The concept of boundaries is one that’s deeply embedded in TCM, traversing the energetic to physiological levels so as to cultivate personal integrity that greatly supports our overall health. Boundaries represent a potent framework through which we can, once again, understand the inherent connection between the spiritual and material that informs our tradition of medicine. TCM teaches us that healthy boundaries create an unseen architecture of wellness—rooted in discernment, containment, and protection.
Summer corresponds to the organs of the Heart and Small Intestine, which plays a foundational role in helping us filter. It helps safeguard our permeability by sorting nourishment from contaminants—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Metabolically, the Small Intestine is responsible for separating the pure from the impure when it comes to nutrients and waste through the digestive process, rendering it fundamental to the building of Qi (life force energy). While this in and of itself highlights how our capacity for discernment serves us not only physiologically, Spleen health in TCM also has an explicit psychospiritual component, promoting clear energetic boundaries that delineate what’s ours and what isn’t. Just as this organ-meridian system holds the intelligence to extract nutrients from our food while eliminating waste, it is able to filter through confusion that can otherwise overwhelm us and create a destabilizing lack of clarity.
Tonic herbs for the Small Intestine: Chaga and Lion’s Mane.
The Lungs govern the skin and the Wei Qi—the conceptual “shield” guarding us that circulates around the edges of the exterior body, just beneath the skin. This is the first and outermost layer of the body’s immune defense—a kind of energetic boundary that protects us from external influences, including not only pathogens but also emotional influences. Interestingly, our skin and breath are two of our most powerful points of contact with the “outside” world, allowing our interior and exterior to mingle and converge. At the same time, a healthy Wei Qi plays a crucial role in the felt sense of where you end and the rest of the world begins. When Lung Qi is weak, our boundaries may become porous. We might feel overly sensitive to others’ moods, easily fatigued, or prone to taking on energy that isn’t ours. A strong Lung system, however, is deeply protective— allowing us to interact and be exposed without being overrun by external forces.
Lung and Wei-Qi supportive herbs: Astragalus, Cordyceps, Chaga, and Eleuthero.
The Spleen, which corresponds to the upcoming “extra” season of Late Summer, is the organ of containment and transformation. It is responsible for metabolizing energy from food into Blood and Qi, while its spiritual component supports us in processing the experiences, information, and lessons of our year thus far. Because digestion isn’t limited to the gut, we are encouraged to have boundaries with the information we receive; overexposure and excessive screen time can cause both stress and digestive upset by preventing us from entering the “rest and digest” state of the parasympathetic nervous system. As the Spleen is governed by the Earth element, our internal anchor, supporting this organ system intimately enhances our ability to stay grounded in ourselves. By preserving one’s own container and filling one’s own cup, we can feel nourished and full, regardless of external validation or stability.
Tonic herbs that nourish the Spleen: Astragalus, Turkey Tail, Eleuthero, Reishi Spore, Rose, Chaga, Pine Pollen, and Lion’s Mane.
In TCM, the Pericardium is more than a membrane—it is the energetic gatekeeper of the Heart. Often called the Heart Protector, it governs our capacity for emotional intimacy and openness, while maintaining safety and a sense of sovereignty. A strong Pericardium is the security guard of our vulnerability, allowing for closeness without enmeshment. It helps us regulate emotional input, guarding the Shen (spirit) from shocks, heartbreak, or excessive stimulation. As the Heart houses our Shen, when the Pericardium is weak or breached, it greatly affects our emotional and psychospiritual health. Without a gatekeeper for the Heart, we may experience overwhelm, reactivity, or emotional burnout; this is especially true because the Heart is responsible for feeling and filtering all of the other emotions, making it uniquely susceptible to being overburdened.
Tonic herbs that support the Pericardium include: Rhodiola and Schizandra.
In TCM, respecting and fortifying our boundaries is an integral part of cultivating vibrant health on the physiological and psychospiritual levels—which are, of course, intimately interconnected. We can nourish our corresponding organ systems so that they are able to support us in discerning, filtering, containing, and protecting what’s sacred. In so doing, we safeguard our own personal integrity and capacity for balance.
