Your Element is

People with a dominant Earth element tend to have round and/or strong complexions. When in balance, Earth individuals can be very supportive, patient, thoughtful, responsible, good-tempered, caring and compassionate (this sounds just like Mother Earth, right?).

The Earth element represents nourishment. An example of this would be soil that is used to grow our crops. The Earth element promotes energy to grow, to flourish and to harvest.

Earth is commonly associated with the Late-Summer season – the period of transition between the Summer’s end and Autumn’s beginning.

In the late Summer, people who identify with the Earth element should pay close attention to their lifestyle habits, personal relationships, and physical activities in order to stabilize and harvest the Earth’s energy and avoid disease.

Every element is related to two different organs in our body – a Yin organ and a Yang organ. Since the Earth element represents nourishment, its Yin organ is the Spleen and its Yang organ is the Stomach.

Example: we nourish the Stomach with the food and drinks we consume. The Spleen nourishes the body with the energy produced from the contents of the Stomach.

This means that digestive problems are often a result of an imbalance of the Earth element. Therefore, to harmonize this element in our body, we must get to know the functions of the Stomach and Spleen.

The Stomach and Spleen are responsible for getting the nutrients out of food and making them useable in the body. The Stomach receives food and water, the Spleen transforms them into nutrients and transports them to the other organs.

If the functions of these organs are impaired, proper absorption of nutrients will not take place and, in many cases, there will be eating disorders, abdominal problems, loose stools, weak limbs, and tiredness.

The Spleen is also the body’s blood source. For that reason, symptoms of anemia, like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, pale skin, depression, insomnia, irregular heartbeat, and poor menstruation can be linked to cases of shortage of Spleen energy.

Stomach aches, poor appetite, belching, vomiting, nausea, and hiccup are often due to an obstruction of the pathway between the Stomach and the Small Intestine.

With that said, balancing-out the Earth element can help people swift smoothly across all stages and seasons of life, with a healthier digestive system, hence a strong immunity, more energy, and better sleep.

The Spleen and Stomach do not like cold nor raw foods.

Do you enjoy a cold drink after an intense workout, or on a hot Summer’s day? How about ice cream while strolling in the park? Dear reader, be careful. Although these simple actions appear to be harmless… cold refreshments will only damage your Stomach and Spleen functions for people who identify with the Earth element.

In the Summer, and especially in the Late Summer season, people with dominant Earth elements must restrain from these habits and choose to drink temper or even slightly warm water instead and avoid any food which is usually eaten cold (ice pops, smoothies, ice cream, iced tea, cold beer… you name it!).

The Earth element is related to the color yellow. In late Summer, it is wise to incorporate more yellow-toned foods into our diet in order to consciously cultivate, tonify, and harvest the Spleen and Stomach energies.

Think in lots of pumpkin, corn, apricot, dates, lentils, brown rice, turnip, oats, carrot, sweet potato, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, to name a few. These foods provide tons of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals which are highly beneficial to the Earth-related organs.

Remember, no raw foods, no cold foods and eat more yellow foods – especially in the later parts of Summer.

When it comes to emotions, the Earth element is associated with sympathy. When in balance, an individual can empathize with other people’s problems and feelings and help them wherever possible.

Sympathy is usually seen as a positive emotion, but when it gets excessive, it can turn into worry, anxiety, brooding thoughts or difficulty thinking straight.

People with an unbalanced Earth element often have a very active mind with restless thoughts. They can experience mild to severe concentration and memory issues, foggy-headed feelings, difficulty concentrating or thinking straight. Earth is responsible for digesting thoughts and information as well as food!

You may experience imbalance as an inability to take responsibility for yourself and your life experiences. You may lack self-control and blame and criticize others for your problems.