Welluvia’s Guide to Summer
Today we’re looking at the final set from the seasonal guides on Welluvia. Summer has arrived, our energy goes outwards and the days are the longest they are in the year. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is associated with the fire element, which gives us extra verve and the power to provide light and spark our insides as well as the external world around us. The warmth and light around us are conducive for our outings and recreational hobbies such as sport, parties and adventures.
Summer is the time for action. It’s a high energy period, but it’s essential to strike a balance between activity and rest, so we don’t burn out. Today we’re looking at the tips that Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests we live by so we can work harmoniously with the season.
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Summer
Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are key associations for each season that are important to note.
Yin Organ - Heart
Yang Organ - Small Intestine
Element - Fire
Flavour Profile - Bitter
Colour - Red
Sound - Laughing
Emotion - Joy
A look at the Yin and Yang Organs of Summer
The fire element governs summer. The fire element is the spark from which all of life derives from. The emotion associated with fire and the organs of summer is joy. When fire is in balance, we feel full of happiness and enthusiasm for life. On the other hand, an excess of fire can create overexcitability and restlessness, while a lack of fire can produce feelings of depression and apathy. Some symptoms of a fire imbalance to look out for are:
Excessive sweating
Skin problems such as rashes or hives
Sleep disturbances such as insomnia and restless sleep
Heart conditions such as irregular heartbeat or palpitations
Feelings of agitation, restlessness or explosive bursts of energy
Inappropriate laughter or anxious states that can lead to irrational fears and phobias.
The Heart
Summer’s yin organ is the heart. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heart is believed to be the emperor of the human body, governing blood and is responsible for Shen (the mind). In Western Medicine we know that the heart is mainly responsible for controlling the blood flow through the body, however, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the responsibilities of the heart extend to emotional and spiritual aspects of our health. In Ancient Chinese texts, the heart is referred to as the supreme monarch of the body that is responsible for creating internal peace and harmony and stimulating intelligence, wisdom and spiritual transformation.
The Small Intestine
The yang organ of summer is the small intestine. We know the small intestine is responsible for supporting digestion, assimilation and elimination from the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is also said to “separate the pure from the impure”. This means it separates the pure nutrients from things we eat and drink, and remove the things that our body does not need or want. On a spiritual level, the small intestine is said to separate the positive parts of our daily interactions and eliminate from our mind and bodies the things that are negative or not of benefit to us.
The Pericardium & the Triple Burner
Along with the small intestine and heart, the pericardium and triple burner are also both associated with the fire element. They are integral in the bodies processes during the summer months. The pericardium, also known as the protector of the heart, is a sac that surrounds and protects the heart. It serves as a membrane to lubricate and protect while also acting as a gate that allows positive energy into our heart while blocking out negative energy and pathogens into the hearts inner sanctum. The triple burner is responsible for heating and cooling the entire system within the body, which is integral in the summer months for thermoregulation.
Food & Diet
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the intense heat of summer feeds off body fluids and can harm our yin energy. For this reason, it is recommended to adopt a diet of predominately cooling yin foods to disperse the heat and increase our body fluid levels. As indigestion can easily occur in summer, it is recommended to stay clear from heavier and greasy foods, and instead opt for light and cooling meals. Generally speaking, cooling foods tend to be on the greener side of the food spectrum. Below we’ll outline some of the best foods for summer to cool the body and replenish yin energy.
Cooling foods: Cucumber, spinach, tomato, lettuce, white mushrooms, asparagus, corn, seaweed, broccoli, watercress, yoghurt, barley, fish, mint, dill and coriander.
Fruits: Apple, watermelon, pineapple, mandarin, pear, apricot, rockmelon, kiwifruit, peach, and lemon.
Drinks: Drink plenty of water, Watermelon juice and water with cucumber and lemon in it are other great options. Green tea is excellent as it disperses the heat in the body, expels toxins, cools the heart fire and removes heat from the liver and gallbladder.
Things to avoid: Avoid coffee and alcohol as it further dehydrates the body. Spicy food and ice-cold things should be avoided too as they further slow the digestive system down. Food is easy to spoil in summer, so it is important not to let your food stay out too long.
Sleep
Summer is the time for growth and expansion. It allows us to stay out a bit later at night and socialise with the people that bring joy into our lives. The extra hours of sun in the day allow us to fully experience life, play and adventure. Still, it is vital to make sure we balance this outwards energy expenditure with lots of water, downtime and relaxation. The general guide for sleep in the summer months is to wake up earlier in the morning than we did in the previous months, rest in the middle of the day and go to bed later than before. It is crucial to not oversleep during these months as it can cause an imbalance in our fire energy.
Activities & Exercise
As the energy in summer is high, it should reflect our energy and exercise routines. A healthy heart needs regular and active exercise to keep our circulatory and cardiovascular systems in top shape. A high-intensity workout is great as it can build a sweat, which can cleanse the body from toxins. When we sweat, we also open our pores which can assist with moving chi energy throughout the body. It is essential to build up our exercise routines slowly if we weren’t particularly active in the prior months. The heart is the most vulnerable in summer so any high-intensity workouts should be gradually built into. When it comes to the bedroom, the summer months can see us being more interested in sex which is perfectly healthy, but essential not to overindulge in. Practices like yoga and meditation are excellent to calm the mind as it is imperative in summer to be easygoing and happy, not allowing grudges and bitterness to trap energy within the body.
Things to Consider Moving into Summer
Summer is a great time to spend time in the water. Whether it be at the beach, in the shower or at the pool, water balances the fire element and helps cool the body.
Actively seek out activities and experiences that bring you joy and put you into a good mood.
Summer is a great time to expand upon and nourish creative projects.
Engage your senses. Summer brings an array of intense colours, sounds and smells around us in nature.
The heart rules understanding and wisdom, so summer is the time to trust your intuition and follow what your heart is telling you to do. Try to engage with the deeper knowledge in your body and listen to the little voice.
With wellness,
Aleksandar
Banner image by Juergen Teller