The season filled with abundant energy, long days and sunshine. This is the most yang time of the year. Summer is about, growth, activity and creativity.
Element: Fire
Color: Red
Nature: Yang
Organs: Heart, small intestine
Emotion: Joy
The Fire Element
Summer is the season of yang, a time when the body undergoes vigorous metabolic (body energy) processes. several thousand years ago, The Medical classic of the Yellow Emperor" put forth the principle that one should cultivate the yang energy in spring and summer, while protecting the yin energy in autumn and winter.
TCM teaches us that summer belongs to fire element, one of the five elements. Fire is symbolic of maximum activity or greatest yang, which means that it is a time of heat, outgoingness, and moving outward in nature and in our lives. In human anatomy, the heart, mind and spirit are ruled by the fire element. Thus, top priority should be given to the heart, mind and spirit for staying healthy in the summer.
Live Life to the Fullest, The hearts main function is to pump oxygen-rich blood through the body. In Chinese medicine, mental activity is associated with the heart and therefore our memory, thought process, emotional well-being and consciousness are also attributed to the heart and fire element. This is a time to nourish and pacify our spirits, and to realize our life's greatest potential as we find joy in our hot summer days and warm summer nights.
When the fire element is in balance, the heart is strong and healthy, the mind is calm and sleep is sound.
When the fire element is imbalanced, we may either lack joy(depression) or have an excess of joy(mania). Indicators of an imbalance in the fire element include agitation, nervousness, heartburn, and insomnia.
Tips for summer health, to prevent summer ills and remain in harmony with the environment of summer, ancient Chinese physicians advised:
Awaken earlier in the morning
Go to bed later in the evening
Rest at midday
Drink plenty of true fluids
Add pungent flavors to your diet
Refrain from anger: keep calm and even tempered.
Eat in moderation: over consumption of any food especially cooling foods, can lead to indigestion, sluggishness and possibly diarrhea.
Do not leave your food out for too long: the hot weather tends to increase spoilage
stay away from: dairy, heavy, greasy and fried foods
Eating under the sun, here are some good foods for our summertime's:
Watermelon, Apricot, Cantaloupe, Lemon, Peach, Orange, asparagus, Sprouts, Bamboo, Bok choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, corn, cucumbers, white mushroom, snow peas, Spinach, summer squash, Watercress, Seaweed, Mung beans, Cilantro, Mint, Dill
These fruits and vegetables will help your body adjust its temperature and protect you during the long, hot summer days
Have a great Summer,
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