Happy Summer!

Happy Summer!

Summer is the season filled with abundant, creative, outward energy. It's the most Yang time of year.

According to Chinese Medicine and Taoist philosophy, the element of summer is fire, the color is red, the sound is laughter, and the emotion is joy. The organs associated with the season are the heart, small intestine, pericardium (heart protector), and the san jiao (in energetic terms represents the upper, middle, and lower parts of the body: breathing, digesting, and eliminating).  It is said that the ‘heart houses the mind or ‘shen’ which is also known as the spirit.’

It is important for the organs to remain in balance for health and well being.  When the fire element is in balance, one may feel relaxed and energized.  If there is an imbalance one may experience depression, mania, heartburn, agitation, blood pressure issues, joint pain, or insomnia.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with any imbalance or unease that you are experiencing, support your immune system, and give you energy. Other suggestions to remain in harmony with the summer season:

• Stay hydrated and drink plenty of room temperature water.
• Awaken earlier in the morning and go to sleep earlier.
• Eat foods that are cooler in nature with higher water content such as cucumber, watermelon, oranges, radishes, and coconut water.
• If you feel hot or sweat often, drink warm tea slowly rather than cold drinks because this can create dampness in the body. Chrysanthemum or mint teas are cooling options.
• Add pungent flavors to your diet.
• Avoid sleeping with a fan or air blowing directly on you, as this can create muscle stiffness.
• Move your body, take a walk in nature.
• Take time for yourself and breathe.