TCM’s intricate Five Elements framework also includes five spirits that help form the constellation of correspondences for each element, season, organ system, and emotion. As we enter into the fifth season of Late Summer, we welcome its associated spiritual force—the Yi. Residing in the Spleen, Yi (Intellect) is a part of our psyche that corresponds to the Earth element, responsible for thinking, memory specific to study and research, concentration, and the generation of ideas. Just as the Spleen is tasked with metabolizing our food into Blood and Qi on a physical level, the Yi supports us in digesting and metabolizing the experiences, information, and lessons of our year thus far.
During this interlude of a season when we begin to transition from the Yang to Yin phases of our yearly cycle, it’s important to cultivate balance in the Spleen through mindfulness in our lives. Because digestion isn’t limited to the gut, we are encouraged to have boundaries with the information we receive; overexposure to information and excessive screen time can cause both stress and digestive upset by preventing us from entering the “rest and digest” state of the parasympathetic nervous system. There is a bidirectional relationship between the quality of Yi and the health of the Spleen, which we want to be nourished by what we allow in—on the physical, mental, and emotional levels. Of course, the Earth element encompasses nourishment of all kinds and it’s a great time of year to reflect upon our true sources thereof.
The Spleen can complete its mission of metabolizing energy from food when fed easily digestible nourishment, which is a cornerstone of TCM dietary guidance. This includes focusing on (or transitioning back to) cooked foods, seasonal produce, and warming herbs. The taste corresponding to the Earth element is sweet, and the Spleen is particularly nourished by foods like sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and beets—all of which are earthy, centering, and seasonally-appropriate. As it is the Spleen that’s responsible for the utilization of nutrients, Spleen deficiency can lead to insufficient nutrients reaching the brain, causing indecisiveness, brain fog, and scattered thoughts—signs of imbalanced Yi. On a related note, a weak Spleen also leads to compromised Qi and Blood production, manifesting as mental fatigue, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating.
The pathological inversion of Yi is the emotional state of Worry, which in turn causes Qi stagnation that particularly affects the Spleen. This further illustrates the wisdom of TCM-informed nutrition, as it’s focused on preventing and relieving Dampness, which obstructs the flow of Qi and causes stagnation. Thus, the state of our Intellect depends not only on the health of our Spleen, but also on the presence of pathogenic factors like Dampness and Phlegm. As Dampness and Phlegm both commonly originate through dietary practices, it’s clear that digestion is a key focus during this season—with implications on the physiological level and beyond. It's important to remember that in terms of metabolic health, it is the Spleen that’s also in charge of clearing and releasing impurities from the body.
We can reduce the load carried by the Spleen and nourish our Yi by:
- Being careful to not overindulge in information that causes excessive Worry
- Refraining from over-thinking and balancing our intellectual pursuits with presence, including through mindfulness and meditation practices
- Setting intentions and laying out some actionable steps to bring our ideas down from the mind and into the tangible realm
- Connecting to nature and the Earth element
- Taking inventory of the year thus far, acknowledging both lessons learned and accomplishments achieved
- Incorporating tonic herbs that nourish the Spleen like Astragalus, Turkey Tail, Eleuthero, Reishi Spore, Rose, Chaga, Pine Pollen, and Lion’s Mane.
