One difference between Chinese medicine and materialist medicine is the former’s emphasis on time as opposed to space. So while Western medicine is interested in what specific organ/cell/chemical process is malfunctioning in your body, Chinese medicine is more likely to be interested in the time of day the symptom shows up or what time of year the ailment began. I have a particular interest in what the medicine has to say about the energy of the seasons. Each season is associated with one of the five elements, with the left over element (Earth) being assigned either to the transition time between the seasons proper or to a “late summer” time between summer and fall. I’d like to discuss each of these and provide some recommendations on how to align yourself with the season that most Northern hemispher-ers are experiencing – SUMMER.
First, I want to explain an important concept. There is a lag between what the energy and matter are doing within any given season. To understand this consider the easily observable pattern of heat throughout a given day. The sun is at its peak around the noon hour, but the hottest part of the day is much later. The same goes if you observe the sun through the seasons. Although summer solstice brings us our longest days, the “dog days of summer” with their unbearable heat come later in the summer – in August. So, in a sense, the energy of the sun leads the material response of the Earth’s surface with a considerable head start. At any given moment in the day or in the year your experience of the sun is going to be behind the actual activity of the sun.
If we consider the classic Chinese Taiji symbol, we can understand this concept clearly (see image below). The summer solstice should be placed at the apex of the Taiji. The Yang (white) energy is at its peak – however, the Yin (black) energy is being born. With that under our belt, let’s discuss the summer.
What are the characteristics of summer?
- Yang energy: One of the purest expressions of Yang energy in nature is our sun. The omnipresence of the sun during this time of year shows the deep resonance of summer and Yang. Everything is infused with this Yang energy during the summer.
- Warm temperature: Related to the Yang energy, but worth separate mention. For most folks what they either crave or fear about the summer is the heat! The heat causes us to take part in different kinds of activity, changes our social patterns and can cause some problems.
- Lots of activity: Also related to the full expression of Yang energy is the great amount of activity going on for plants, non-human animals and human beings. Fruits are filling out, summer vegetables are being tended and harvested, all things are in an upward spiral of growth. Animals are raising their babies, foraging for food and putting on plenty of weight for the cold months to come. Humans generally take vacations and take part in many outdoor activities and events. I don’t know about you, but for me summer is a very hectic time – even though I’m usually not in school!
What are the common problems of the summer season? It is important to note that the Neijing indicates that problems in one’s conduct in the summer actually won’t manifest until the Fall – another timelag! So, feeling “ok” right now doesn’t guarantee feeling “ok” in the future. But what are the most common problems we find in the summer months?
- Fluid depletion: All that heat can easily damage our fluids. We’re watery creatures and depleting our fluids can quickly lead to symptoms of dryness, or even allow for the flaring of heat symptoms. We’ve all experienced the unpleasant effects of dehydration – headaches, dizziness, irritability and fatigue. Serious fluid depletion can eventually lead to Yin deficiency, which has a variety of negative consequences.
- Heat excess: Depending on our constitution and the strength of our defensive systems, we may be prone to getting heat diseases. My daughter, for instance, gets wicked febrile illnesses during the summer! Heat in our organ systems can lead to diverse symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, irritation and anger and extreme aversion to heat.
- Overwork/play: The Yang imperative of the summer leads some people to do too much. With so many events, so many visits from friends – on top of the normal workload and the impetus to garden, hike and bike… well, some people feel more exhausted after summer vacation than they did before it!
How can you avoid them to have the healthiest summer ever?
- Common sense suggestions: keep hydrated, keep cool. There’s nothing to substitute for plain old common sense. I know you like the sun. I know you think you should go on that twenty mile hike in exposed terrain at 1pm. But do your body a favor and stay in the shade. If you must be in the sun, take plenty of water and cover yourself as much as you can. Watch non-human animals for cues on what you should be doing.
- Consume especially cooling foods, but AVOID ICE! First, the ice deal. Drinking excessive amounts of iced liquid or consuming excessive amounts of ice cream and ice pops may give you a temporary feeling of relief, but it is murder on your Spleen/Stomach. Drink COOLED beverages, enjoy cold desserts once in a while – but don’t overdo it. Probably the greatest all time summer cooling foods are melons. Watermelon, in particular, has a tendancy to clear Summerheat and even though it is cold, it can benefit the Stomach. You can juice the melon and drink the liquid or just enjoy the perennial summer tradition of watermelon juice down your chin and seeds spit out in a pile in front of you. You might also consider drinking mint, chamomile and chrysanthemum teas. All of these, drunk warm throughout the day or even chilled, have helped me in avoiding heat related discomfort.
- Meditations to ready for the descending energy of the Fall: As mentioned above, the Yin is being born during the highest point of summer. Fall is on its way, even if everything around us screams summer. Often we think about aligning ourselves with the energy of the season when it’s too late – remember the time lag! Right about now (late July) is a great time to start drawing energy inward and preparing for the colder weather. I like to do a fifteen meditation at the end of my day that has the following components: (a) Visualization of the Yang energy on my surface drawing inward to warm my lower abdomen, (b) Contemplation of the way that nature is already preparing for scarcity, (c) Thinking about things in my life that need to be “cut away” during the Fall season. However, I do not make any moves to actually do this “cutting away,” I merely consider the possibility.
- Self acupressure to clear heat and keep energy contained: To work on build up of heat and its nasty effects, I like to stimulate LI-4, He Gu – which you can locate using the following guide. When I’m feeling especially hot, stimulating this point for about five minutes calms it down a great deal. To work on my incessantly floating energy without causing stagnation, I often stimulate KD-1, Yong Quan – which you can locate using the following guide. I like to do this at night when everything is quiet. I just gently press it, using a circular motion and focus on bringing my energy downward. Let me know if you have similar experiences in the comments!
- Spend some time in an ancient forest: Nothing pulls the heat and excess energy out of me faster than spending some time among mosses, springy forest floors and towering giants. I am blessed in that I live in Portland, OR and can visit intact old forests with ease. Find places like this near to you and just spend some time marveling how this ecosystem creates its own little cool and pleasantly moist environment despite the heat of summer.
- Visit a CM physician for a summer tune-up: Of course a list like this wouldn’t be complete without my recommendation that you see an excellently trained Chinese medicine physician at least once during the summer just for a tune-up. Your doctor can help you to clear any pathogenic heat or damp you may have picked up and help to fortify your system against the excesses of summer so you can be healthy and happy through this beautiful season.
Eric
Tags: seasonal-living, nature, specific-points, Character, food, summer
