Tips for a Cool “Fire Element” Season with Acupuncture Theory
Summer marks the longest and warmest days of the year, and in Chinese Medicine, reflects the most “Yang” or most energetic and brightest time of the year. Our days are spent being busy. We wake up earlier and stay up later. We make plans to socialize and attend summer concerts and barbecues. The beach and pools are frequented to stay cool and enjoy the warmth of the sun.
With Chinese Medicine theory, we can observe the cycles and rhythms of the seasons and how nature stays balanced during these transitions. Chinese Medicine utilizes five elements (fire, earth, metal, water and wood) to reflect all these cycles and rhythms in nature. Each element corresponds to an organ/channel system, season, climate, temperature, color, emotion, and taste. The five element theory helps us to better understand and navigate the world we live in.
Summer is the season of the Fire element and the color red. The energetics of summer is full growth, and maturity. Fire’s motion is upward and expansive. It is a time to take action on all the plans made during the season of spring (the time of rebirth, planning, and growth). Summer is the time of doing!
The Heart is the organ and channel system correlated to the Fire Element. The Heart represents the Emperor/Emperoress that governs the entire body. This includes the physiological actions of circulating the blood as well as embodying the full expression of our spirit or true individual nature. The tongue is the sense organ of the Fire element and acts as a physical manifestation of our expressive nature. When the Fire element is in balance, we are social, expressive, and communicative. Joy is the emotion associated with the Heart/Fire Element. When the body is in balance, joy is expressed and contentment is felt. When the Heart/Fire element is out of balance, the joy can either become excessive, leading to agitation, restlessness, and insomnia, or deficient, leading to a lack of “spark” in one’s spirit.
Summer Season - The Fire Element
Organ - Heart/Small Intestine
Season - Summer
Color - Red
Flavor - Bitter
Emotion - Joy
Climate - Heat
Sensory Organ - Tongue
Direction - South
Development - Maturity
During the Fire Element/Summer Season, it is important to stay hydrated, keep the body cool, socialize and connect with friends. Below are a few tips to help through the most Yang time of the year.
Staying Cool during Summer
Exercise
Well, this one may be obvious, but swimming! Not only are you staying cool, you are keeping the joints moving in a gentle way. Swimming is great summer time activity that is gentle on the Heart.
Heart Opening Stretches: Lay down on your back with a pillow or bolster to support your mid-upper back. Allow your arms to open out to the side to receive a lovely chest opening stretch.
Take morning or late evening walks. Avoid outdoor activity at the hottest time of the day between 11am-3pm.
Diet/Nutrition
Eat foods relating to the Fire Element color red: beets, goji berries, hawthorn fruit, plums, nectarines, peaches, cherries, dates
Eating cooling foods: watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, celery, dark leafy greens
Stay hydrated: Add cucumber slices to your water for extra hydration, add a pinch of sea salt and lemon for an electrolyte boost.
Bitter: Bitter foods help clear heat in the body. Coffee, dandelions greens, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, chocolate. Ok, I admit, I am excited about the coffee and chocolate on this list ;)
Mood Support
Summer is the time to socialize! Get together for a picnic or beach outing with friends. Have a summer cookout. Host a book club.
Express your thoughts in a journal.
Acupuncture to Stay Cool
Acupuncture can keep the body cool during summer and help the body to function at optimal levels.
Large Intestine 11, Quchi, Pool at the Crook, is a great point to clear heat anywhere in the body. Apply firm pressure on the point for 30 seconds - 1 minute each side to aid in cooling the body.
Chinese Herbal Medicine can positively impact the Heart and clear excess heat in the body.
Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit) is an herb found in the “Food Stagnation” category of Chinese Material Medica. However, recent studies have found that Hawthorn Fruit can positively impact the heart. Hawthorn Fruit Research Paper
Ju Hua (chrysanthemum flower) helps to clear heat in the body and makes a yummy tea. I love the combination of goji berries and Ju Hua for a relaxing nighttime tea.
Always refer to a qualified physician before taking any herbal supplements or tea.
Stay cool, and enjoy all that summer has to offer. I look forward to hearing from you, or seeing you at the clinic. If you would like to learn more about Acupuncture and its benefits, please reach out! Stay cool and hydrated Sarasota!
Dr. Jen