Traditional Chinese Medicine Techniques For Staying Cool All Summer

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) five-element theory, summer is ruled by the fire element. The season's long days are all about vitality, passion, expansion, joy, and movement. The sun is shining, trees are lush, and people tend to be more energized. It's a very yang time of year, defined by masculine and active energy.

Not everyone enjoys the summer season and the heat it brings. According to TCM, one's reaction to it largely depends on their body's constitution: People with more yang energy tend to have a harder time during the hot months and can easily become overheated and irritable. On the other hand, people with more yin energy tend to endure the heat better. 

Many people naturally have a smaller appetite in the summer1, when the body requires less energy for thermoregulation2. This is the season to eat smaller meals with lighter ingredients. While there's nothing wrong with overindulging every now and then, try to be mindful of how you navigate those outdoor barbecues and birthday picnics. Stay away from heavy, greasy, fried foods in general, and try to avoid beer and sweets when you can. Such foods tax our digestive system and can create a combination of excess heat and "dampness" in the body. Instead, opt for simple meals made from fresh ingredients. (Here are some ideas to get you started.)

The extreme heat makes it tempting to reach for icy refreshments such as slushies and ice cream. Contrary to popular belief, these icy treats don't really help the body cool down according to TCM. It may feel satisfying in the moment, but eating something ice-cold actually requires more energy from the body since it needs to be heated up to body temperature before digestion and assimilation can take place. This can slow down digestion and metabolism, leading to symptoms such as bloating, heaviness of the head, stomach pain, or even diarrhea. 

After spending hours sweating in the summer sun, the instinct is to rush indoors and stand in front of the air conditioning for 15 minutes. But this sudden and drastic change in temperature can put stress on the body by forcing it to thermal regulate quickly; switching from vasodilation to vasoconstriction. The sudden change in temperature can dry out mucous membranes and that’s why sometimes we sneeze3 and get itchy eyes when we walk into a freezing room. Exposing the body to acute, cold temperatures can depress immune responses4, stimulate stress-hormone production, lead to circulatory and metabolic changes. This is why in Chinese medicine traditions, we strongly advise against having a cold, windy draft blowing directly at the body. “Wind-cold” is one of the major 6 TCM pathogenic factors that increases stress hormones after exposure and results in the suppression of nonspecific cellular immunity.5 Your body needs time to acclimate to temperature change. Allow it time to cool down naturally by going into the shade, or indoors, and with the help of a cooling drink.