Summer: Season of Expansion and Growth
“Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, make you want to move your dancing feet” - Bob Marley
Summer. It is a season of enjoying the longer days and nights, soaking in the sun, relaxing with family and friends, staying active, and restoring your body and heart. It is nature’s most fleeting, yet most flourishing season. A time to engage with nature’s enthusiasm. Summer energy is Yang in nature - bright, expansive, light, creative and abundant. The summer solstice is the full expression of maximum yang energy. Celebrate brightness, express joy, luxuriate in nature, and play with others.
The Five Elements:
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. According to Chinese Medicine, the Five Elements encompass everything and are a method by which we can explain the manifestations of this world. The elements help us define our relationship to the physical world, the spiritual world, and our bodies. They describe the flow of Qi in all things. In balance, these elements help us live in harmony with the cycles of nature for optimal health.
According to Chinese Medicine, summer is the season related to the Fire element, it is the apex of transformation and growth. The corresponding organ system related to the fire element is the Heart/Small Intestine. In Chinese Medicine the Heart is “emperor” of the body. It controls all other organ systems. The small intestine assimilates food, sorting the pure from the impure in the digestive process. In Chinese Medicine theory, the Heart organ system controls the blood vessels and circulation, manifesting in the complexion, expressed in the eyes, and opens to the tongue. The color association is red, and the emotional association is happiness, joy, and compassion. When imbalanced or unexpressed, the emotion can be agitation, anxiety, loss of joy, weak spirit, and mania.
Some common physical and emotional symptoms of Heart/Small Intestine imbalances are:
Agitation, anxiety, chest pains, confused mind, depression, digestive issues, dizziness, excessive sweating, exhaustion, fatigue, hearing loss, facial neuralgia, heart inflammation, insomnia, loss of consciousness, loss of memory, nausea, neck and arm pain, poor circulation, phlegm, red/pale face, palpitations, shortness of breath, shoulder pain, swollen lymph nodes, sleep disturbances, speech problems
During the short summer months, the Heart/Small Intestine Systems can become imbalanced if there is too much heat in the body, when we are too busy with social gatherings, if we exercise excessively, or indulge in heavy, rich foods. Our natural urge is to connect with others and stay active in the full expression of summer. Yet, if too much time is spent putting energy outwards we risk “burn out”. The key to harnessing the energy of summer is creating a vessel and managing our fire.
Blossoming in the Summer:
Follow Season’s Rhythm - The sun rises early and sets later in the day. Rise with the light. Let the sound of birds be your alarm clock and let the sound of the crickets soothe your spirit to sleep. Honor the rhythm of nature and adjust your schedule as the light wanes over the summer months.
Move your Body - Summer is the time to be more active. Find activities that suit your body and bring you joy. Try activities such as biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, or swimming. Being near a body of water is soothing for the heart energy and to clear summer heat. Yoga and qigong in the park, or dancing in your living room are lovely ways to keep the body balanced. Be active in the early morning or later part of the day to avoid being overheated.
Stay Hydrated - Avoid iced and cold drinks as they actually trap heat in the body. Instead choose flower and herbal leaf teas like rose, jasmine, chrysanthemum, oat straw, chamomile, mint, and lemon balm. They both soothe and cool the body. You can also, add lemon, lime, or cucumber slices to your water. They will cool summer heat. Watermelon and lemonade hydrate and clear heat from the body through the urine.
Eat with the Season’s Bounty - Summer offers a bountiful variety in fresh produce. Eat less and light on hot days. Eating late and overindulgence of heavier foods such as meats, eggs, grains, refined sugars, and nuts can make the digestion sluggish and may contribute to insomnia. Ice cream, smoothies, fruits, salads, and alcoholic drinks can slow down the digestion, so be mindful to not overindulge in these foods. Enjoy them in moderation. On the hottest days, include some cooling foods like leafy green salads with cucumbers, radishes, sprouted mung beans, and alfalfa.
Incorporate Bitter Foods - Bitter foods like arugula, dandelion, endives, bitter greens, radicchio, sesame seeds, citrus peels, celery, daikon, radishes are very important for blood flow and circulation. In Chinese Medicine bitter foods are good for overheated, lethargic, and “damp” people. Limit bitter foods if cold, weak, thin, and anxious. Avoid excessive caffeine and chocolate.
Nurture your Shen/Spirit - Now is the time to connect with your authentic self and express your true nature. Speak from your heart and be who you truly are. When you are aligned with yourself, you will trust your intuition and you can live each day with ease, insight, and open-heart. Embracing yourself is a daily practice.
Supporting your spirit (Shen) is essential for promoting balanced Heart energy. Mindful walks in nature, journaling, reading, drawing, prayers, meditation, playing music, star gazing, or simply laying down on the grass watching the clouds go by are ways to nurture the Shen. These quiet Yin activities balance the active Yang energy of summer.
Connect and Provide Service to Others - Winter is a time of quiet and stillness. It is a natural time to turn inwards. Summer is expansive and bright, abundant, and light. It is a time to share what we have with others. An ideal time to be in service to the community. Help your neighbor paint their garage or bring flowers or food to a friend who isn’t feeling well.
Herbal Remedies - Nourish and soothe the heart and mind with medicinal tea with mulberry, Chinese red dates, schisandra berries, jujube seeds, mushroom teas, burdock. Chinese Medicine herbal remedies such as Sleep Remedy - Mental or Physical Tranquility, from local company Dao Labs, harmonize the Heart/Spleen, and Heart/Kidney organ systems. Please, check in with me for herbal formulas for your individual needs that can be added to your daily summer self-care.
Support the Body with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - Watch how animals prepare for winter during the long days of summer. You, too, can prepare your body for the seasons ahead with regular acupuncture and cupping treatments. Not only will they address the challenges of summer but will prepare your body for the cooler months ahead. See me to help alleviate sleep issues, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, allergies, release muscle tension and pain, and address digestive complaints that may arise at this time. Acupuncture is deeply restorative and calming, enhancing your whole body, mind, and spirit.