


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.


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