Chinese Medicine Tips for a Healthy Summer

Tip 1: Nourish the Heart

Spring correlates with the liver, summer correlates with the heart, autumn correlated with the lungs, and winter correlates with the kidneys, four seasons to nourish the spleen and stomach. Chinese medicine believes that out of the four seasons, summer represents fire. Fire is accumulated in the heart as the climate gets hotter. We easily feel irritated and exhausted after excessive sweating due to the heat. Therefore, if you want to maintain your health during the summer, the key is to nourish your heart!

From the perspective of Yin Yang and five elements, red is fire, into the heart, qi and blood, hence, red foods are the most beneficial for the summer heat.

6 kinds of red foods that can nourish the heart

1. Tomato – effectively prevents the occurrence of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

2. Red Bean –  replenishing blood and nourishing heart

3. Red sweet potato – prevent arteriosclerosis and maintain the elasticity of the cardiovascular wall.

4. Hawthorn –  lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, effectively prevent atherosclerosis

5. Carrots – keep blood vessels flow

6. Red apple – lowering blood lipids

Tip 2: Moxibustion Method to Leverage the Yang Energy in SummerTip 2: Moxibustion Method to Leverage the Yang Energy in Summer

With the arrival of the hot summer, the human body also enters the most prosperous season. Chinese medicine emphasizes on “spring and summer-Yang, autumn and winter- Yin”. Chinese medicine moxibustion method is great for the body during this time, as it uses warmth to stimulate acupoint meridians, making blood flow smoother, and creating a more balanced yin and yang.

The moxibustion method is a moxibustion material made of moxa as the main component. After being ignited, it is suspended or placed in acupuncture points. The heat of moxibustion and the function of herbs can stimulate the qi and achieve an external treatment for preventing diseases. Modern medicine has confirmed that the function of regulating the organs through moxibustion can promote metabolism, promote the change of blood components, increase the number of white and red blood cells, and improve the body’s immune mechanism and defense mechanism.

Commonly used health points are Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (RN12), Guanyuan (CV4), and Shenque (CV8).

Tip 3: Benefit from Foot Bathing with Wormwood

Feet bathing is a good way to maintain your health. You can treat different symptoms with different medicines. The following are some common herbs:

Feet bathing with wormwood

Process: Boil a pot of water and after it boils, put 50~100g dry wormwood into the boiling water for about 20 minutes. Wait until the water temperature lowers to a suitable temperature, then soak your feet in this feet bath.

Efficacy: wormwood with safflower can improve the hands and feet of numbness or blood stasis, increase blood circulation, varicose veins and peripheral neuritis.

Acacia plus ginger can treat joint disease, cough, cold, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and rheumatoid.

Acacia plus 20 sichuan peppers have certain therapeutic effects on foot odor, athlete’s foot, sweat and warm rash.