In Chinese Medicine the Summer Solstice represents the peak of yang energy. Yang is associated with warmth, activity, and outward expression. Summer solstice is a time of abundance and growth in nature, reflecting the expansive qualities of yang energy. In treating patients this last week I could feel an energetic shift in the collective. There was a lightness in spirit, an outward expansiveness and energy and just a little more pep in our steps. Wonderful to witness and a bit contagious!
While there are many positive traits associated with the summer season, each season offers unique opportunities and challenges for maintaining health. Summer, ruled by the fire element and yang energy, encourages us to embrace vitality, joy, and social connection. However, excessive heat can also lead to imbalances such as dehydration, irritability, heatstroke or social burnout. Chinese medicine is unique in that it often takes a non-direct approach to address disharmony. For example, if you were showing an excess of yang: burnout, inflammation, and heat in your system, the logical approach would seem to be adding cooling herbs, oils and acupuncture points into your regime - but Chinese medicine doesn't like to make things that simple for us! Instead of sedating the symptoms that are presenting themselves, we take a look at tonifying the balancing energy which has a negative feedback loop to keep it in check.
Balancing these energies require a nourishment of the energetic counterpart to yang, yin.
Yin qualities—coolness, restfulness, and nourishment—are crucial for maintaining internal harmony amidst external heat. This might involve consuming cooling foods like watermelon and cucumber, staying hydrated with herbal teas, and practicing calming activities such as meditation or gentle exercises like qigong.
I hope this summer is the best one yet!
xoxo
Dr. Michelle