Summer is just around the corner and it looks like this year it is going to be a bit of a hot one. To help navigate the season we can look towards traditional East Asian thought. According to Chinese medicine, each season is associated with specific elements, organs, and energies. Summer is associated with the Fire element, which corresponds to the Heart and Small Intestine organs. It is believed that during this season, the body's energy, or Qi, is at its peak, and it is important to maintain a balance to prevent imbalances. Please note when we refer to the heart or other organs we mean to convey that this is according to Chinese medical thought and is separate from the modern western biomedical discrete organ system and understanding.
Some basic tips for summer
Chinese medicine has a pretty common sense approach to living with the seasons here are tips and advice from Chinese medicine to help you stay healthy during the summer:
1. Stay Hydrated: In Chinese medicine, summer is associated with heat and dryness. To counteract this, it is essential to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Opt for room temperature or slightly warm water, as cold drinks can shock the system and disrupt digestion.
2. Eat Cooling Foods: To balance the heat of summer, incorporate cooling foods into your diet. These include watermelon, cucumber, mung beans, and leafy greens. Avoid heavy, greasy, and spicy foods that can generate excess heat in the body.
3. Protect Your Heart: The Heart is the organ associated with summer in Chinese medicine. It is important to protect and nourish the Heart during this season. Engage in activities that bring you joy and happiness, spend time with loved ones, and practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation or gentle exercise.
4. Take Care of Your Digestion: The Small Intestine is another organ associated with summer. To support its function, eat smaller, more frequent meals and avoid overeating. Incorporate foods that aid digestion, such as ginger, mint, and fennel.
5. Get Plenty of Rest: Summer is a time of increased activity and longer days. However, it is crucial to prioritize rest and ensure you get enough sleep. Chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between activity and rest to support overall well-being.
6. Protect Yourself from Excessive Heat: While it is important to enjoy the warmth of summer, excessive heat can be detrimental to health. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, using sunscreen, and seeking shade during the hottest parts of the day. Avoid prolonged exposure to air conditioning, as it can disrupt the body's natural temperature regulation.
7. Practice Mindful Movement: Engaging in gentle exercises such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong can help balance the body's energy and promote overall well-being. These practices focus on slow, flowing movements and deep breathing, which can help calm the mind and support the body's natural rhythms.
8. Stay Grounded: Summer can be a fun time to socialise and be out in the world, just as important is staying grounded. In Chinese medicine, summer is associated with the Fire element, which can be expansive and yang in nature. To stay balanced, incorporate grounding practices such as walking barefoot on grass or sand, spending time in nature, or practicing mindfulness.
What foods do you suggest?
To put it simply, eat food that is in season and where possible eat a wide range of colours and flavours. Moderation is always key as no foods are inherently good or bad. Some foods may be considered more preferable dependent on the season or weather, including how we prepare them. Although to be honest running an oven on a stinking hot day is not anyone’s idea of a good time. This where stir fries and very lightly cooked meals can be useful along with using your rice cooker over the stove. Find what works best for you.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are high in water content and essential nutrients, which can help to keep the body cool and hydrated. Some particularly good choices for summer include watermelon, cucumber, tomato, melon, and berries.
Choose lighter, easier-to-digest foods. During the summer months, the digestive system tends to be weaker. Avoid heavy, greasy foods, and instead opt for lighter, more easily digested foods such as steamed vegetables, poached fish, and yogurt.
Limit your intake of spicy foods. Spicy foods can increase the body's internal heat, which is not ideal during the summer months. If you do enjoy spicy foods, try to consume them in moderation.
Drink plenty of fluids. It is important to stay hydrated during the summer months, especially if you are active or sweating a lot. Drink plenty of water, unsweetened tea, and other hydrating beverages.
More of these
Fruits: Watermelon, cucumber, tomato, melon, berries, pear, apple, kiwi, orange, tangerine
Vegetables: Cucumber, spinach, Belgian endive hearts, tomato, lettuce, celery, zucchini, broccoli, asparagus
Protein: Fish, chicken, tofu, beans, lentils
Grains: Wheat, barley, rice, quinoa etc
Dairy: Yogurt or dairy free subsitutes
Drinks: Water, green tea, chrysanthemum tea, barley tea, mint tea, cucumber water, watermelon juice
Less of these
Ice cream and other cold foods and drinks. While cold foods and drinks may seem appealing on a hot day, TCM advises against them as a regular addition. Cold foods and drinks can damage the spleen, which is responsible for digestion and immunity.
Fried foods. Fried foods are heavy and greasy, and they can be difficult to digest.
Spicy foods. As mentioned above, spicy foods can increase the body's internal heat. Spicy foods can be good at dispersing qi not so good in dry weather but can be useful on a muggy day to break through the oppressive dampness
Sugary drinks and alcohol. Sugary drinks can dehydrate the body and contribute to generation of internal heat and other health problems.
In summary
Chinese medicine offers valuable and simple advice on how to enjoy the summer season. By staying hydrated, eating cooling foods, protecting your Heart, taking care of your digestion, getting enough rest, protecting yourself from excessive heat, practicing mindful movement, staying grounded, you can support your overall well-being and enjoy the summer to its fullest. Remember, maintaining balance is key in Chinese medicine as is common sense. There are no hard and fast rules. just enjoy the summer and take it easy.
If you are experiencing specific health concerns or imbalances, it is always advisable to seek guidance from a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner and you can book here