Summer: season of joy
Happy summer solstice! This is the season of sunshine, vacations and heat. Therefore it probably comes as no surprise that in acupuncture theory summer is associated with the element of fire. Fire is yang in nature, which means it has expansive, uplifting energy. This gives us the extra spark we need to celebrate all that nature has to offer in the long summer days and warm evenings.
The organs related to summer are the heart and small intestine. Acupuncturists view these organs as giving us the physical ability to get the blood moving with the heart and begin the digestive processes with the small intestine. They also give us clarity of thought and the ability to experience joy, which is the emotion of summer.
In balance with the fire element we’re happy, confident and outgoing. Approaching the world with enthusiasm and connectedness, all while having a calm mind and sound sleep. Out of balance there is insomnia, agitation, nervous exhaustion, heartburn, lack of joy (depression) or possibly manic behavior.
Over the next few weeks we will dive deeper into nutrition and ways to stay cool this summer, but in the meantime here are a few tips to start your summer off right:
Adjust your sleep schedule: Ideally we awake earlier in the summer near sunrise and rest during the hottest part of the day. For many people the afternoon rest isn’t always feasible but if it is, it’s recommended.
Avoid heavy, fried and greasy foods: We’ll have an entire blog devoted to summertime nutrition but the key takeaway is to eat lighter foods that are in season
Don’t overdo it: Although summer revolves around expansive energy, many of us try to pack a year of outside activity into a brief window of summer. This can leave us overheated and burnt out by fall. Entering fall and winter on low reserves sets the tone for our health during the darkest days of the year. Remember, it’s important to expand our energy in summer but not expend it. Pick a few key things you want to experience without overpacking your schedule.
Get Acupuncture: In summer our Qi circulates closer to the surface. This allows healing to happen at a quicker pace, as the energy is easier to access and move past blockages. Often we need less treatments to see results, saving time and money in the long run.