The Indigo Center for the Creative and Healing Arts
July-August 2010
"One central aspect of Chinese medical diagnosis is the differentiation between illnesses caused by cold in the body, and those caused by heat. Many people feel much, much better in the summer; everything from joint pain to depression to menstrual cramps eases in the warm weather. People with internal heat, however, often struggle with the hot season.
Common conditions that may be aggravated by heat include hot flashes, skin rashes, irritability, and excess sweating. People with a warmer constitution may also notice an increase in other symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues, insomnia, body pain, or fatigue. And, many people simply feel yucky all over when it’s too hot.
If you’re having trouble, there are great herbal formulas and acupuncture points to release heat and restore a more neutral body temperature. Summer can be the best time to treat heat-related conditions, both for immediate relief and lasting effect.
Common conditions that may be aggravated by heat include hot flashes, skin rashes, irritability, and excess sweating. People with a warmer constitution may also notice an increase in other symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues, insomnia, body pain, or fatigue. And, many people simply feel yucky all over when it’s too hot.
If you’re having trouble, there are great herbal formulas and acupuncture points to release heat and restore a more neutral body temperature. Summer can be the best time to treat heat-related conditions, both for immediate relief and lasting effect.
- Check out the list of cooling foods below, and incorporate them into your diet (watermelon is actually listed in ancient texts as a medicinal substance for a condition called “summer heat,” which is similar to sunstroke or heat exhaustion)
- Drink plenty of fluids, of course
- An ice pack behind the knees can do wonders to cool the whole body; one of the main acupuncture points for clearing heat is located there
- Get up earlier, stay up later, and rest at midday if possible. Chinese medical texts suggest this as a way of living in harmony with the season.
- Apricot
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Lemon
- Peach
- Orange
- Asparagus
- Sprouts
- Bamboo
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Chinese cabbage
- Corn
- Cucumber
- White mushroom
- Snow peas
- Spinach
- Summer squash
- Watercress
- Seaweed
- Mung beans
- Cilantro
- Mint
- Dill
June 2010
If you are spending more time indoors than out during this late spring/early summer season, then you may want to try acupuncture. It is based on the idea that stimulating points outside the body can initiate change in the immune system. Acupuncturists have been known to have great success in reducing Hay Fever patients with just a few treatments. Acupuncture has also helped quiet the systems from patients who have over-stimulation from multiple irritating factors.
In conjunction with acupuncture, we also have several natural healing products we can recommend to take home. Also, recommended is perhaps, an air filtration system which can remove dust and pollen from your personal space. Eating spicy foods is a great focus. The spicier the food, the more mucous secretions, which can in turn clear nasal passages. Donning a paperdust filter when outdoors in high pollen conditions could also be a great solution.
In conjunction with acupuncture, we also have several natural healing products we can recommend to take home. Also, recommended is perhaps, an air filtration system which can remove dust and pollen from your personal space. Eating spicy foods is a great focus. The spicier the food, the more mucous secretions, which can in turn clear nasal passages. Donning a paperdust filter when outdoors in high pollen conditions could also be a great solution.