Summer Rituals
Calming the Spirit, keeping the body cool, movement and joy are just some of the things encouraged by Traditional Chinese Medicine during summer. Summer is the season of the Fire 火 element and closely associated with the Heart organ, which houses the Shen 神 or ‘Spirit’ of a person. Here are some small shifts I make during summer to assist my body’s harmonisation with the nature around me.
Cooling herbal tea
In TCM, cold or iced drinks should not be consumed, it weakens your important digestive fire; making it harder for the body to absorb hydration and contributing to an accumulation of dampness (aka ‘heaviness’) in the body. The body can be cooled more appropriately with herbs like peppermint or mint, which can be drunk as a tea at room temperature or warm (this affordable organic one is actually my favourite, and it always goes on sale!).
However, it is summer, so if you really love a smoothie, an iced-coffee or some other frozen deliciousness; this is the season to hit.dat.up! (Make sure you are feeling super warm and preferably consume icy goodness outside in the sunshine).
Cooling body oils & hydration
Like in Ayurveda, oils and food have thermal properties in TCM. Switch out any of your warming oils like black sesame oil for cooling hydration like aloe vera or coconut oil. I personally love this, which feels so luxurious and also contains peppermint & lavender oil for soothing effects. I sometimes suffer heat rashes under my arms, and I swear by it to calm and soothe the affected skin.
Reading
It helps that during summer most people have time-off and can head to the beach or go on vacation. Calming the Spirit, clearing the mind, and a smooth flow of emotions are really important in summer; as it is the season of thinking, love and integration. Reading is an excellent and accessible way to slow down and focus the mind. I was given this book by a friend and it's beautiful thus far.
Tongue scraping
The Heart organ opens up to the tongue; meaning you can peep into the Heart health through the tongue. Tongue scraping in the morning and evening when you brush your teeth is a great way to check in with yourself and Spirit. If the tongue has a thick coating, there might be some digestive issues you need to look into. If your tongue has a red tip, you need to work on cooling down your Spirit and body. You’ll notice the changes in your tongue each day and it's a great and addictive way to check in!
Fruit
Eating in-season fruits is an absolute pleasure in summer. It ties into the tongue being the sense organ of summer; so taste this season’s abundance. The colour of summer and the Fire element is red, so juicy cherries, blushing mangos, raspberries and pink dragonfruits should be at the top of the list. My favourite is still papaya though, and the fruit skin makes an excellent little enzymatic face sheet-mask afterwards!
Afternoon naps
Yes, naps! An afternoon nap after lunch or a day at the beach is a cooling practice. Calming both the body and Spirit, it is even suggested in the TCM Organ clock. We always need to remedy our internal fire that can mimic the summer heat around us, and a nap is a great way to restore the body.
Exfoliation
Adequate bathing is important. The Heart organ controls sweating, and obstruction of the pores from dried sweat, peeling skin and sunscreen can prevent the Heart’s important excretion of sweat. I LOVE this cleanser with its micro-exfoliation, I always use it in the evenings when I have been wearing sunscreen. The first ingredient is aloe vera, so it is also perfect for cooling skin blemishes.
On the body I love this scrub bar with Australian clay and ochre. I’ve never tried anything like it, and it feels so right to use native Australian botanicals and clay.
Mists
I recently had my first experience at an infrared sauna* and my face was exceptionally red afterwards (I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so red!). This mist was a lifesaver; it is such a fine mist that I felt completely replenished and soothed - heaven. Cool down on the go with a mist!
Get outside
Walk to the park for a picnic, have beach swims, summer evening walks to dinner (walk routes you haven’t tried before!0. Movement need not be exhausting, it can be special.
*I’ve been running cold in my body; infrared sauna’s are actually a therapeutic way to get heat into the organs from a TCM perspective.
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Image via Andrew Elliott for Vogue Brasil
