For the next three weeks, my 3 Point Thursdays series will focus on Chinese medicine and the Summer season. The full series will cover the following:
- The Basic Concept
- Tips for Healthy Summer
- Seasonal Foods for Summer
The Basic Concept
According to Chinese Medicine, Summer is considered the full expression of yang, with its quick, hot, bright, and active nature. Summer solstice on June 21 marks the beginning of the season of abundance. Through the lens of Chinese Medicine, it is the most yang day of the year–the apex of summer. The characteristics of this season are red, the element is Fire, the associated organs are the heart and the emotion is joy.
Summer is a time of increased heat, vibrancy, movement, and growth. Just as nature’s energy increases, you may notice an increase in your energy as well, whether mentally or physically. In Chinese Medicine, Summer and the Fire element are related to the emotion of joy, the sound of laughter, and the color red. This associated imagery and characteristics are reflected in many of our modern summer rituals, celebrations and activities – such as gathering around a fire.
When the Fire element is balanced, the mind is calm, there is restful and restorative sleep, and the heart is healthy and vital. If there is an imbalance in the Fire element, however, there may be experiences of emotional disturbance, difficulty with sleep, and possibly cardiac weakness.
One of the secrets for living a healthy life is to live according to the seasons. Try incorporating seasonal raw fruits and vegetables. This can be a great way to help the body stay nourished. By incorporating more cooling foods, we can help to prevent the body from taking on too much heat. Support your body by focusing on whole foods that have a cooling characteristic in Chinese medicine. Energetically cooling foods help to clear heat from the body, and they also generate body fluids to keep the system hydrated and replenished. Lean into the joy of the season by noticing what lights you up. Try heart-healthy exercises and get moving!
In my next 3 Point Thursday, I will share some tips for a healthy Summer.
Tips for Healthy Summer
This is week two in the three-part Summer Series. Today we will focus on habits that will lead to a healthy, fulfilling summer season.
Summer is a great time to continue or start Chinese medicine treatments that are uplifting for yang, qi, and blood. It is also a time when heat and fire patterns can be suffered in a more pointed or aggressive presentation. When the Heart is in balance, it is a kind leader but out of balance, people may experience:
- Insomnia
- Palpitations
- Red complexion
- Excessive sweating
- Irritability, anxiety, restlessness
- Depression (too little joy) or mania (excess joy)
Here are some tips to help you feel connected to the season and be at your healthiest.
Find Joy: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the emotion related to the Fire element is joy and the sound is laughter. Summer is an invitation to fully embody the joy we are all so deserving of. Explore what lights you up and find ways to bring more of that into your day. It is important to note that there is no judgment attached to these emotions. Often joy is seen as positive and sadness as negative, but familiarity and feeling of both is a healthy experience. Finding support through a mental health care provider is another great tool to care for the Heart and Fire energetics.
Support Heart Health: During the summer months, try channeling your increased energy into more active workouts with a focus on cardiac health. In Chinese Medicine, the season of summer is related to the Heart organ and channel system. That means finding ways to support cardiac health and promote circulation are helpful to live in alignment with the season. Feel free to break a sweat! A simple way to gauge what intensity works for you is to listen to your body. If you feel tired, or like you have to take a nap after your workout, it was most likely too intense. Always listen to what feels best for your unique body on any given day.
New Sleeping Pattern: Summer means longer daylight hours. Take advantage of this new pattern by adjusting your sleep/rest schedule. Try waking up earlier in the morning, resting at midday, and going to bed later. Allow yourself to stay out a little later, socialize with people who bring you joy, make time to play, experience life, and go on an adventure or two,
Cool Off: Enjoying the hot outdoors and integrating heart-healthy workouts might all lead to some overly hot situations. Balance your adventures and activity with plenty of water, downtime, and relaxation. Take cool baths or showers and go for a swim. While cooling off inside, recharge inside and tackle a creative project and try reconnecting with activities you enjoyed as a kid.
In my next 3 Point Thursday, I will share some seasonal foods and dietary advice for a healthy Summer.
Seasonal Foods for Summer
This is the final week in the three-part Summer Series. Today we will focus on foods to add or remove from this season’s diet.
Foods to Add: Support your body by focusing on whole foods, preferably organic and free of pesticides and other chemicals, that have a cooling characteristic in Chinese medicine. Energetically cooling foods help to clear heat from the body, and they also generate body fluids to keep the system hydrated and replenished. The bitter flavor corresponds to the fire phase, and mostly bitter–cool as well as bitter–cold foods in moderation should be consumed during the hot season.In general, choose lighter foods to avoid indigestion (per the Heart’s relationship to the Small Intestine). Diet suggestions for summer include:
Fruit: Apple, lemon, kiwi, watermelon, orange, pear, pineapple, tangerine, cantaloupe, berries
Cooling foods: Cucumber, Belgian endive hearts, spinach, tomato, salads, yogurt, wheat, barley, fish, mint, dill, cilantro, bok choy, mung beans, snow peas
Drinks: Lots of water! You can add fruit and foods from the above list to brighten up your water. Other great drinks include watermelon juice and green tea (for dispersing summer heat, expelling toxins, and even calming the mind).
Combos: Mint and Chrysanthemum both aid in cooling the body and skin and also mildly supports liver function. If you are feeling adventurous, you could combine these as a tea and add a pinch of honeysuckle to create a wonderful floral tea to keep you cool.
Food to Avoid: Hot and dry foods such as coffee, excessively spicy foods, ice cold foods like ice cream since they cause the digestive system to slow down. It’s also a good idea to limit your intake of heavy, greasy, and fried foods, as well as excessive alcohol. These types of food preparations can add more heat to the system – leading to imbalance.
Last of all, acupuncture is an effective way to keep your heart and digestive system in balance. Summer is a great time of year to come in to address any sleep or emotional changes.
This concludes the 3 part series of Summer through the lens of Chinese Medicine. I hope this was informative and helpful for your health and self-care.
About the Author
As a practitioner and healer in Washington, DC for more than a decade, I take a patient-centered approach to care through acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicines, and mind-body coaching, with a specialty in full-spectrum reproductive health care.
