Living in Harmony with Summer's Energy

May 5^th marks the beginning of the summer/fire energy in Chinese Medicine.  Summer time is full of yang energy which allows for things to grow and flourish beautifully. The energy from the heaven descends down to earth and the energy from earth ascends to meet heaven’s energy, they interact and cause things to blossom and bear fruit. The sunlight also facilitates the growth of the body. The classics state that we should be more physically active during summer; therefore one should go to sleep later and wake up earlier. One should not get angry during the summer; it could be harmful to the heart, the fire organ. Summer’s energy is outwardly moving; therefore one should let energy move out of the body through perspiration.                

Summer’s energy is fire which affects the heart and small intestine. One should not miss out on the growing and flourishing of the summer energy otherwise it may lead to deficient heart fire and the body will not be prepared to cope with the coolness of autumn which will lead to disease in the autumn. If you develop a cold during summer means that you did not live in harmony with spring’s energy.

                “To live in harmony with yin and yang means life; to live against it means death. To live in harmony will bring about peace; to live against it will bring about chaos and disease.” “It is important to prevent disease before its attack, which will save time and efforts. When one is healthy, one should not fail to take steps to prevent the possible attack of disease.” (Huang Di Nei Jing; Su Wen Chapter 2)

The Heart – the summer organ

The heart houses our Shen, or mind/spirit. It is also known as the emperor of all the organs in the body. The Heart-mind is responsible for many different mental activities including: thinking, memory, consciousness, insight, emotional life, cognition, sleep, intelligence, wisdom and ideas. It is also responsible for all senses: hearing, sight, touch, taste and smell. Therefore, when the Heart is not in balance all aspects of the body can develop pathologies such as: insomnia, poor memory, depression, mania and speech problems.

Associated Characteristics of Summer/Fire Element

Summer Foods

During the summer enjoy consuming the vibrant colored fruits and vegetables that are in season. Your plate of food should resemble a beautiful, colorful artwork. During the summer, more fluids are lost through sweating; therefore it is important to replace vitamins and minerals with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Cook foods lightly by sautéing or steaming them with a little bit of spiciness and bitterness to keep things moving and ascending. Avoid any heavy foods such as dairy, lots of meats and alcohol. Avoid iced beverages and ice creams as the cold contracts the stomach, stops digestion and causes things to be held in.

Foods that nourish the heart:

Arugula

Asparagus

Cucumbers

Dandelion greens

Kohlrabi

Artichokes

Beets

Olives

Sweet potatoes

Celery root

Radicchio

Brussels sprouts

Dark chocolate

Cocoa

Poppy seeds

Pomegranates

Cherries

Apricots

Almonds

Watermelon

Grilled meats

Flaxseeds

Oats

Paprika

Saffron

Nutmeg

Horseradish