Most of us look forward to the summer months; it makes a welcome change from the short darker days, cold weather and low mood experienced in the winter months. The weather tends to be warm, the sun is out, everything is in bloom. We are drawn to the outside and our mood and outlook on life is improved.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five seasons: winter, spring, summer, late summer and autumn. Each season is ruled by an element and is connected to specific parts of the human body, to emotions, to colour and to certain forms of energy.
This particular theory of TCM was introduced around two thousand years ago and is known as either the Five Phases or Five Elements.
Summer as a season lasts approximately three months and is then followed by late summer.
The element associated with summer is fire, the connected body parts are the heart (including the mind and spirit), small intestine and the tongue, the emotion is joy, the colour is red and the energy is Yang.
In Chinese medicine the heat of the summer is represented by fire, the increase in energy levels is yang, the joy, happiness and positive outlook is the heart, spirit and mind.
The colour red represents the brightness of nature, of the foods available to eat over the summer months i.e. berries and ripeness of foods. The pleasure and joy in eating food over the summer months is represented by the mouth whilst the small intestine is the main organ where nutrients are absorbed into the body
Chinese medicine is always about balance and since the summer is associated with fire the balancing element to summer is water.
Some of the negative side effects of enjoying the summer months include sunburn, dehydration and lack of energy, keeping yourself hydrated becomes just as important.
As we all know from experience, young children and older people are very susceptible to the effects of heat so it’s vital they are protected from the negative effects of the sun and heat.
Please visit my blog to discover my 6 tips for optimum Summer health.
Balquees Ali
I developed an interest in acupuncture after having treatment myself for persistent and debilitating migraines and now regard myself to be migraine free. I trained and qualified in acupuncture at the renowned Northern College of Acupuncture in York, graduating in 2009. I am an accredited member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), a West Yorkshire Regional Co-ordinator for regional members and I am a Professional Development Lead with the British Acupuncture Council. Before I discovered Acupuncture I was a teacher with specialisms in food and nutrition, I also have skills in clinical supervision, counselling and psychotherapy having worked in private, public and voluntary sectors within a counselling context. Having spent nearly 15 years’ within the profession I developed the ability to establish effective therapeutic relationships with my patients. My passion for acupuncture is complemented by a deepening experience in the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine principles. I believe that with my nutrition, counselling and teaching backgrounds I can help, enable, empower and support individuals to value the importance of self care. Recent developments in my practice are the study and application of auriculotherapy, a principle that considers the ear to be a map of the body whereby treating a point in the ear can have positive impact elsewhere on the body. I regularly share educational material relating to TCM, you can email with any questions relating to Acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine
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