Do you know that feeling — you've been sleeping plenty, but you still wake up groggy; after lunch, all you want to do is collapse onto the desk; you haven't really done much, but by early evening you're already running on empty?
Many people blame themselves for being lazy, or start wondering if something is wrong with their body.
It's actually neither! Around May, this kind of "out-of-nowhere tiredness" has a name in Chinese tradition: 春困夏乏 chūn kùn xià fá — "spring drowsiness, summer fatigue." It's a normal signal your body sends as the seasons shift. It's not your fault, but it shouldn't be ignored either. Let's unpack what's really going on.
There's an old Chinese saying: "Drowsy in spring, weary in autumn, dozing in summer." It's been around for centuries, and it describes the collective response of the body during seasonal transitions.
Lìxià, the Start of Summer, is the seventh of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar. It falls between May 5th and 7th each year. From that day on, nature officially enters the phase when yang energy is at its strongest: temperatures rise noticeably, daylight stretches longer, and everything moves into its most vigorous growing season.
But the human body doesn't switch over in an instant.
After the long "waking up" of spring, our system has to shift gears again around Lìxià — from a spring operating mode into a summer operating mode. During that transition window, many people feel more tired than usual, low on motivation, and mentally foggy. Nothing is wrong with you. Your body is just busy changing channels.
Now that we know the why, let's break it down from a modern physiology angle.
1. Blood is redirected, and the brain temporarily runs on "low power"
When temperatures rise, your body dilates the capillaries near the skin's surface in order to release heat. More blood gets routed toward your limbs and skin, which means relatively less blood is flowing to your brain. Even a small dip in cerebral blood supply can make you feel drowsy, distracted, and slower to react. This isn't your imagination — it's a real change in circulation.
2. You sweat more, and electrolytes quietly slip away
After Lìxià, you sweat noticeably more than in spring. Sweat carries away not only water, but also sodium, potassium, magnesium, and other electrolytes that keep nerves and muscles working properly. Even a mild electrolyte imbalance is enough to make your muscles feel heavy and your thinking foggy. Most people don't realize this is happening — they just say, "I'm so tired today." Now you know why.
3. Days get longer, and your sleep rhythm is resetting
After Lìxià, sunrise comes earlier and daylight lasts longer. Your melatonin secretion rhythm has to adjust accordingly, and that reset usually takes one to two weeks. During that window, sleep tends to be lighter than usual, and the sense of being "recharged" in the morning isn't as full as before.
The explanation in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) closely mirrors modern medicine, but uses a different vocabulary.
The Huangdi Neijing (the classical text of Chinese medicine) says: "In spring and summer, nourish the yang." After Lìxià, the yang energy of heaven and earth reaches its yearly peak, and the human body follows the same pattern — its internal yang radiates outward. This is called yang dispersing outward. Yang energy is the fundamental driving force behind all bodily functions, so when a lot of it is pushed outward, people easily feel sluggish and low on energy.
At the same time, excessive sweating depletes body fluids, and Qi travels along with those fluids. The more you sweat, the more Qi is dispersed along with it — what TCM calls "Qi escaping with sweat." When Qi runs low, the body can't power its normal processes, and tiredness naturally sets in.
TCM also notes: "In summer, we sweat a lot, and sweat is the fluid of the heart. Excessive sweating can lead to palpitations, irregular heartbeat, and even affect sleep and mood." This is exactly how Qi escaping with sweat shows up clinically.
On top of that, the digestive function of the spleen and stomach tends to weaken after Lìxià. Absorption efficiency drops, and the body extracts less energy from food, which is another major reason fatigue worsens. This is also why many people experience what TCM calls "summer bitterness" — eating less, digesting poorly, and feeling generally worn out.
Before we get into how to recover, let's see which type of fatigue actually matches you.
Ordinary seasonal fatigue usually looks like this: it noticeably improves after rest; it mostly shows up in the late afternoon or evening; one good night's sleep is enough to bounce back; and your energy gradually stabilizes as temperatures and your routine settle in.
Fatigue from Qi deficiency tends to feel more like this:
No matter how much you sleep, it's never enough — you still wake up tired. Your voice feels soft, and talking for a while leaves you drained. You feel especially sleepy after meals and need to lie down right away. Even walking a bit faster or climbing stairs makes you sweat and breathe hard, more than the people around you. Your hands and feet stay cool even when it's not cold. Your complexion looks pale or yellowish, lacking its usual glow. You may feel mildly dizzy occasionally, especially when you stand up too quickly.
If three or more of these describe you, it's likely more than a seasonal adjustment — Qi deficiency may be your body's way of saying it's time to take this seriously.
Food: bring Qi-supporting ingredients to the table.
Around Lìxià, your diet should lean toward gentle nourishment — mild, spleen-supporting, and Qi-boosting foods, rather than heavy, heating tonics. A few ingredients to lean into this season:
Astragalus (huáng qí) is a classic Qi-tonifying ingredient at Lìxià. It's especially good for people who tire easily or sweat with the slightest exertion, and it's often used in chicken soups. Chinese yam (shān yào) is mild in nature, both Qi-tonifying and yin-nourishing, suitable for all ages, and works well in soups, steamed dishes, or porridge. Red dates (jujube) tonify the middle and benefit Qi, while also nourishing the blood and calming the mind — particularly suitable for women with combined Qi and blood deficiency. Millet supports the spleen and stomach; a small bowl of millet porridge in the morning is one of the gentlest ways to start a summer day.
Here's a simple Lìxià Qi-tonifying recipe you can try on a weekend.
Astragalus & Red Date Chicken Soup (serves 3–4)
Ingredients: chicken legs or half a chicken, 15 g astragalus, 8–10 red dates (pitted), 10 g goji berries, 3 slices fresh ginger, about 150 g Chinese yam (peeled and cubed), salt to taste.
Method: Place the chicken in cold water, bring to a boil to blanch, skim off the foam, and set aside. Add the blanched chicken, astragalus, red dates, and ginger to a pot with plenty of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 1 hour. Add the yam cubes and continue simmering for another 20 minutes until tender. Add goji berries 5 minutes before turning off the heat, season with salt, and serve.
The broth turns a beautiful golden color, with a naturally sweet, warming taste — perfect for anyone who feels easily tired, looks pale, or gets sleepy after meals.
Of course, on busy days when there's no time to simmer a soup, that's okay too. BROTH's Original Chicken Essence is slow-extracted at low temperatures, with the fat removed and small-molecule proteins and amino acids preserved. Sipped warm on an empty stomach in the morning, it absorbs efficiently without burdening the spleen and stomach — a very convenient daily Qi-supporting option. For those dealing with both Qi and blood deficiency, Goji & Jujube Chicken Essence supports Qi while also nourishing the blood, offering more well-rounded support. You can also explore the full BROTH chicken essence collection to find what fits you best, and our FAQ page covers common questions about how to drink it daily.
Sleep: sleeping right matters more than sleeping more.
This is something many people overlook. After Lìxià, it's wise to follow the long-day, short-night rhythm and shift to slightly later bedtimes and earlier mornings. But later doesn't mean staying up late. TCM recommends going to sleep no later than 11 p.m., since that's when the gallbladder meridian becomes active and the body enters its deep repair phase.
TCM also speaks of "midday rest nourishes the heart." The hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. correspond to the heart meridian, and even 15–30 minutes of rest during that time — even just closing your eyes — can help replenish heart-Qi. Your afternoon energy will feel noticeably different. Most people who try it swear by it.
Cut back on daily habits that "drain Qi"
In summer, yang energy disperses outward, and you naturally burn through reserves faster than in other seasons. A few habits worth watching:
Don't set the air conditioning too cold — large temperature gaps between indoors and outdoors force your body to constantly adapt, which is a quiet but steady drain on Qi. Too many iced drinks injure the yang energy of the spleen and stomach, weakening digestion and ultimately deepening fatigue. Excessive anxiety and overthinking are also considered Qi-draining in TCM; moderate outdoor walking and stretching can help reduce that internal wear and tear.
"I'm so tired lately." Behind that sentence is your body's real need. In this transitional month of May, fatigue isn't proof that you're slacking — it's your body's way of telling you: it's time to take better care.
Sleep a little earlier. Eat a little warmer. Tonify in the right places. This early summer, let's nourish that Qi back, slowly and gently.
For more seasonal wellness tips and recipes featuring chicken essence, feel free to explore the BROTH blog.
Zhang Boli. How to Nourish the Heart at Lìxià? Guangming Online. (May 4, 2025). https://m.gmw.cn/2025-05/04/content_1304029022.htm
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Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Lìxià Wellness: Focus on the Heart. https://www.dongfangyy.com.cn/Html/News/Articles/9188.html
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