Earth Element

The period of transition between each season

3 October 2026 by

Laboratoire Géomer

The Earth Element in TCM does not have a single season of its own: it returns four times a year, between two seasons. Discover what it represents, how it shows on skin and scalp, and how to support these times of transition.

At a glance: the Earth Element in TCM

Season: four inter-seasons of about 18 days, from mid-January to early February, mid-April to early May, late July to early August and late October to early November.
Associated organs: the spleen, the stomach and the pancreas.
Emotion: worry, linked to self-image and the need to be nourished and recognised.
Key markers: it is Element no. 3, the centre, both Yin and Yang; its colour at Géomer is yellow, the colour of Terral Jaune.
On the skin and scalp: the body eliminates more; dandruff, spots, crusts, redness, reactive or flaky skin may intensify.
Face zone: the cheeks (stomach).

The meaning of the Earth Element: the nourishing mother

Between each season, nature pauses. The energy leaving one season does not pass straight into the next: it first returns to the centre. In TCM, this time of transition belongs to the Earth Element. It comes back four times a year, for about 18 days: before spring, before summer, at the end of summer and before winter.

Earth is the nourishing mother. It is both Yin and Yang: it receives, carries and transforms. It is the soil that welcomes the seed, the centre around which everything is organised. During the inter-season, the body's energy leaves the organs of the season that is ending and moves towards the centre, towards the digestive organs, to assimilate what has been lived before setting off again.

Earth is associated with maturity and reflection. Each inter-season leaves time to digest the experiences of the past months, literally and figuratively. We often feel a need for calm, for a pause, for coming back to ourselves. It is a good time for reflection, as long as we do not go round in circles.

Earth's place in the two cycles of the 5 Elements

In the law of the 5 Elements, the generating cycle works like a mother-child relationship: each Element nourishes the next. The controlling cycle keeps the balance: each Element tempers another. Earth, placed at the centre, links the seasons together.

Earth is nourished by Fire: the full energy of summer leads to maturity.
Earth nourishes Metal, just as the soil holds minerals within it.
Earth channels Water, as riverbanks guide a river.
Earth is held in place by Wood, whose roots hold the soil.

Spleen, stomach, pancreas and worry: reading skin and scalp

In TCM, the spleen and stomach are the foundation of the body's energy production. The pancreas acts like a signalman: it directs the elimination of waste and redirects energy towards the organs of the next season. During the inter-season, these organs are in high demand. Tradition also links a weakened spleen to dampness that stagnates in the body, and considers that ice-cold dairy products “shock” it.

The emotion of Earth is worry. It touches on self-image and the need to be nourished, recognised and loved: Earth is the image of the mother feeding her child. When we tend to think a lot, to overthink, the inter-season can bring an “excess of reflection”. We go round in circles, and the body finds it harder to let go of what needs to go, its waste as well as its past.

On the skin and scalp, this is the period when the body eliminates more. When the natural elimination routes are overloaded, the traditional reading considers that the skin takes over: dandruff, spots, itching, crusts, redness, bouts of dryness or flaking may intensify, and hair may look duller and be harder to style. On the face map, the cheeks are linked to the stomach. This is a traditional reading, not a diagnosis.

Supporting your skin and hair during the inter-season

Go easy on your digestion: eat better and eat less.
During the spring-summer inter-season, for example, cut down on sweet foods, cheese, meat and fats, and favour rice, root vegetables, buckwheat, rye, chicory, lentils and onions.
Avoid ice-cold dairy products and very cold drinks, which TCM considers hard on the spleen.
Breathe deeply and drink water regularly, in small sips.
Allow yourself time to pause and recentre; if you find yourself ruminating, write your thoughts down or talk about them.
Encourage gentle elimination: lymphatic drainage is worth exploring (see the article below).
Each inter-season is the ideal time for the 5 Terral facial (see below).

Géomer care associated with the Earth Element

At Géomer, the Earth Element is associated with Terral Jaune, a yellow clay mask, and Huile Amplitude N°3, an essential oil synergy. For the scalp, the made-to-measure Shampoing Propolis completes this pairing; it is for adults only. Terral Jaune is applied in a layer of about 1 mm on the area concerned, for 5 to 10 minutes at most without letting it dry, then removed with a sponge before rinsing. Huile Amplitude N°3 is used at 1 to 2 drops on the area, while massaging. These products are at the heart of the dandruff, scalp crusts and scales, and flaky body skin protocols.

For an overall rebalancing, the 5 Terral facial consists of applying each Terral to its own area of the face: yellow on the cheeks, the other four on their respective zones. We recommend it at least at every change of season. Not sure which care suits your skin or scalp? The free Géomer assessment will guide you.

Precaution: Terral masks and Amplitude oils contain essential oils. Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Protocols and articles to read

Key takeaways

Earth returns four times a year, during inter-seasons of about 18 days: it is the time for recentring between two seasons.
It is associated with the spleen, stomach, pancreas and worry; on the skin, it shows through what the body eliminates.
Support the inter-season by going easy on digestion, breathing deeply, and with Terral Jaune and Huile Amplitude N°3.

Important note

This information is provided for informational and holistic purposes. It does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. If you have a diagnosed condition, consult your doctor.

in Well-being

# Earth The 5 TCM Elements Wellbeing