TCM Cooling Foods
- Jackie Koenig, L.Ac.
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Learn about our Chinese Medicine-Approved food list for keeping your body cool this season
On the Summer Solstice, we officially entered Fire Element season.... and it's HOT. Some of us may feel the heat more intensely than others if we already have internal heat or yin deficiency signs including dryness (skin, hair, throat, cough), hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, high blood pressure, and irritability.
As the temperatures heat up, you may notice your body crave more fresh veggies and fruits with higher water contents like in the TCM cooling foods listed below!
TCM Cooling Foods Include:
tomatoes
watermelon
squash
okra
cucumber
peach
celery
mung bean
berries
melon
lettuce
TCM Cooling herbs/teas include:
chrysanthemum
mint
basil
chamomile
honeysuckle flower
white tea
The cooling energetic nature of these foods will help the body counteract the high temperatures outside and replenish the electrolytes and water we lose when we sweat.
We should still minimize ice water, raw food, and frozen drinks this season!
Why? If we eat cold and raw food in excess, our digestive "fire" can become weak overtime. This can manifest as bloating, gas and reflux, irregular bowels movements, and feeling tired after meals. Learn more at our blog post: How to Feed Your Body Well According to Chinese Medicine.
Don't Forget: Keep it Light!
Just like the flowers and summer veggies popping up around us, it's best to "keep it light" in terms of exercise, meal size, and alcohol intake during the Summer season. This helps our digestive organs work efficiently and smoothly, enabling us to feel healthy and energetic during all the activity this season offers us! If we protect our qi this summer, we'll ensure a healthier body and more active immune system as we enter the cooler months of the year.
“I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days." -Henry David Thoreau
Need Personalized Support? Acupuncture and Herbs Can Help!
Acupuncture can be great for helping the body cool down and reach a more balanced state. There are many time-tested herbal formulas that can also be great partners along this journey as you seek solutions for heat or yin deficiency symptoms.
Make an appointment today with us at Hidden Root Acupuncture to see how we might be able to help!
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