With the perfect balance of the Summer Solstice happening on June 20th, it’s time to prepare our bodies and minds for sweaty summer season. While all of the fresh juices & face mists only temporarily alleviate the stifling heat that comes with summer, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gives us practical tools to change our internal enviornment to feel our best and stay healthy when the heat is on.
But first, what is the Summer all about in TCM?
Nature: Yang
Organ: Heart
Element: Fire
Flavor: Bitter
Emotion: Joy
Color: Red
The Summer is associated with the Element of Fire, and the organs of the Heart and Small Intestine. The Heart is the Emperor of the body and is associated with Joy, or lack thereof. When it is in balance, our heart spirit radiates into the world and we have effortless control that flows from intuition.
The Small Intestine is all about sorting the pure from the impure by burning away the mundane, which empowers transformation. It also helps us communicate clearly in the world.
Take a moment to think about how this applies to your daily life. How can you harness your Heart energy to tap into your Joy, harness your intuition, filter away the bulls@it and speak your truth clearly?
Now that it’s Summer, let your inner fire burn bright! It can propel you to tap into your deep knowing, create the new, destroy the old, and/or fly to heights you only imagined before. If you feel like you’re going too hard and burning out, remember to take it easy, drink or sink into water, quiet time, and eat cooling foods (see below for some food tips).
In terms of living in accordance with the Summer season,, here are some concrete Chinese Medicine tips for health:
You can go to sleep later than usual, while still waking early, since we are more energized
Avoid getting angry or hold grudges, and uphold a joyful nature. Summer is also the ideal time to heal emotional wounds
Stay physically active and get your sweat on
You can eat more raw and uncooked foods than usual, but remember not to overdo it and cool down your digestive fires too much (if you start to get loose stools or discomfort, reincorporate more warm and cooked foods)
Here are some examples of cooling foods that will keep you balanced during the summer and help your body adjust to the long hot summer days!
Watermelon
Apricot
Cantaloupe
Lemon
Peach
Orange
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Asparagus
Sprouts
Bamboo
Bok choy
Broccoli
Chinese cabbage
Corn
Cucumber
White mushroom
Snow peas
Spinach
Summer squash
Watercress
Seaweed
Mung means
Cilantro
Mint
Dill
Seafood, Fish
Eat in moderation. In summer, indigestion can easily occur, so a light and less-greasy diet is strongly recommended. Over consumption of any food, especially cooling foods, can lead to indigestion, sluggishness and possibly diarrhea.
Stay away from dairy, heavy, greasy, and fried foods. Also avoid dark meats which tend to be warmer in nature.
By incorporating these guidelines, you’ll help to support your physical health and also safeguard against fatigue and illness in the upcoming Fall Season.
The change of Season is also an optimal time to receive acupuncture. Treatment enables you to transition more seamlessly, and helps your body, mind and Spirit acclimate to the new conditions and avoid illness.
credit: HHEININGE art