Summer According to Chinese Medicine

All cycles are manifestations of the movement of Yin 陰 and Yang 陽, and the seasons are no different.

Both Spring and Summer are Yang seasons. Yang represents growth, expansion and outward movement.

Certainly, this time of year plants are inactive bloom and the weather is warm and sunny. Spring starts this movement of growth, and then Summer takes over to allow growth to mature to its fullest extent. Thus, Spring is the Lesser Yang (Shao Yang 少陽), the earlier stages of expansion and growth, while Summer is the Greater Yang (Tai Yang 太陽), the culmination of an expansive movement in nature.

Summer belongs to the fire element which manifests in the heart, small intestines, and pericardium in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory.  While spring signals the beginning of birth and growth, summer fosters this growth to mature and reach its full Potential.

Fire represents a radiant, life-sustaining energy and is emotionally related to joy.  When your fire is balanced, you feel a warm and joyous energy during summer.  

A well-tended fire allows you to blossom and illuminate.  However, when you are out of sync with the energy of summer, this fire can take a wrong turn.

Too little or too much fire can manifest as depleted energy, anger, dehydration, disturbed spirits, increased infections, skin ailments, and sleeplessness.  The seasonal affective disorder can also happen during summer. 

One of the most important teachings of Chinese medicine is that there is a seamless continuum between the body and the environment around us.

The ancient Chinese developed practical methods to counteract the negative effects of this seasonal transition. If your fire element is not burning right this summer, we have some tips to help. See our blog HOW TO DEAL WITH  SUMMER FIRE