Summer: A Chinese Medicine perspective
Ahhh, summertime! The days are longer and our schedules are often full of fun activities with friends and family, whether at home, out-and-about, or away on vacation.
In the three months of Summer, the Huang Di Nei Jing (a classical Chinese Medicine reference book) mentions that the heavenly energy descends and earthly energy rises.
Plants, animals, flowers, and fruit are abundant during summer because of the merging between heaven and earth.
Here are some insights & tips to help us live in harmony with the seasons according to Chinese Medicine.
Summer is a great time to do things that excite you and bring you joy!
It’s best not to push yourself and overstimulate the cardiovascular system, which is easier to do in the heat of summer. One sign of over-heating/over-exertion is a red flush to the face; find cool places and make sure to set some down time to avoid too much heat generating in the body.
In Chinese medicine, we are all about balance - even too much excitement and joy can tip us off balance, and over-excitement can manifest as mania. Keep cool and practice meditation and finding center to stay balanced!
Once again, it’s all about that balance - yes, be active, work out, and go outside - but also, make time for resting and finding stillness. Staying hydrated is very important. Be careful with being in places and situations that get you heated - physically or emotionally!
This should go for all seasons, but be mindful of the energy you are surrounded with.
Constant aggression, angry words, confrontational and provoking conversations are stressful to both mind and body. It’s not that we should avoid difficult conversations or people completely, but pay mindful awareness to how much time you spend in these situations. If necessary, take a break to cool off.
And of course, surround yourself with uplifting people who are like a cool drink on a hot summer day!
Summer time is considered “Yang within Yang” - the most Yang time of year with outward expansion of energy, peak heat, lots of movement, and plenty of daylight.
In order to balance this extreme Yang, we must incorporate some Yin nourishment.
Find cool activities to participate in especially during the hottest times of the day, and add minerals and electrolytes to your drinks (salt, vitamin/mineral powder packs, or even coconut water are great choices).
Our digestion works best with lighter meals during this time of year. Could you imagine eating a piping hot bowl of ramen or chili at the beach, during the hottest time of day?
Opt for meals with leafy bitter greens like arugala, lettuce, and kale. Use nuts and seeds, fruits, beans, sprouts, and lean protein like chicken or turkey.
Leaf and flower herbs are lighter in nature than root herbs and work well during summer time. Chinese medicine practitioners don’t often recommend cold beverages, but summertime is when I give my exception to the rule & say, enjoy some cool drinks here & there!
I hope you gained some insight about living in tune with the Summer season from this post.
If you’d like to chat more about acupuncture, herbs, or Chinese medicine in general - please reach out! I offer free 15-minute virtual consultations or am happy to correspond via email.
Stay cool this summer and be well!
Sincerely,
Meghane Hernandez - Maui Acupuncturist & Herbalist
