Summer According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Summer, which is the season associated with fire, is when flowers are in full bloom. It has the power to give light, and to illuminate our inner being as well as our external world.
The main organ associated with Fire is the Heart. Chinese medicine describes the heart as the “supreme controller”, its main job is to make sure the other organs, such as the liver or lung or kidney, function harmoniously.
Nourishing the Heart during Summer
As summer brings with it a myriad of intense colors, sounds, and fragrances, make yourself available to the abundance all around you.
- Planning more outdoor activities with friends and family or simply spending some time in the gardens and parks- walk barefooted on the grass and smell the flowers around you.
A healthy heart needs regular exercise to keep the circulatory system in good condition. Get a good cardio exercise and try to build a sweat, which helps to cleanse toxins from the body.
While we enjoy outdoor activities in the summer months, the heat in the summer is believed to damage the yin and fluid in our bodies. Consuming the flavors of the vegetables and fruits in the season and drinking more fresh water can allow the heat to be dispersed and body fluid to be built up.
Acupuncture is another modality recommended during the summer season. Acupuncture helps to balance energy flows in our bodies, regular acupuncture treatments during the summer can clear excess heat in the body, anchor our spirit, make us more calm and centred.