Late Summer Check-In: Nourish Your Fire, Welcome the Earth

Written by: Stefanie Vidal, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)

Dear Friends,

We’re deep into summer now, and it feels like the perfect moment for a late summer check-in—a chance to pause, check in with your body and spirit, and listen before the season shifts again.

I can’t help but think back to my trip to Italy earlier this summer. Even on vacation, the Italian way of living feels so connected to the seasons. The markets were overflowing with fresh fruits and veggies picked just that morning, and the few imported things—like avocados and limes—felt like rare treats. One of my favorite moments was eating yellow plums straight off the tree, sweet and sun-warmed. It really reminded me how powerful it is to slow down and savor what’s fresh and local.

Life can be so simple and so sweet.

My biggest takeaways from the trip were to slow down and really enjoy the little things—like those plums—eat simple, seasonal foods that nourish without weighing you down, pay attention to the natural rhythms around us (waking with the sun, resting when it sets), and make space for quiet moments. Most of all, to appreciate those small, grounding experiences that help us feel connected and balanced—to the Earth, to our loved ones, and to ourselves.

These lessons line up perfectly with Classical Chinese Medicine’s view of mid-August as a gentle turning point. This Late Summer season, from mid-August until the Fall Equinox, is when summer’s bright energy begins to soften, making room for Earth’s quiet, nourishing rhythm.

The days are still long but starting to get a little shorter, and there’s something sweet about savoring the harvest, gathering with community, and soaking in the last bits of summer before we naturally turn inward as the light fades.

Seasonal Food & Herb Recommendations for Your Late Summer Check-In

To support you through this transition, here are some herbal and food traditions to try:

• Herbs:

  • Chrysanthemum to clear heat and calm your spirit

  • Mint to refresh and open your energy

  • Lotus leaf or anise seed to gently support digestion and ease summer heaviness

• Foods: Look for nourishing, hydrating, and cooling foods that give energy without adding heat. Try watermelon, cucumber, bean sprouts, dates, walnuts, and seeds like sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, and chia.

• Foods to avoid: Spicy, greasy, or overly sweet dishes can stir up internal heat or dampness. This might cause bloating, gas, or changes in digestion like constipation or diarrhea as the body struggles with added heat or dampness.

A Simple Breath Practice to Center Your Heart

When you need to come back to yourself, try this gentle breath exercise:

1. Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of 4, feeling your belly soften and expand.

2. Hold for 2 counts, imagining a warm, gentle glow in your chest—your heart’s steady fire.

3. Exhale through your mouth for 6 counts, releasing any tension or worry.

4. Repeat for about 5 minutes, letting yourself settle into calm and balance.

   
   

Why Now?

Late Summer is a perfect time for acupuncture—to soothe restlessness, calm your spirit, and support your body as it shifts from summer’s high energy to Earth’s steady grounding.

If you feel called to nurture yourself with this seasonal care, I invite you to book a session with me. Together, we’ll create a plan that meets you where you are.

May this late summer transition bring you peace, clarity, and renewed vitality.

Warmly,

Stefanie