The Heart of Summer

June 2022

Classical Chinese medicine teaches us that summer is a time when our consciousness and spiritual awareness peaks like the luxurious growth of flowers in nature. According to the Law of the Five Elements, the primary element of summer is fire which rules the Heart. Nourishing and balancing the energetics of our heart during this season is traditionally believed to positively impact regulation of blood circulation, sleep quality and sharpness of our memory.

These results are further enhanced by putting our heart into activities and relationships that bring joy into our lives due to the Heart’s fundamental association with this emotion. This includes seizing the opportunity to laugh to one’s heart content and allowing oneself to run, jump and play regardless of age. Seeking ways to spread positive energy is, furthermore, beneficial to heart energy during the splendor of summertime. Upon doing so, keeping oneself cool, calm and collected is essential for enjoying and “going with the flow” of summer heat.

Eating less and more lightly on hot, bright days is natural for most people and most certainly a healthy practice. Chinese food therapy informs us of the benefit of lemons, limes, celery, cucumber and lettuce for cooling the body. Drinking lots of water and dangling our feet in water helps to balance the heat of summer and prevent many common summer ailments. We also learn from the Law of the Five Elements that the color associated with summer is red, meaning that it is a good idea to include apples, watermelon, strawberries, red potatoes and goji berries into our diet. Moreover, add in some foods with a bitter taste such as radishes, dandelion, parsley, kale, arugula as well as collard and mustard greens for their cooling effect and nourishment of the Heart.

Refraining from indulging in greasy, fried and heavy foods along with excessive consumption of sweets is also recommended to reduce the tendency for “damp heat” developing within the body. And even though it may seem that ice in drinks is cooling the body, it hinders proper digestion, metabolism along with contributing to excess dampness which leads to abdominal bloating, pain and sometimes diarrhea along with a sense of heaviness within the head. It is also essential to always remember that the biggest key to healthier digestion is to eat just enough, rather than overloading oneself with too much food and drink.

Summertime is calling for us to gain nourishment through eating brightly colored fruits and vegetables. It is also the perfect opportunity to match the dazzling colors of summer flowers by wearing bright and vibrantly colored clothing. Awakening early and taking a moment to go outside and perform a Qigong exercise to draw summer nourishment inward from the sun is another method for enhancing our energetics during this season.

Qigong Exercise to Draw Summer Nourishment Inward

• Simply stand with feet turned out wider than your shoulders with arms by your sides.
  
• Take a deep breath into your lower belly and upon exhalation arch backward, gaze upward toward the sun and draw your arms upward, outward and then back behind to the sides of your body.
  
• Open your heart to the sky and draw its yang nourishment inward to your body.
  
• Then come upright and bring arms upward and back so relaxed by your sides once again.
  
• Take a moment to then reflect on how you feel before proceeding with your day.
  

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