Rooted: THW

“The human body is a reflection of the universe. The meridians are rivers through which qi and blood flow, linking the interior with the exterior, the above with the below. When these rivers are clear, life flourishes; when they are obstructed, illness arises. To restore harmony is not merely to treat disease, but to reawaken the body’s connection to Heaven and Earth, to restore the natural movement of spirit within. Healing, then, is a return to flow, a remembrance that we are never separate from the great currents of life itself.” Ling Shu

Reconnect with your natural state of flow through acupuncture, touch, and energy medicine.

How to Build a TCM-Inspired Summer Routine for Your Family

Create a season of structure, joy, and balance using the Five Elements & Body Clock

Summer is the most yang season of the year in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Here, in San Diego, we celebrated the start of this season of brightness, activity, outward expression, and joy with some time in the pool.

Without the right rhythms in place, all that fire energy can leave families feeling overstimulated, depleted, or disconnected so I wanted to share some ways I’ve been prepping my families to calibrate with the new season.

By aligning your family’s summer with the principles of the Five Elements and the TCM Body Clock, you can create a grounded, nourishing routine that balances rest with play, and activity with ease.

Let me show you how.

Summer and the Fire Element

In TCM, summer corresponds to the Fire element, which governs the Heart and Small Intestine. Emotionally, it’s linked with joy, connection, and liveliness—but too much fire can lead to burnout, anxiety, restlessness, or sleep disturbances (especially in kids).

Fire thrives on rhythm, connection, and heart-centered expression. Your summer routine should reflect this.

Use the TCM Body Clock to Structure the Day

The TCM Body Clock maps out the body’s organ energy flow over a 24-hour cycle. Here’s how to use it to build a supportive daily flow:

5–7am: Large Intestine Time
Start the day with light movement, quiet cuddles, and a consistent wake-up time. Hydration and morning bowel movements are encouraged.

7–9am: Stomach Time
Serve a warm, nourishing breakfast—think congee, oats, or steamed eggs. Make this a calm and connective part of the morning.

9–11am: Spleen Time
Ideal for learning, creativity, or low-stress outings. The Spleen likes predictability and gentle structure.

11am–1pm: Heart Time (Peak Fire)
Playtime! Swimming, outside adventures, and group activities feel best here. Let the heart express and connect. A light, cooling lunch is ideal.

1–3pm: Small Intestine Time
Encourage quiet play, reading, or a nap/quiet time to digest both food and experience.

3–5pm: Bladder Time
Energy returns. Offer more active play or movement. Hydrate well—especially if outside.

5–7pm: Kidney Time
Begin the wind-down. Focus on connection—family dinners, simple conversations, or calming rituals.

7–9pm: Pericardium / Circulation Time
Great time for a bath, music, storytime, or gentle snuggles before bed.

9pm and onward
Lights out. Summer sleep can be tricky—help regulate temperature, emotions, and overstimulation with wind-down rituals like foot soaks or calming teas.

Balance Rest & Play with the Five Elements

Each family member may embody a different elemental constitution (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water). Knowing these can help you:

  • Understand who needs more movement (Wood) vs. more downtime (Water)
  • Spot the child who needs nurturing routine (Earth) vs. space to express (Fire)
  • Plan meals, activities, and sleep schedules that meet individual needs
  • Minimize meltdowns and maximize flow

💡 Pro Tip: Plan weekly “elemental days”—where one day is extra playful (Fire), another nature-focused (Wood), another cozy and grounding (Earth), and so on.

Keep Fire in Check: 5 TCM-Inspired Tips for a Regulated Summer

  1. Use cooling foods like watermelon, cucumber, mint, and chrysanthemum tea
  2. Avoid overstimulation—too many camps, screen time, or outings back-to-back
  3. Create screen-free wind-down zones before bed
  4. Build in predictability, even if loose (e.g., morning routine + evening ritual)
  5. Lean into heart-connection—play games, ask questions, and nurture joy

Next Up: Get to Know Your Family’s Element

Want to design a summer routine tailored to your unique family makeup? In July, we’ll dive into the Five Elements in-depth so you can uncover your child’s constitutional type—and build rituals and routines that truly support their growth.

👉 Stay tuned for our July series and take the “What’s Your Child’s Element?” quiz coming soon!

Ready to bring more ease, joy, and rhythm to your summer?
Make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter to get our Five Elements Family Guide + quiz the moment it drops!

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