It's Summer! Let's Talk About the Heart.
It's Summer! Let's Talk About the Heart
Summer is the season of the heart, which governs thought, emotions, and the spirit. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the heart “shen”, or spirit of the heart is the veil from which we experience and interact with the world around us. When we say someone is “spirited”, that is a reflection of a healthy heart being manifested. Imbalances in the heart can show up as poor circulation, palpitations, nightmares, and challenges with mental clarity.
How to Help Your Heart
Because of its important role in emotional processing, suppressed emotions can injure the heart. TCM perceives emotions and traumas as tangible entities which can reside in the body. When these are effortfully forced away ("don't cry", “put on a brave face”, etc.), they still need a place to settle and subsequently can lead to imbalances. This is why some TCM practitioners specialize in addressing emotional and trauma-related issues. There are healthy and unhealthy ways to express and release emotions. Finding a balanced approach to this requires work and practice, and something that I think I'll keep learning, myself, for a long time to come.
Other ways to help your heart is to get used to quietude. Yes, you are resting and relaxing just sitting and listening to music or watching TV. However, you are still actively digesting information, which uses a certain amount of energy. True tranquility can completely unburden the mind and body. We'll delve more into this during the Winter season, when this practice becomes more relevant.
Food For Thought
Watermelon is used as food therapy, and should come as no surprise that this wonderful fruit possesses cooling properties. Try putting it in a blender with some date syrup for a sweet, refreshing midsummer treat.
Mung beans are also classically used during the summer brewed in a tea. If this does not sound particularly intriguing, try these in a soup or stew. I usually use mung beans in homemade curries. They are just as versatile as many other beans, just with more benefit during the warmer months.
