August - Late Summer / Earth / Pitta

Coriander & Sweet Peppers: Cooling Rituals for Late Summer Balance

A Year of Seasonal Self-Care with Plants and Rituals

Hot summer days

The energy of August – brings a need for cooling, clarity and balance.

Summer is still very much with us, but there is a subtle shift in the air. The days are beginning to shorten, the garden is becoming abundant with its late-summer harvest, or feeling dry and depleted depending on how hot the summer has been. Maybe you too are feeling depleted from the high heat of summer.

As we progress through August there does become a desire:

To cool down.

To digest.

To clear a little space.

And to notice what has been building up over the summer — physically, emotionally and energetically.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, late summer is associated with the Earth element — a time of nourishment, digestion and gathering.

The Earth Element is about the stomach, spleen, thyroid and pancreas which is all about how we digest and support our metabolism and nutritional balance. Often during the Earth Element season we may see stronger symptoms in these areas. It is a grounding season where we look to spend more time in nature, to find more peace in a situation and enjoy time with our families.

An imbalance in the Earth Element can manifest in stomach and digestive issues, over or under eating, infertility, thyroid imbalance, excessive mucus, and lymphatic disorders. You may feel disconnected, or anxious from over thinking, over worrying, stressed from being all things for all people.

There can also be a sense of lingering summer heat and dampness. We may notice this physically as sluggish digestion, bloating, heaviness or feeling uncomfortable in the heat.

Ayurveda offers a slightly different but complementary perspective. After weeks of sunshine, heat, socialising, travel and perhaps disrupted routines, Pitta can become aggravated.

And when we are overheated, we may notice it not only in the body but in our emotions too.

Irritability.

Frustration.

Restlessness.

Feeling easily overwhelmed.

A little August reflection

What overheats me — physically or emotionally?

Perhaps it is too much sun, too much coffee, too much rushing or too many commitments.

Perhaps it is something less tangible — frustration, overthinking, trying to keep everything going when your body is asking you to slow down.

Sometimes the most nourishing thing we can do is simply stop adding more heat.

What would cooling and calming look like for you?

August invites us towards cooling foods, mindful hydration, gentle digestion and a little more spaciousness.

This month I’m turning to coriander and sweet peppers: two beautiful late-summer plants that bring freshness, colour and a gentle sense of balance to the table.

Herb of the month:  Coriander  (Coriandrum sativum)

Herbal Focus: Heat, irritability, digestive discomfort

Coriander is one of those herbs that is perfect for late summer.

Fresh, aromatic and wonderfully versatile, it brings a cooling quality to food and has traditionally been used to support digestion.

The seeds and fresh leaves are both useful, although they have slightly different qualities and uses. Coriander seeds are traditionally valued as a gentle digestive and carminative herb, helping to ease digestive discomfort and gas. They are also considered cooling and have a long history of use in both Ayurvedic and traditional herbal practices.

In Ayurveda, coriander is considered particularly helpful when Pitta is aggravated, while also being supportive for Kapha because it is light and digestive. In Traditional Chinese medicine, coriander is used to help release exterior heat and support digestion, while helping to clear what is sometimes described as Summer Dampness.

I love the idea of coriander as an August herb because it can be used so simply yet has a profound influence on the body.

It is simply a gentle invitation to cool, digest and clear.

How could you use coriander this month?

• Coriander cold infusion - Coriander seed infusion - Fill a jug of water and add 1tbsp of coriander seeds and leave overnight. Sieve out the seeds and drink the water the next day - this is very cooling for the body and can reduce the internal heat.

• Optional: You could add a pinch of fresh mint for an even more refreshing digestive infusion.

• Food: Coriander seeds work beautifully in: Rice dishes, soups and stews, roasted vegetables, homemade spice blends. If you haven’t seen it check out the Summer Spice Blend recipe in July’s blog which includes coriander seeds.

  And fresh coriander leaves can be scattered generously over salads, grains, vegetables and chutneys. It is one of those herbs that can make a simple meal suddenly feel much more alive. I also love making this vibrant green herby dressing which is delicious over salad or roasted vegetables.

Herby Dressing

2 tbsp olive oil,

1 garlic cloves,

juice of 1 lemon,

1 tbsp maple syrup

handful of coriander,

handful of fresh mint

Blitz all the ingredients in a blender or nutribullet to make a delicious, vibrant dressing.

‍ ‍

A recipe I am going to try this month: 

Roast spiced cauliflower bites: https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/roasted-cauliflower-with-cumin-coriander-and-almonds/

Roasted red peppers

Nourishing Ourselves With Seasonal Vegetables

August - Sweet Peppers

Health Benefits: Sweet, grounding energy, fiber-rich, supports digestion and energy

Sweet peppers are one of my favourite late-summer vegetables. They are colourful, naturally sweet and wonderfully easy to prepare. Their sweetness gives them a grounding quality, while their water content and fibre make them a lovely addition to lighter summer meals. They also provide vitamin C and a range of colourful antioxidant compounds — a reminder that seasonal eating doesn't need to be complicated. After the intensity of summer, August food can begin to feel a little more grounding while still being fresh and vibrant.

Simple Recipe:

• Halve your sweet peppers and remove the seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and season with a little salt. Grill or roast for around 15–20 minutes until softened and beginning to char at the edges. Finish with fresh herbs — coriander, basil, parsley or mint would all work beautifully.

  • Serve warm or at room temperature alongside your favourite protein, grains or a simple salad.

  • Simple. Colourful. Nourishing. No complicated recipe required.

• Recipes I am going to try this month

  If you are looking to make red peppers the centre of your meal then you must try the traditional greek stuffed peppers. On my recent Greek holiday to the island of Naxos, I adored the traditional cuisine of Greece and stuffed peppers was one of my favourite meals.

  https://www.lazycatkitchen.com/gemista-greek-stuffed-peppers-vegan/

  Less traditional but sounds delicious:

  https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/greek-orzo-stuffed-red-peppers/

  This month’s Vitamin / Mineral Focus

August – Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene

• Why: Late summer, Pitta balancing, skin and digestive support.

• How: Sweet peppers, carrots, leafy greens, herbs.

• Example: Grilled sweet peppers with fresh herbs.
  

cooling coriander ritual

August’s Ritual

Ritual: The Cooling Compress

This month's ritual is wonderfully simple. Make a light coriander infusion by steeping fresh coriander leaves in freshly boiled water. Allow it to cool completely and then chill it in the refrigerator. When you need a moment to cool down, soak a clean cloth in the cooled infusion, squeeze out the excess and place it gently across your forehead. You could also apply the cool cloth to your pulse points.

Then simply breathe.

Close your eyes for 5–10 minutes.

Notice the sensation of coolness.

Let your shoulders drop.

Let your jaw soften.

There is no need to do anything else.

Just allow yourself to be still.

• Nervous system support: Coriander is mildly grounding; cooling rituals reduce stress-induced heat (tension, irritability).

• Extra tip: For a little extra freshness, pair this month's coriander ritual with peppermint or bergamot. Both have a bright, refreshing quality that can help create a sense of clarity and spaciousness. You could diffuse a little peppermint or bergamot while preparing your evening meal, or simply pause and breathe in the aroma from the leaves of fresh mint or coriander in the kitchen. I like a drop of peppermint oil to the back of my nect if I am feeling overheated. Peppermint oil can bring calming relief if suffering with a headache or migraine.

• Ritual: Mindful hydration with cool herbal water + deep breathing.

Reflection Prompt

• Where do I feel overheated or tense? Where in my life could I create a little more calm and clarity?*

This month, I'm inviting you to notice where there is too much heat in your life.

Too much rushing.

Too much stimulation.

Too much doing.

Too much holding on.

And then ask:

What would help me cool down?

Perhaps it is a lighter meal.

A walk in the evening.

A glass of water.

Five quiet minutes with a cup of coriander tea.

Or simply giving yourself permission to stop.

Late summer has its own rhythm.

We don't need to rush towards autumn.

We can simply begin to soften.

This August, perhaps we can remember:

• Cool the body.

• Quiet the mind.

• Simplify the plate.

• Make space for clarity.

And let the last warmth of summer be something we receive — rather than something we have to keep up with.

Perhaps August doesn't need us to squeeze every last drop from summer. Perhaps it is asking us to enjoy what remains, while gently preparing ourselves for the season ahead.

A Gentle Note on Safety & Individuality

While herbs are natural, they are also biologically active. What supports one person may be inappropriate for another, depending on their constitution, medications, life stage, or current health issues.

August – Coriander

This herb may not be suitable if…

• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a medical condition, seek individual guidance from a qualified practitioner before using herbs regularly or therapeutically.

Safety Note: Coriander is generally gentle when used as a culinary herb. Avoid it if you have a known sensitivity or allergy to coriander or related plants in the Apiaceae family.

Important note:
The information shared in this series is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace personalised medical or herbal advice. Herbs are biologically active substances and may not be suitable for everyone. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a medical condition, please seek individual guidance from a qualified practitioner before using herbal remedies regularly.