Staying healthy in summer from a Chinese Medicine perspective.

Summer is the season of joy and energy!

The summer solstice on June 21 marks the beginning of the season of abundance. In Chinese Medicine, it is recognized as the most yang or energetic day of the year. Living in harmony with the seasons is at the core of Traditional Chinese medicine wisdom – it’s about adapting our diet and lifestyle as the seasons change.  This is because Chinese Medicine theory recognizes that people are intertwined and part of nature and not separate. Our external environments have a direct impact on our internal environment.  I like to think of this as our way to maximize our health by letting the natural aspects on the season do the heavy lifting, rather than trying to fight against the stream. 

Diet for the season

Summer is a time of light and energy.  It is the time to be outdoors, to be active and to eat foods appropriate to the season that help support your health.  If you love salads and smoothies this is the time of year that our body enjoys this nourishment. Your body appreciates the cooling and balancing aspects of including raw, lightly cooked and cooling foods.  Some cooling foods you might add are cucumber, spinach, tomato, salads, yogurt, barley, fish, mint, dill or cilantro. You don’t need the long slow cooked meals of winter and your body appreciates eating less and lighter meals.

Focus on the Heart

Chinese medical theory sees the internal organs associated with different seasons and summer is the season of the Heart and the Small Intestine. This means this is the time that their energy peaks.

When considering the Heart from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective it extends beyond the physical mechanical functions and into the spiritual and emotional connections. The Heart houses spirit and is the home of our internal harmony.

In balance, the Heart elicits joy and strong energy, but when it is out of balance you may experience some of these symptoms.

·      Insomnia

·      Palpitations

·      Red complexion

·      Excessive sweating

·      Irritability, anxiety, restlessness

·      Depression (too little joy) or mania (excess joy)

·      Speech problems: Excessive talking, inappropriate laughter, rapid speech, aphasia, stuttering

This doesn’t mean you have a heart problem and need to see your doctor, but that you may be experiencing some imbalance.  Acupuncture can address these symptoms before they become larger problems. Summer is a great time to continue or start acupuncture treatments that are uplifting and balancing.