Summer health

Embrace the Summer Season with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Summer is a time for warmth, energy, and growth. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the summer season is associated with the Fire element, representing vitality, passion, and transformation. It is a time to expand and flourish, but also a time when our bodies need careful attention to avoid the pitfalls of the intense heat. In TCM, maintaining balance in each season is essential for good health. Here’s how you can stay healthy and vibrant this summer according to the wisdom of TCM.

The Prevalent Evil Qi of Summer: Heat and Dampness

In TCM, "Qi" refers to the vital energy that flows through our bodies, and "evil Qi" refers to the external factors that can cause disharmony in the body. In summer, the most common evil Qi is Heat and Dampness.

• Heat: The sun’s warmth during summer can be overwhelming. Too much heat can lead to irritability, dehydration, skin rashes, and excessive sweating.

• Dampness: The summer months, especially in humid climates, bring dampness, which can lead to sluggish digestion, fatigue, bloating, and excess mucus.

Both Heat and Dampness can lead to internal imbalances and drain your energy. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt practices and lifestyle choices that help to keep these external factors in check.

Foods to Eat in Summer According to TCM

TCM emphasizes the importance of eating foods that nourish and balance the body’s internal environment. In summer, the focus is on foods that cool, hydrate, and help eliminate excess heat and dampness. Here are some TCM-recommended foods for the summer season:

• Cooling foods: These foods help cool the body and expel excess heat.

  • Cucumbers, watermelon, and cantaloupe: These are cooling and hydrating fruits that help clear heat.

  • Bitter greens (e.g., dandelion greens, arugula): These bitter vegetables support the heart and help reduce heat.

  • Mint and chrysanthemum tea: These herbs are cooling and calming, perfect for reducing internal heat.

• Hydrating foods: Staying hydrated is crucial in the summer to avoid excessive dryness and heat.

  • Soups and broths: Light, cooling soups made with ingredients like lotus root, mung beans, and summer vegetables can help keep you hydrated.

  • Barley and congee: Both are excellent for digestion and can help absorb excess moisture.

• Light proteins: Stick to lean, easily digestible proteins, such as:

  • Fish and chicken: These are better than red meats, which are considered too "hot" for summer.

Foods to Avoid in Summer

While some foods help balance the body in summer, others can exacerbate heat and dampness, leading to discomfort. According to TCM, it's wise to avoid:

• Spicy, greasy, and fried foods: These can increase internal heat and aggravate conditions like excessive sweating, irritability, and digestive discomfort.

• Dairy products: These can create dampness in the body, contributing to sluggish digestion and excess mucus.

• Alcohol: Alcohol can increase heat in the body, leading to dehydration and inflammation.

• Red meats: These are warming and can aggravate the heat and dampness in the summer season.

Dressing for the Summer: Cool and Comfortable

What you wear during the summer plays an important role in maintaining your internal balance, according to TCM. The goal is to stay cool while protecting the body from excessive heat.

• Light fabrics: Choose breathable, natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk, which allow your skin to breathe and help prevent overheating.

• Layering: While it’s important to stay cool, it’s also crucial to avoid overexposure to the intense heat. Wearing light layers can help you regulate your body temperature.

• Protect your skin: Sun protection is vital. Opt for natural sunblocks or wear hats and scarves to shield yourself from the harmful rays without trapping heat.

  
  

Other Summer Self-Care Tips in TCM

In addition to diet and clothing, TCM offers other self-care practices to help you thrive during the summer season:

• Rest and recharge: Summer is a time of heightened energy, but it's important to also take time to rest. Avoid overworking yourself, and be sure to get adequate sleep to allow your body to repair and rejuvenate.

• Mind your emotions: The summer is linked to the Heart in TCM, and this organ is associated with joy, excitement, and love. Be mindful of emotional balance, and avoid over-excitement or stress, which can disrupt Heart Qi.

• Stay cool, but not too cold: While it's important to stay cool in the heat, avoid overexposing yourself to extremely cold environments, as this can weaken the body's internal Qi and immune system.

• Exercise: Gentle, cooling exercises like Tai Chi, yoga, and swimming are excellent ways to stay active while supporting your body’s flow of Qi and avoiding excessive heat buildup.

Conclusion

Summer, according to TCM, is a season of energy, growth, and vitality. By understanding how Heat and Dampness can affect our bodies and adjusting our diet, clothing, and lifestyle accordingly, we can align ourselves with the natural rhythms of the season. Focus on cooling and hydrating foods, dress appropriately to avoid overheating, and remember to keep your mind and emotions in check to fully enjoy the summer months in balance and harmony.

17/12/2024

Shameela Pacquet - Chinese medicine practitioner

Acumore Clinic