Solar term 11 of 24 · Metal · autumn
End of Heat 处暑
The heat leaves. The tiredness arrives.
Chǔshǔ · begins 23 August 2026 · approximately fifteen days
The character 处 means "to withdraw". Heat retreats, and a great many people discover they are more tired than they expected — the bill for a long summer arriving at once. It is not a personal failing; it is the season.
The three micro-seasons
Every term divides into three pentads of about five days.
- Eagles make offerings
- Heaven and earth turn stern
- Grain ripens
What to do in these fifteen days
- Go to bed an hour earlier for three nights in a row and see what changes.
- Stop the summer habit that no longer serves you — late nights, cold drinks, constant motion.
- Eat something warm at breakfast. The shift from cold to warm food matters more than the specific food.
On the table
Warm congee · Ginger, spring onion, lightly cooked pears
One question
What did this summer cost you that you have not yet rested from?
Seasonal and cultural information only. Not medical advice, and no claim is made about treating any condition. See method & limits.