Talks with the Docs: Dietary Support and Teas for Late Summer

Written By Karen Williams, DACM, L.Ac., Diplomat. O.M.

As summer winds down, we are rapidly approaching a season in Chinese Medicine called Late summer. This season is short with the transitional period beginning mid-August and lasting until the autumn equinox. Late summer is the phase where things begin to slow down after l months of growth, productivity and activity. It is now the time to sit back, relax and enjoy the abundance we have created before the preparation of autumn begins. The season of late summer correlates to the Earth element and the Spleen and Stomach organs, which manages our digestion. The spleen is easily affected by dampness which is one of the evils in Chinese Medicine. Dampness in the body often occurs due to poor diet such as too much dairy, fried foods or sugar or excessive alcohol intake. When there is excessive dampness in the body it can manifest as slowness, heaviness and irritability. The emotions of unbalanced earth energy are worry which can often manifest as anxiety.

To stay balanced with the Earth energy during Late summer, it is important to look within and take note of how you are feeling. As we approach into Late summer, our balance begins to shift inward and now is the time to focus on self-care, in particular diet and exercise. It is ideal to start building and strengthening our bodies for the upcoming cooler months. This can be achieved by focusing on a diet which incorporates more protein and fat rich foods than what is typically consumed during spring and summer months. This includes consuming more whole grains, nuts and seeds, meat, eggs and dairy products in addition to seasonal items such as apples, pumpkins, squashes and root vegetables. Sesame tahini and cooked beans are also a great source of protein if you do not consume meat or dairy products. Incorporating more herbs that are warming and drying to the spleen and stomach can aid in digestion. Many of these herbs can easily be found in your pantry and incorporated into your diet daily. Examples of these include cinnamon, cardamon, fennel, turmeric, coriander, nutmeg and ginger. You can easily add them in your food in your morning oatmeal or yogurt or ideally prepare a tea by simmering one part fennel, one part coriander, one part cumin seed in water for 15 minutes. This combination is helpful to strengthen digestion by consuming one cup a day.

Here are some tips to keep your spleen balanced and happy:

1. Stay away from raw or cold foods and do not drink ice water. Both cold and dampness can tax the energy of the spleen and slow down the digestion process. This may manifest as being bloating and distention since food is not breaking down properly.

2. Eat warming foods and cooked foods. The longer and slower foods are cooked, the less energy from the spleen is needed to digest them. For example, soups and stews do not take a lot of energy to digest and this preserves the Spleen’s energy for other things such as fighting pathogens.

3. There is still time to enjoy the outdoors during late summer so stay active. Routine exercise is important no matter what activity you do. Late summer is the perfect weather for hiking, walking or biking. However, as the cooler weather sets in, you may find your muscles and joints contracting so it is important to activate them gently before use to keep them loosened.

4. Practice grounding and mindfulness. Journal, paint, take long walks, practice yoga twists or do whatever brings you joy.

Finally, with the change of season approaching, building and optimizing the immune system is essential. If you are prone to fall allergies or seasonal colds, now is the time to incorporate prevention strategies. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicinal herbs are a great way to enhance natural immunity while at the same time addressing any other health concerns.

Dr. Kelsey Crow adds:

Take home acupuncture point: Sp 6 (Forbidden point in Pregnancy) and Sp 9

- SP 6- located three finger widths from the medial epicondyle: wonderful point for poor apatite, loose stools, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, abdominal discomfort and women's health... PMS symptoms, low libido

- SP 9- located on the medial leg just below the knee: good point for low back pain, knee pain, abdominal discomfort, swelling and pain of the lower limbs, UTIs and genital pain

Stretches and Exercises:

- Knee Tuck Twist and Pose- Bring knees to chest, rock back and forth, relax arms out to the side and turn head left and right, bring back to center

- Kneeling pose with lifting leg as if you are going to go up and down stairs

o Put towel or yoga blocks under buttocks if needed to help with knee height and balance

- Kee reclining pose, lower elbows to floor and slowly lie flat back if possible

Karen Williams, DACM, L.Ac., Diplomat. O.M.

Dr. Karen Williams, DACM, L.Ac., O.M. is a nationally board certified and New York State-licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. Graduating with honors with a Master of Science Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Seneca Falls, N.Y., she has more than 3,000 hours of extensive training, which includes clinical rotations from multiple outpatient health centers in the Finger Lakes Region including the Canandaigua Veterans Affair Medical Center and the Rochester Health Clinic. To further her knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she studied abroad at the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou, China. While there, she received additional training with an emphasis on gynecology, gastroenterology and pediatric care. She continued her education at Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego, California, and graduated with a Doctorate Degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. She also holds certification in Usui Reiki, a healing technique which promotes balance restoration within the body.

Since childhood, Dr. Williams has always been intrigued by science and medicine. She majored in Chemistry during her undergraduate studies at SUNY Oswego and, following graduation, embarked on a successful career as a chemist and research scientist for many years. After combining her scientific knowledge with her love of nature, plants and herbs, she came to the realization that nature is medicine. Her next step was to delve into the world of natural plant therapies in detail by completing an apprenticeship and advanced clinical training at the Boston School of Herbal Studies with a focus on Chinese Medicine and Western Herbalism. It was at this time she knew she needed to fully commit herself to study natural medicine and redirect the course of her career. By combining her interest in medical science with natural healing interventions, her career as a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine began.

Dr. Williams is truly passionate about her work and uses a heartfelt approach to deliver quality patient-centered care. She treats a wide variety of conditions, however her focus has primarily been women’s health, including fertility, pregnancy support and menopause, pain management, digestive disorders, as well as emotional + spiritual wellness.

Her employment experience has been in both private practice and at CNY Fertility in Albany, N.Y., where she was able to broaden her knowledge of treating women’s reproductive health and IVF/IUI assisted fertility. She is a proponent of patient education and believes this is key in creating lasting health and wellness. Dr. Williams is committed to working with each patient to create a customized and comprehensive treatment plan to obtain the most effective results possible.

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