Here at Haynes Acupuncture Gold Coast our qualified acupuncturists practice a style of traditional medicine based on more than 2,500 years of Chinese medical practice. A fundamental belief of Chinese medicine is that it’s better to take steps to preserve and enhance your wellbeing everyday, than to think about your health only when you’re sick, this is particularly relevant to seasonal changes!
It’s finally summer! Time for BBQ’s, farmers markets, outdoor concerts and hitting the beach. Summer in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the most yang time of the year. Corresponding to the fire element, a time for heat, we will find growth both in nature and our own lives. The fire element is associated with the heart/small intestine, the emotion of joy, the colour red and bitter taste.
How to find your Summer health….
Engage your senses. As summer brings with it a myriad of intense colours, sounds and fragrances, make yourself available to the abundance all around you.
- Go outside in the grass barefoot and feel the textures that greet your feet.
- Go into the garden and listen intently to the sounds of the birds and crickets, or of children playing.
- Smell the flowers, the smells of summer and take time to allow them in.
- Taste the fresh fruits and vegetables and linger over their unique flavours.
Trust your intuition – The heart rules understanding and intelligence, but not of the cerebral type. When we know something in our heart, we are connected to a deeper part of our being. Try to engage in this deeper knowing and take the time to listen to your inner voice. Manage stress and anger as much as possible (heat is further aggravated by stress and anger)
Eat cooling foods – And eat slowly. Enjoy the flavours of the vegetables and fruits in their season. The taste associated with Fire is bitter, so try to include bitter greens like endive, dandelion, rocket, kale and Swiss chard in your diet. Aim to incorporate an abundance of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables. Cook lightly. Methods like steaming and stir frying are good at this time. And if you feel like it, add a little spicy, pungent or fiery flavour to your food like chilli, cayenne pepper, fresh ginger and/or black pepper. Using spices like these help to promote a mild sweat and bring body heat to the surface. It may seem hot at first but it’s actually helping to cool you down! But don’t over do it!
Drink lots of pure, fresh water – The sun pulls the moisture from your pores, so it is important that you rehydrate. Drink 2-3 litres of water a day. If you don’t feel thirsty, force yourself to drink it anyway; most likely, even if you force yourself, your body will give a sigh of relief, thanking you.
Exercise – A healthy heart needs regular exercise to keep the circulatory system in good condition. Get a good cardiovascular exercise and try to build a sweat, which helps to cleanse toxins from the body. Depending on your level of fitness, make your workout fit in. If you are out of shape, begin slowly by walking daily. Try to walk fast enough to just break a bit of a sweat, but don’t overdo it. The heart is more vulnerable in the summer, so build your exercise routine gradually.
Summer is a great time to continue, or start Chinese medicine treatments that are uplifting or tonifying for yang, qi, and blood. When the Heart is in balance, it is a kind leader. Regular acupuncture can help reduce stress & anxiety, improve digestive function, increase energy, regulate hormones, strengthen your immune system and treat pain & tight muscles.
If you would like more information or to book in for an appointment with one of our practitioners, please call us on (07) 5531 6461 or you can book online via our website.
© Haynes Acupuncture ™ Gold Coast 2021
