In Taoist philosophy and Chinese Medicine, yang reaches its fullest expression in summer. Energetically, summer is a time when we can shed some layers and blossom. The risk of spring frost is long gone, and now for a brief window of time the natural world opens its wings wide and shares its beauty and color with the world. Just as the natural world is expressing its total abundance this time of year, we, too, are supported in expanding and expressing.
Learn more and don’t miss the summer cooking video below!
Summer and the Fire Element
Summer of course, is a time when heat increases. In Ayurveda (the sister science of yoga), we say that pitta increases this time of year, and in Chinese Medicine, summer is the time of the fire element.
The Chinese character for the fire element (which is associated with summer) represents rising flames, pointing to the natural tendency for fire to spread upwards and outwards. In the cycle of the elements, fire is a time to enjoy life through connection with others, inspiration, and self-expression. It also empowers us to develop contentment, awareness, compassion, and love.
Counteract Heat and Nourish Yin in Summer
When practicing self-care during the fire element season and summer, the key is enjoying the gifts of fire while maintaining balance. When out of balance, heat can appear in the body/mind as restlessness, insomnia, rashes, breakouts, UTIs, irritability, and digestive troubles. As the weather gets hot, we must adjust our lifestyle and food choices to align with the natural world. It’s important to stay calm and cool (physically and mentally) and protect the nourishing yin fluids in the body.
Follow these few tips to support your fire element in the summer from Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine:
- Eat lighter, bitter, and cooling foods to protect against external heat. Excess heat and yang can damage body fluids and yin, so less food and foods that are cooling and build yin and body fluids are recommended:
- Zucchini, green tea, cucumber, green beans, melons, celery, water chestnut, mung sprouts, apple, watermelon, pear, tofu, coconut, flower teas, green tea, mint, and aloe
- Stay hydrated with not just water but electrolytes too. Hydration will support the yin and Kidney Qi, essential to maintain good energy through the warmer months.
- Don’t overdo cold foods and cooling activities. Too much air conditioning and iced drinks can cause cold dampness to build in the body. Over time this can make digestion worse and cause pain and sluggishness.
- It’s best to do vigorous activity and get sunshine early this time of year. Early morning sunlight will help reset your circadian rhythm and support a good mood. Avoid activity and excess sweating midday when fire is highest.
- Small amounts of pungent flavored spices, especially warming ones like chili, black pepper, and ginger, help the body sweat and cool down.
- Summer is the season of the Heart and the emotion of joy. Make time to do things you enjoy, share your happiness with others and enjoy various colorful food with others.
- Eat lighter, bitter, and cooling foods to protect against external heat. Excess heat and yang can damage body fluids and yin, so less food and foods that are cooling and build yin and body fluids are recommended:
- Zucchini, green tea, cucumber, green beans, melons, celery, water chestnut, mung sprouts, apple, watermelon, pear, tofu, coconut, flower teas, green tea, mint, and aloe
- Stay hydrated with not just water but electrolytes too. Hydration will support the yin and Kidney Qi, essential to maintain good energy through the warmer months.
- Don’t overdo cold foods and cooling activities. Too much air conditioning and iced drinks can cause cold dampness to build in the body. Over time this can make digestion worse and cause pain and sluggishness.
- It’s best to do vigorous activity and get sunshine early this time of year. Early morning sunlight will help reset your circadian rhythm and support a good mood. Avoid activity and excess sweating midday when fire is highest.
- Small amounts of pungent flavored spices, especially warming ones like chili, black pepper, and ginger, help the body sweat and cool down.
- Summer is the season of the Heart and the emotion of joy. Make time to do things you enjoy, share your happiness with others and enjoy various colorful food with others.
Creamy Summer Squash Soup
This creamy yet light soup has to be one of my favorite summer recipes. It’s effortless to make with only two main ingredients. I always find it extremely satisfying as an early dinner on a warm summer evening. Larger or older squash tend to lose their delicate flavor, so choose fresh medium-sized summer squash. They are the star of the show in this recipe, and their flavor really stands out!
The various summer squash like zucchini and pattypans have astringent and bitter qualities, according to Ayurveda, making them especially helpful in the summer. In Chinese medicine, they are sweet, bitter, yin and cooling, making them refreshing and aiding in counteracting heat.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 medium size summer squash (pattypan, crookneck or zucchini work well)
- 1 cup fresh basil
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
Directions:
- Roughly chop basil and trim the zucchini.
- Slice zucchini into rounds
- Heat oil in a pot and add zucchini. Saute until tender.
- Add chopped basil and salt and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Add water and boil, then down to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and use an immersion hand blender until the soup is smooth.
- Add black pepper to taste
A FEW OTHER SUMMER RECIPES TO ENJOY:
Acupressure for Summer
In Chinese Medicine and Taoism, there is a focus on the fire element organs of the Heart, Small Intestine, San Jiao, and Pericardium in the summertime.
HEART 7 - Spirit Gate (Shenmen)
This point calms the mind and nourishes the Heart. It also helps to support the Heart if there is excess heat, or blood disorders, leading to insomnia, palpitations, and anxiety. The Heart is related to the spirit and is often connected to excess heat and blood disorders, so this point can also help with insomnia, palpitations, and anxiety.
During daily life or a movement/yoga practice, access this point by using firm but gentle pressure with a finger of thumb. Use it during a back-bending yoga practice to stoke the fire and joy of the Heart. Or use it during a forward folding or restorative practice to calm the Heart-Mind.
LOCATION: Located on the inner side of the pinkie side of the wrist crease. The point is located on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris.
Learn more about the Heart Meridian here.
Find more resources on Summer and the Fire Element below:
- The Hearts Guardian – Acupressure and TCM for the Pericardium
- Calm Heart, Clear Mind – Healing the Shen with Food as Medicine
- Yin Yoga Sequence for the Heart and Lung Meridians
I hope you enjoy these suggestions and your summer days!
