Traditional Chinese Medicine & Summer

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FIRE ELEMENT IN BALANCE

4 December 2020 – According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) everything is connected and in perfect harmony. This is reflected in the rhythm of day and night, the alternation of the seasons and the functioning of people. Now that Summer has arrived, the element fire is taking the lead. The element fire is yang and stands for growth, warmth and light. When your fire element is in balance, you feel energised and full of joy. Your face glows and your eyes sparkle. That’s one of the reasons we see so many beautiful, shiny and happy faces in the Summer.

WEAK FIRE ELEMENT
When your fire element is weak, or maybe extinguished (you can actually translate it quite literally), the energy and enthusiasm also extinguishes. Your eyes are passionless and the joy fades. The heat also dissipates from your body and you can get cold even when it is hot outside. Dizziness and shortness of breath is one of the characters too.

FIRE ELEMENT TOO STRONG
Conversely, if your fire is too strong and the flames rise, you may become restless and nervous, your eyes look more aggressive and you may get hot and sweaty.

TIPS TO KEEP THE BALANCE DURING SUMMER
There are always some tips to keep your fire element in balance and to get through the Summer happy and calm:

You can feed your body with what the earth is producing at that moment. There’s a reason why different foods grow in different seasons; your body has different needs when the seasons change. So use local seasonal vegetables and seasonal fruits as much as possible. During a hot Summer, your body especially longs for cooling yin products that have a cooling effect on the body. Think of salads, watermelon, strawberries, mint, cucumbers, but also yogurt and green tea are a good choice in Summer.

Too much heat can be caused by excessive use of alcohol, coffee or cigarettes. Also it is better to moderate heating products such as paprika, cinnamon, sugar and meat. These are pretty yang.

And drinking plenty of water is – like always – a big plus. Preferable ambient water instead of ice water. We know the heat makes it tempting but according to TCM it may provide temporary cooling, but in the end your body has to work harder to get your body temperature in check. 

Ooh and last but not least… give yourself an acupuncture session 🙂

Conditions We See

Fertility and IVF Support

Fertility challenges are more common than many people realise, affecting around one in six couples at some stage of their journey to conceive. Our Altona clinic in Melbourne's inner west offers fertility acupuncture and Chinese medicine as part of a holistic approach to reproductive health, for those trying to conceive naturally or preparing for IVF or IUI.

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Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and migraines affect millions of Australians and can range from occasional tension headaches to debilitating migraine attacks. Our Altona clinic offers acupuncture and Chinese medicine as part of a gentle, whole-person approach that aims to understand and address the patterns contributing to your headaches.

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Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common condition that affects many people at different stages of life. It can present as a dull ache, stiffness, or sharper pain, and may be associated with factors such as muscle tension, joint restriction, postural strain, or prolonged sitting. For some people, it can make everyday activities like bending, lifting, sitting, or sleeping less comfortable.

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Menstrual Health

Menstrual health refers to the overall quality and regularity of your cycle, including timing, flow, symptoms, and how you feel throughout the month. A healthy cycle should feel relatively predictable and manageable, without significant disruption to your energy, mood, or daily life. Changes in the menstrual cycle can show up as irregular periods, pain, PMS, heavy bleeding, or symptoms that shift from month to month.

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Neck and Shoulder Pain

Neck and shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints we see at the clinic. It can build up gradually from prolonged desk work, poor posture, stress or repetitive movement, or follow an acute strain. Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine offer a whole-person approach that looks beyond the pain to the patterns contributing to it.

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Period Pain

Painful, irregular or heavy periods are extremely common but are not something you just have to live with. There is often an underlying pattern that can be identified and supported. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine take a whole-person approach to menstrual health, from period pain to conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and PMS.

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