth element shines during the four Doyo periods—roughly 18 days at each season's close, serving as bridges for smooth energetic handoffs.
Post-Spring (between Wood and Fire): April 18 to May 5.
Post-Summer (between Fire and Metal): July 20 to August 6.
Post-Fall (between Metal and Water): October 21 to November 7
Post-Winter (between Water and Wood): January 18 to February 4
For our current cycle, the Earth Doyo (December 3–21, 2025) emphasizes Earth's role in "transport and transformation," via spleen and stomach. The stomach breaks down and digests food and the spleen sorts out nutrients to pass them through the blood to nourish the body. This in-tandem function also supports your qi (vital energy).
When balanced, Earth fosters good digestion, routine, and vitality. Out of balance, it invites bloating, sluggishness and excessive rumination. Fall’s dryness exacerbates the out of balance symptoms especially as we turn to Winter's cold.
Key associations of Earth:
Season: Four 18-day periods (Doyos) bridging one major season to the next. During October it’s often called the "Indian Summer" buffer.
Organs: Stomach (receives and ripens); spleen (transforms and distributes).
Skin condition when out of balance: Toxicity, blemishes, acne, enlarged pores, often caused by sluggish energy of lymph.
Emotions: Balanced Earth brings empathy, a sense of grounded personal well-being and focus. Mental rumination (overthinking), overwhelm from taking care of others at the expense of yourself.
Physical Appearance: Rounded physique, yellowish tone, strong digestion when in balance with Earth but when out of balance, bloating, loose stools; also mental fog.
Pathologies: Dampness accumulation leading to issues like IBS or anxiety—common in our fast-paced world.
Evidence underscores this: A 2023 review in Journal of Ethnopharmacology links spleen tonics like the herb, Astragalus, to improved microbiome diversity during seasonal shifts, reducing inflammation by 20–30%.
Acupuncture targeting Earth points like SP6 has also eased transitional anxiety, according to a 2024 Complementary Therapies in Medicine study.
In terms of personality, Earth types are caregivers—reliable mediators who thrive on routine but may over-nurture, depleting their own reserves.
If you’re experiencing sluggish digestion or out of kilter emotions because you do too much for others while putting yourself last—especially during the Earth seasons—tuning into the TCM Earth element can help you restore equilibrium on both physical and mental/emotional levels.
Taking Cues From Earth
For balanced wellness, align with the energy of the TCM Earth element during the Earth seasons.
The Earth element symbolizes fertile soil. It transforms nutrients into sustenance while fostering a sense of home and security. This makes each Earth season the perfect time to get in balance with Earth:
Focus on good nutrition and digestion. TCM teaches that 70% of our daily qi comes from diet, making this an ideal time to fortify the spleen.
Nurture yourself with all around good self-care including PHYTO5’s Earth skincare.
Appreciate your body and make sure you’re grounded in it.
Make your house a home, decluttering spaces and fostering the kind of security a home stands for.
Enjoy meditative practices including contemplation and self-introspection.
Imbalances with the energy of Earth can lead to digestive woes, fatigue, or overthinking, but with mindful practices, you can cultivate resilience and balance.
Below, we'll dive deeper into the essence of Earth, backed by TCM principles and modern research. We’ll also share nine practical tips to ease your transition into Winter during this last Earth period of the year.
Why Bolster Earth Now, Ahead of the Doyo Bridge?
The preceding Fall's Metal energy demands letting go, but without a strong Earth foundation, we risk "damp stagnation"—feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
Climate shifts bring humidity and wind, mirroring Earth's vulnerability to excess moisture.
The Doyo periods heighten sensitivity, as qi "opens" to new influences, per TCM lore.
Tying into five elements Chinese medicine, this prep phase sustains the generative cycle: Strong and balanced Earth ensures Metal's grief transforms into Water's wisdom, not stagnation.
A 2024 Frontiers in Psychology analysis found Earth-aligned practices (e.g., grounding routines) cut seasonal mood dips by 28%, aligning ancient insight with gut-brain science.
A 2024 review in Journal of Integrative Medicine highlights how stress disrupts the gut-brain axis, akin to Earth imbalances. But Earth-aligned mindful practices can reduce cortisol as much as 25%.
By bringing yourself into harmony with the Chinese medicine Earth element, you can not only ease physical symptoms but also build emotional resilience for seasonal affective dips.
9 Tips to Balance Your Earth Element Balance
Incorporate these TCM-inspired strategies to ground yourself especially during the four Earth Doyos of the year.
Aim for consistency. Earth loves consistency and rhythm.
Embrace Warming Foods: Opt for cooked, sweet flavors like sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, beets, millet and oats to support spleen qi. Skip icy drinks; add cinnamon for extra warmth. Avoid cold salads or dairy which create dampness.
Tip: Drink ginger tea post-meals. It aids digestion.
Gentle Earth-Anchored Movement: Walk in nature or practice Qi Gong's "Earth Posture" (standing with knees soft, hands over lower belly). Or practice Tai Chi's "Cloud Hands" sequence to tonify muscles (Earth's tissue domain).
Research in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023) shows this boosts serotonin amid shortening days.
Studies show 30 minutes daily reduces worry by enhancing the tone of the vagus(1) nerve.
Mindful Eating Rituals: Chew slowly in a calm space and at set times. Earth thrives on intention. Earth digests thought as much as food.
A 2022 RCT in Appetite noted 18% better absorption from ritualized meals in transitional seasons.
A 2021 trial found the practice calm deliberate chewing of food improves nutrient absorption by 15% in spleen-deficient individuals.
Daily Acupressure Ritual for Digestion: Find the acupuncture point ST36 (below the knee in the hollow) and massage clockwise for two minutes daily to encourage qi flow. It's a powerhouse for tonifying with evidence from Acupuncture in Medicine showing relief for bloating. It can also assist with lethargy, with a 2024 Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies trial reporting 75% symptom relief.
Curate Your Environment: Surround yourself with yellow/orange hues and earthy scents like sandalwood during the Earth seasons to counter Metal’s austerity.
Clutter (Wood overgrowth) disrupts Earth balance. Declutter and invite stability into your life.
Reframe Rumination and Journal for Mental Clarity: At the end of the day, ask yourself, ”What nourished me today?" This tames Yi (Earth’s out of balance overactive intellect).
Write down three reasons to be grateful nightly. This counters overthinking and grounds you in what’s truly important in your life. It aligns you with Earth’s balanced "Yi" spirit.
Such cognitive behavioral ties have boosted mood in 80% of participants, per a 2023 study.
Enjoy PHYTO5’s Earth Phyt’Ether Serum: In addition to bringing the Earth skin condition into balance (blemishes, acne, toxicity, enlarged pores), just a drop or two daily dispersed onto face during the Earth season helps keep skin clarified and radiant. Because it’s quantum energetic (high vibrational), this serum also balances emotions of overwhelm from excessive rumination leaving you feeling more free to express yourself creatively and finish unfinished projects.
Herbal Allies: Try Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) for spleen support. It's backed by clinical trials for fatigue and available as a tea. Consult a Doctor of Oriental medicine.
Seasonal Self-Care: Schedule a TCM consult with a good acupuncture physician for personalized pulse diagnosis.
Endnotes:
(1) Vagus nerve: each of the tenth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the heart, lungs, upper digestive tract, and other organs of the chest and abdomen.
Sources:
Photo courtesy of Brigitte Tohm at Unsplash
Kaptchuk, T. (2000). The Web That Has No Weaver. McGraw-Hill.
Unschuld, P. (2011). Huangdi Neijing Suwen. University of California Press.
Additional sources cited inline from peer-reviewed journals and TCM resources.