According to Chinese Medicine, your health and wellness is affected by the seasons. By learning to adapt to seasonal changes, you can make the best use of each season’s peaking energies.

The summer season is related to the fire element and the organs of the Heart and Small Intestines. The Heart houses the spirit of the mind and affects our mental activities, emotional state, consciousness, memory, thinking, and sleep.

Now is a great time to wake with the sun and enjoy the extended day light hours. This is the time for outward activities, growth, creativity and fun.

At the same time, this is the season to take care of your mind and emotions as all the fun activities under the hot summer heat can leave the heart easily scattered, agitated and restless. Balance the high energy of summer by paying special focus to your mental and emotional needs.

General Signs and Symptoms:

Depression, mental illness, memory loss, insomnia, palpitations, scattered and confused mind, pale face, speech problems, hot palms and soles, excessive dreaming, inflammation, stabbing pains, shortness of breath, and excessive or absence of laughter.

Foods to Eat

• Eat light meals that make the best use of the colorful fruits and vegetables in season this time of the year. Add a little spice, pungency or hotness to your dishes.
• Avoid heavy foods that make you feel sluggish. Ice cream may be enticing and if you do have some, try the sorbet and non-dairy alternatives like coconut or rice based products.
• Eat bitter foods. The fiery nature of summer tends to raise and scatter energy and the bitter taste helps balance by contracting and descending energy. Bitter foods are also helpful for inflammation, infections and dampness in your system. Bitter foods include bitter melon, watercress, dandelion greens, rye, alfalfa, amaranth, asparagus, romaine lettuce, apple cider vinegar.
• Eat foods to benefit depression. The following are foods that can help with mild mental Depression and calming the mind: whole, refined grains such as brown rice that includes the germ and bran. Cucumbers, apples, cabbage, wild blue-green micro-algae and apple cider vinegar.
• Avoid dairy products and highly processed foods.

Exercises to Practice:

Do medical qigong exercises that balance the Heart and Small Intestines. Still meditation is also good.

• Seasonal Qigong Exercises for the Summer (Advanced Class)
• The Archer (#2 in Golden Eight)
• Look Back and Let Go (#4 in Golden Eight)
• Twist and Release (#5 in Golden Eight)
• Bending for Health (#6 in Golden Eight) – This is a water exercise that balances the fire.

Note: The Golden Eight Exercises can be found in Grandmaster Hong Liu’s book, “The Healing Art of Qigong.” You can learn the Golden Eight in my beginner Medical Qigong class. Sign up now.

Get a Treatment
A combination of Acupuncture, customized Chinese herbal formula, and specific medical qigong exercises can be very effective for benefiting the heart, calming the mind, and balancing the emotions — both for prevention or for treating the signs and symptoms listed above. Come in for a tune up to keep your body in tip top shape.