June 6, 2022, is the Chinese calendar's first day of the Yang Fire Horse month. The Chinese calendar assigns one of the twelve animals, five elements, and the polarity of yin or yang to each year, month, day, and hour. What does this mean regarding how Meridian Harmonics approaches health and treatment strategies?
The Yang Fire Horse refers to one of the sixty-four hexagrams described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Fire over Fire which signifies brightness or a clinging relationship and signifies the radiance of nature. This hexagram represents a strong energetic state in nature that will, eventually, create weakness and deficiencies, as represented by the two broken bars in the hexagram. Both the upper and lower trigrams are of the high energetic state of Fire. However, weakness occurs in the second and fifth lines, corresponding to the Jueyin and Yangming energetic states of Chinese medicine. Jueyin is related to the Wood element and Yangming is related to the Earth element. These generally correspond to imbalances in the Qi or energy of the body, and Circulatory systems. In essence, the Fire consumes the Yin aspect of these energetic states.
This hexagram is occurring during a time of the year when the season has strongly transitioned into summer. It warns us to be particularly careful of the heat pathogen. As of this writing the current weather, locally, is forecast to be very hot for the next seven to 10 days. In general, summer is a time that pathogenic heat can be very detrimental to our health. Overexposure to the heat of summer and the constant back and forth exposure of outdoor heat and indoor air-conditioning sets us up for what is called Wind-Heat Invasion in Chinese medicine. The preceding month was characterized by Wind and now in the current month, we have Heat. The pathogenic factor of Heat invades the body. During this time Heat from the hot summer and Wind-Cold from air-conditioned buildings both can affect our bodies, if we don’t properly prepare for them.
Common disorders during this month can be classified in three different regions, known as the San Jiao, in Chinese medicine. San means three and Jiao means warmer or heater. So, San Jiao literally means Triple Warmer or Triple Heater.
Upper Jiao disharmonies this month include:
Manic psychosis, epilepsy, stupor
Cardiac pain, palpitations due to fright, irritability, chest pain
Deafness, eye congestion
Headache, migraines, pain and rigidity of the head and neck
Redness and pain of the eye, tinnitus, deafness
Sore throat
Pain in the scapular region
Fingers unable to extend
Mastitis, breast distention
Dizziness, blurred vision, toothache, swelling of pharynx
Insomnia, amnesia, deafness
Acute spasm in the finger, elbow and arm
Vascular problems
Hemiplegia, wrist pain
Middle Jiao disharmonies this month include:
Cough with a large amount of phlegm
Asthma with weakness, blood glucose problems
Gastric and epigastric pain, abdominal distention and pain, diarrhea, dysentery, hiccups
Weight gain
Hypochondrium pain, irregular menstruation
Lower Jiao disharmonies this month include:
Pain and weakness of the lower extremities
lassitude and heaviness of the extremities
Leg pain, spasm, and pain of the foot and toe
Lumbar, sacrum, and leg pain
Impotence, frequent need to urinate, irregular menstruation
Summer time is characterized by incessant environmental heat. The heat is often very stifling and can remain for long periods of time. One of our favorite herbal remedies we use this time of year is Summer Cool. It’s a proprietary formula to treat many of the conditions common this time of year. Summer Cool relieves the muscle layer to act as a muscle relaxant. It clears heat, especially helpful this time of year. It benefits the lungs and throat to treat dryness and nourishes the Yin aspect of the body easily damaged by the summertime heat.
Here at Meridian Harmonics, during this month we will supplement our treatments to support the Yang Fire Horse month for each patient. This can be accomplished using specific acupuncture and herbal therapies. Each patient is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for every patient. We will assess each patient, individually, on what strategies are best suited for them.
Modifying one’s lifestyle can support this period and the springtime season. This period in the year brings very hot weather patterns. It’s essential to protect yourself from the heat as it consumes the nutritive or Yin aspect of the body. Drinking plenty of water and consuming whole foods containing a high-water content are immensely beneficial.
Summertime necessitates simpler meals, with fewer combinations, and easy to digest. Fewer heavy animal-based proteins prevent excessive heat to build in the gastrointestinal tract. Eating lighter whole foods allows our appetites to be more easily satisfied without overeating. Plan regular meals and chew slowly and thoroughly.
Drink plenty of distilled water throughout the day to promote drainage.
Avoid spicy/pungent/aromatic vegetables such as pepper, garlic, onions, basil, rosemary, cumin, fennel, anise, leeks, chives, scallions, thyme, saffron, wormwood, mustard, chili pepper, and wasabi. These foods and spices will damage the body’s Qi and Yin.
Avoid fried, spicy or greasy foods, refined sugar, tea, coffee, caffeine, salt, chocolate, strong spices, and carbonated drinks. Stay away from sour and acidic food and fruits.
Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages whenever possible. Alcohol and caffeine increase stomach acid and exacerbates internal heat and inflammation.
One more recommendation involves activity. Summertime is characterized by an awakening from a slumber. All of nature is very busy and active. Engaging in activities that are in harmony with this attribute will encourage the body to begin building cardiovascular strength and endurance. Activities like power walking, vinyasa yoga, tennis, jogging, or casual cycling are more beneficial for the body. Most importantly, do not overdo your exercise, as it can consume even more of the Yin nutritive components of your body. Stress is a major factor contributing to an excessive accumulation of internal body heat. Activities that help with stress are light exercises, such as yoga, Tai-Chi, Qi Gong, and meditation.
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Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon
Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy
