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In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), summer is the most yang, energetic time of year – the season to be the most active and outgoing. It is ruled by the Fire element, the heart organ, the emotion of joy and the sound of laughter. Sounds about right, doesn’t it? This is the season that calls for us to enjoy moments with friends, family and loved ones.
The Fire Element
Whereas Spring’s Wood element is about birth and the process of becoming, Fire celebrates that which has become. Taking an inventory of what’s around us, summer flowers explode from buds and burst with color, while insects buzz in a way that the air seems to be in constant motion. There is nothing subtle or hidden about summer – everything is on full display. This is the time to be out and about, not to withdraw and go within.
On a soul level, Fire is the element of connection and prompts us to commune with others. It is therefore fitting that summer is the season of shared experiences such as outdoor events and festivals as we appreciate creating and enjoying special moments with others. It is also a reminder that we are not so different after all.
The Heart Organ
The organ most strongly associated with summer is the Heart, which has strong affiliations with love and relationships. It is the Heart which allows for connection and relation from one person to another. The Heart strives for union, finding the experience joyful – the more joy the Heart finds, the more it radiates to others. Like a glowing fire, the Heart spreads warmth to all who come within reach.
The Emotion of Joy
Unsurprisingly, the corresponding emotion to summer is joy and excitement. Joy warms and activates the body and the senses. It is the emotion that opens the heart and inspires people to connect in warm ways with others. Again, much like the flames of a fire, joy and laughter spread – a smile prompts another smile and laughter is often contagious, allowing happiness to disperse to others.
Some Tips
With summer’s intensity, changing things up a bit to be more aligned with the energetics of the season will help keep you feeling your best. Here are a few tips to consider…
Build in time for yin (with buds).
Summer’s fire energy calls for moments of downtime. And with summer’s association with the heart, you may want to consider scheduling downtime with others. Examples of communal yin activities include community acupuncture, group yoga nidra, sound bath, yoga, or outdoor time at a park or in nature with friends.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Be sure to drink lots of water as well as cooling drinks such as watermelon juice and green tea to disperse summer heat and expel toxins.
Lighten up your diet.
Eat smaller meals with lighter ingredients. Though there’s nothing wrong with overindulging every now and then, be mindful of what you’re eating at barbecues and picnics. Avoid heavy, greasy, and fried foods, as well as beer and sweets when you can.
Cool down with food.
When the heat rises, it’s tempting to go for icy delights such as slushies and ice cream. However, according to TCM, these super cold treats don’t really help cool the body down. In the moment, it may feel satisfying, but eating something so cold actually requires more energy as the body needs to heat up to body temperature before digestion. And, actually, this mechanism can slow down digestion and metabolism, leading to bloating, heaviness of the nead, stomach pain or even diarrhea.
Instead, choose foods that have a cooling effect on the body. For example, try watermelon, mint, cucumbers, green tea, celery, strawberry, yogurt, and barley. Similarly, bitter is the taste related to the fire element. Therefore, choosing bitter foods can also have a cool the body down. But remember, everything in moderation.
Credit:
Wood Becomes Water: Chinese Medicine in Everyday Life by Gail Reichstein
Traditional Chinese Medicine Techniques For Staying Cool All Summer by Snow Xia
