When fire is overabundant or unchecked, it can have far-reaching effects; Too much heat, light, and activity can damage fire’s relationship with the body’s other elements, manifesting in panic, insomnia, restlessness, mania, and even urinary discomfort, fever, and physical injury. So, how do we spark summer joy without being consumed by it? These three things can help:
Nourish yin:
Drink plenty of clear fluids. Eat watermelon; Watermelon (especially the white part) clears heat, drains dampness, cools the body, and calms the spirit. Blueberries, blackberries, and huckleberries also nourish yin, as do kidney beans, tofu, and mung beans and sprouts.
Balance activities, workouts, and commitments:
Heavy cardio or anaerobic (yang) workouts need more aerobic, slow-twitch (yin) activities for balance in summer. Swim leisurely. Walk in the woods. Meditate. Enjoy summer reading. Stick with healthy routines (including psych meds unless your prescriber is actively helping you wean off of them) and keep commitments in check: Summer is an excellent time to celebrate connect with friends, but it’s easy to overbook your commitments when the season’s light and heat are high.
Visit your acupuncturist:
Acupuncture can help calm the body’s sympathetic nervous responses during overactive times. It balances all the body’s systems, rendering us less vulnerable to summer’s excess heat, and less likely to engage in injurious excess. (Note: It also helps you heal after having broken your arm waterskiing.)
Schedule acupuncture with Malia Susee, L.Ac. by calling Pohala at (503) 572-4196.
