Staying Healthy in Summer according to Chinese Medicine
Summer is here, bringing more time in the sun, late nights, fresh fruit, and, according to Chinese Medicine, the beginning of the season of abundance.
June 21st marked the summer solstice and the beginning of the summer season. In Chinese medicine, summer is considered the most yang time of the year. Yang energy is associated with warmth, light, and expansion. The increased daylight and warm weather during summer help expand our consciousness and bring us into a more expansive state of being.
When taking a Chinese medicine approach to your wellness, consider what’s happening in the seasons and environment to improve your health and connect with nature.
The Element of Summer
In Chinese medicine, there are five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Summer is related to the fire element, which governs joy, enthusiasm, and vitality. The heart is the organ associated with the fire element. During summer, it is essential to protect your heart health by taking preventive wellness measures to support the fire element and harmonize with seasonal changes.
Signs of Fire Imbalance:
Feeling scattered
Having a short temper
Feeling impatient and easily agitated
Mood swings
Feeling hot all the time
Heartburn
Stress
Irritation
Anxiety
Depression
Low or high blood pressure
Sleep troubles
Brain fog
When the fire element is balanced, your mind is calm, your sleep is sound and your heart is healthy.
Ways to Harness the Power of Summer and Find Balance in the Fire Element
Eat with the Seasons
In summer, it is important to keep your diet full of light, nutrient-dense foods. Hydrating foods can help clear excess heat from the body.
Foods to Enjoy:
Fruits: Watermelon, papaya, cherries, mango, pineapple, oranges, kiwi, apricot, strawberries, cantaloupe, lemon, lime, and peaches.
Cooling Foods: Zucchini, asparagus, corn, spinach, tomato, salads, dill, cilantro, and mint.
Summer Teas: Green tea, chrysanthemum tea, honeysuckle tea, and five-flower tea.
Change Up Your Movement
Incorporate more active workouts and find new ways to move your body—hiking, running, swimming, biking, and other activities that increase your heart rate and promote circulation.
Align Your Sleep Schedule with the Season
With longer days, rise with the sun and enjoy the outdoors during the cooler part of the day. When the temperature is at its highest, take an afternoon nap. Aligning your sleep cycle with the seasons helps balance your circadian rhythm for better sleep and overall health.
Keep Your Body Hydrated
To stay hydrated, restore your body with minerals and electrolytes. When you sweat, it depletes your body’s sodium levels. Drinking too much water can further deplete sodium, causing nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, or muscle cramps. Drinking coconut water, adding a pinch of sea salt, using trace mineral drops, or my favorite, an electrolyte called LMNT, are easy ways to stay healthy and hydrated.
Summer Self-Care
Taking care of your physical body helps keep your emotions balanced, and balancing your emotions helps keep your physical body well.
Summer is a great time to explore new projects, connect with nature by walking barefoot, find time to play, and connect with those around you.
Enjoy the season of abundance, and may your summer be filled with joy, vitality, and balance.
Chinese Medicine Treatments in the Summer
Acupuncture is a treatment that keeps the whole body well by balancing qi, promoting circulation and healing the root. In the summer, acupuncture can help regulated the body temperature, reduce inflammation caused by excess heat and help with any areas of imbalance.
Warmly,
Dr. Kallie Harrison DAOM, LAc, LMT, RN
