Summer Time and Chinese Medicine

In order to help you to understand fundamental Chinese medicine you can look to Mother Nature. The five basic elements are Wood, Fire, Metal, Earth, and Water. Each element is related to both a season and an organ system. Summer corresponds to Fire, and is related to the heart and small intestine. The heart in Chinese Medicine is the” Shen” or the mind, and is considered to be the Monarch of the organ systems. It governs the blood and controls the blood vessels, it manifests in the complexion (or affect). Its primary emotion is joy, its channel opens onto the tongue (think of it as it gives you joy to eat chocolate), and it controls sweat.
Summer is considered to be a yang season; the Inner Classic suggests that we express the yang principle- expansion, growth, lightness, outward activity, brightness, and creativity. Summer is a period of luxurious growth. To be in harmony with the atmosphere of summer, awaken early in the morning and reach to the sun for nourishment to flourish as the gardens do. Work, play, travel, be joyful, and grow into selfless service. The bounty of the outside world enters and enlivens us.[i]

To achieve greater health and longevity there are certain foods and food preparations that are and are not recommended during summer. I am going to provide both the traditional information, and my personal suggestions. Generally speaking, eat what is in season, and eat everything in moderation.

What does this all mean?
Since fire corresponds to the heart and summer is hot it means that the hot weather could cause disease if you over heat. It is recommended that you eat predominately cooling, damp-providing (yin foods) to disperse heat and build up body fluids. The bitter taste is associated with the heart and fire. Bitter cool foods should be consumed. Examples of bitter foods are spinach, lettuce, and rye.
There is a theory that by eating spicy foods (red and green hot peppers, cayenne red pepper, fresh ginger, horseradish, and black pepper) you are able to increase warmth, but ultimately bring the body heat out to the surface to be dispersed through sweat. Spicy foods in warm climate are commonly seen in parts of Asia, India, Mexico, and many other countries that are primarily hot. Be careful, there is such a thing as to much of a good thing. By causing increased sweating during the summer it can cause the body to deplete its natural yang (warmth), and will result in the inability to stay warm in the colder seasons. For some people who are naturally hot, spicy foods are never a good thing. You are only adding more fuel to the fire. Naturally hot people should stick to cooler to warm foods.
Heavy foods on hot days can cause sluggishness. Such foods include meats, eggs, nuts, seeds and grains. These foods are better suited in larger consumption during the winter. A perfect example of body sluggishness would be what you experience after a cook out where you chow down on a huge burger. It is a better idea to eat less and lightly on hot days, and to eat multiple small meals. Remember your body is burning more calories because you are being more active. Split up your meals so you can enjoy the longer hours of sunlight!

Fruit
Apple
Banana
Pear
Persimmon
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Especially the rind
Tomato
All citrus
All berries
Lemon
Kiwi
Pineapple

Vegetable
Lettuce
Radish
Cucumber
Celery
Button mushroom
Asparagus
Swiss chard
Eggplant
Spinach
Summer Squash
Cabbage (green, purple, or Napa)
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Sweet corn
Zucchini

Legumes & Grains
Soy milk
Soy sprouts
Tofu
Tempeh
Mung beans and sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts
Millet
Barley
Wheat
Amaranth

Other Products
Kelp ( &seaweeds)
Spirulina; wild blue green
Oyster-shell calcium
Wheat & barley grass
Kudzu
Yogurt
Crab
Clam
Black/green tea
Mineral water
Mussels
Rabbit

Spices
Peppermint
Dandelion greens & root
Honeysuckle flowers
Nettles
Red clover blossoms
Lemon balm
White peppercorn
Cilantro
Marjoram


Diseases of summer
Summer is the time of year children are out of school, college students are flooding the pool side bars, and the sun worshipers are scattered across the beach. Whether you are young or old, there is the chance of heat stroke if you do not maintain proper hydration. Many of the foods listed below will help to enhance body hydration. However, you must keep drinking your water!

The Chinese have recommended green tea during summer for centuries because it disperses summer heat, can expel toxins, cool the heart fire, and calm the mind.
Avoid
· Hot foods like coffee, and spicy foods
· Chinese medicine also recommends avoiding ice cold beverages and ice-cream, because they abruptly block the stomach’s digestive energy. However, my personal opinion of this is that I would prefer a patient to eat ice cold foods and ice cream during the summer rather than them eating/drinking them during the winter.

Traveller’s Tip
If you find yourself on vacation in a tropical destination do not forget your garlic. Yep, garlic or at very least garlic pills. Garlic is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. So although you may smell a little funny, at first onset ingest larger amounts of garlic, and you may be able to fight off the impending doom of a ruined vacation. It is also useful for Montezuma’s revenge (traveler’s diarrhea) if you accidentally consume some questionable food or drink the water. It works the best as preventative or at initial onset.


[i] Healing with Whole Foods, P. Pitchford, North Atlantic Books; 2002, p. 331
2 Healing with Whole Foods, P. Pitchford, North Atlantic Books; 2002, p.62

Summer Recipes to Keep You Cool

Pressed Cucumber Salad
Cucumbers sliced paper thin
½ tsp. salt in 1 cup water
Pinch of dill
· Soak cucumbers in brine 30 min
· Drain and dry slightly by pressing slices between paper towels
· Sprinkle with dill and serve.

Cucumber Salad
3 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
3 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Olive oil (kosher for Passover)
1 tablespoon sugar ±
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

· Toss cucumber with salt in large bowl. Cover with plate that rests directly on cucumbers; weight down with 1-pound can. Let stand 1 to 2 hours.
· Drain in colander; rinse well.
· Combine lemon juice, oil, sugar, and dill in serving bowl.
· Mix in onion and cucumber.
· Refrigerate overnight. Serve cold or at room temperature.


Tomato Salad
Vine ripe tomatoes
Sweet onion
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Oregano
Water
Feta or fresh mozzarella

· In a bowl combine tomatoes, onion, and fresh mozzarella.
· Add olive oil, salt to taste, pepper, oregano, and a tiny bit of water.
· Mix
· Can add in cucumber