Do you know why some people feel as excited as a puppy dog in summer, while others resignedly count the days until they can pull out their sweaters again?
It comes down to the balance of yin and yang in their system.
Regardless of which one is dominant in you, there are things you can do to help you thrive in the heat of summer.
(Fair warning, I’m about to get a little theoretical, because I want you to understand the why behind the what for the tips I’m going to give you below.)
So let’s talk about yin and yang. What do those words even mean?!
Yin and yang are the foundation of Chinese medicine.
Without yin and yang there could be no movement, no physical reality, no change, no life.
Everything we observe, perceive, conceptualize, and experience can be broken down into yin and yang, but they only make sense when compared to each other.
The simplest way to describe yin and yang is that they represent the opposing forces of the universe.
Yin is dark and heavy, yang is light.
Yin is material, yang is energetic.
Yin is passive, yang is active.
Yin is cold, yang is hot.
Nothing is inherently all yin or all yang.
Everything and everyone contains aspects of both, but one is usually more dominant than the other.
One of my teachers told me an anecdote about a 100 year old Chinese medicine master who was asked, “What do you spend your time with now?” And his answer was, “I contemplate yin and yang.”
Yin and yang are helpful concepts, because in studying their dynamics we can better understand how to live a healthy, balanced, harmonious life.
June 21 marks the official beginning of summer with the longest span of daylight in the year. This is what we call “peak yang” in Chinese medicine, as we find ourselves at the tippy top of the yin-yang cycle.
Interestingly, this is also the moment when the darker, more grounded, and quiet energy of yin starts to build beneath the surface, but this change won’t be obvious until about mid-August.
For now, if we want to feel good during the summertime, we have to take steps to balance out its exuberant, hot yang energy.
This is even more true if you already have a lot of yang showing up in your system in the form of heat symptoms like:
- Skin redness, rashes, eczema, acne
- Acid reflux
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Irritability/anger
- Trouble focusing
- Sharp pain
- Feeling hot and bothered!
Here are 5 holistic health tips you can use to balance out the heat—in and around you—so you can feel good all summer:
1. Favor sweet, bitter, and astringent flavors.
Eat more cooling foods like fresh fruits, avocado, coconut, watermelon, cucumber, lettuce, leafy greens, red lentils and mung beans.
Also add cooling spices and garnishes to your meals like fennel, coriander, mint, parsley, dill, basil, cilantro, and lime.
2. Reduce spicy, acidic, and sour foods.
These flavors tend to add more heat into your system and can easily tip you over the edge into imbalance, especially if you already have a lot of heat in you.
Related: Take the Best Foods for Your Mind-Body Type Quiz
3. Protect yourself from the sun
Go outside during the cooler parts of the day and stay in the shade when the sun is high.
4. Cultivate a sense of playfulness and relaxation.
Make time to explore hobbies and take a short catnap in the afternoon if you can.
Related: 4 simple and scientifically-backed strategies to manage stress
5. Get acupuncture treatments to keep your mind and body balanced.
Weekly or biweekly treatments if you notice symptoms flaring, or every 3-4 weeks when you’re feeling good. Book now to get on Katerina’s schedule.
Related: How many acupuncture sessions do you need before you see results?
Is there a health goal you want to work toward this summer?
Schedule an online coaching session for more personalized guidance so we can make a plan that’s custom tailored for you.
I can’t wait to see where this takes you!
Warmly,
Katerina
