Earth Element Stomach meridian Yang Time: – Spleen meridian Yin Time: – Nourishment Primarily from food but can be on any level Grounding

Classical Associations Season/late summer Season/late summer Colour: yellow Colour: yellow Power: to ripen Power: to ripen Climate: damp Climate: damp Sound: singing Sound: singing Qi effect: to knot Qi effect: to knot Taste: sweet Taste: sweet Emotion: pensive Emotion: pensive Secretion: saliva Secretion: saliva

Element Associations Fertility, stability, nourishment, support, grounding, receptivity, harvest time Physical Associations Appetite - craving for food or anorexia, bulimia Digestive process - nausea, indigestion, slow digestion, loose stools Physical energy from food - fatigue, anaemia Slow bleeding - piles, bruises easily, bleeding gums, varicose veins Support - sagging flesh collapsed mid-section, prolapse of stomach or womb “heavy” looking Maternity and fertility - irregular cycles, PMT with tiredness, craving for sweet foods Psychological Associations Frustration from lack of nourishment – craving, needy, or Constructs intellectual reality, retreats into head – over thinking. Ability to nourish self on all levels Factors Affecting Earth Element Too much raw cold food, improper diet, eating too much or too little, irregular eating Dampness in the environment. Difficult pregnancy, labour, lactation.