August 8, 2022, is the first day of the Yang Earth Monkey month in the Chinese calendar. 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.
The Yang Earth Monkey refers to one of the sixty-four hexagrams described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Mountain over Heaven and signifies the "Creative" being tamed by the "Keeping Still". This hexagram has a threefold meaning, expressing different aspects of the concept of "Holding firm." Heaven within the mountain gives the idea of holding firm in the sense of holding together; the trigram Mountain which holds the trigram Heaven still, gives the idea of holding firm in the sense of holding back; the third idea is that of holding firm in the sense of caring for and nourishing.
The Yang Earth Monkey describes Heaven within the Mountain and points to hidden treasures. In the words and deeds of the past, there lies hidden a treasure that men may use to strengthen and elevate their own characters. The way to study the past is not to confine oneself to mere knowledge of history but, through the application of this knowledge, to give actuality to the past.
The hexagram for Yang Earth Monkey represents a strong energetic state of Heaven below (the root of the hexagram) captured by the Mountain above.
This hexagram is occurring during a time of the year when the season continues to be strongly rooted in summer. With this in mind, we persist in being vigilant in protecting ourselves from the heat pathogen. The Mountain above reminds us to disengage or let go of what has become obsolete. This reminds us that during this month of August the daylight hours continue waning and the summer heat give way to cooler temperatures.
The nature of the Mountain is warm with a hint of dampness. Mountain in August reminds us that dampness is being introduced during the summer heat. This can mean more rain, humidity, or both. Mountain over Heaven represents the effect of damp heat on the earth on the land governed by Heaven, which represents extreme dryness (drought). As of this writing the current weather, locally, is forecast to be not as hot for the next seven to 10 days but the rain has already transpired, along with increased humidity. In general, the late summer is a time that pathogenic damp-heat can be very detrimental to our health and the earth. Damp heat provides a good environment for bacteria and viruses to flourish.
Each region and organ of the body has various aspects and qualities associated with Yin, Yang, and the five elements. The Yang Earth Monkey month predominately affects the Earth and Metal aspect of the body through damp heat. The Yang Earth Monkey month represents a damp heat pathogen affecting the Earth's elemental organs, tissues, and regions of the body. Damp heat can lead to phlegm heat in the upper body, toxic conditions in the liver/gallbladder, and spleen/pancreas, along with bacterial infections in the intestines, bladder, and kidneys. During this month those regions easily affected are the nose, lips, mouth, ears, stomach, intestines, liver, joints, and lower extremities.
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:
headache and body ache, dizziness, congestion, swelling and pain of the eye, sinusitis, nosebleed, toothache in the lower jaw, trismus (lockjaw), deafness, mumps, swelling of the face, facial paralysis, facial tic, swelling of the pharnyx and inability to speak
dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, difficult or abnormal labor/childbirth
cough with a large amount of phlegm, asthma
insomnia, cardiac pain, palpitations, irritability, chest pain
Middle Jiao disharmonies this month include:
gastric pain, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dysentery.
Distention and pain in the chest and hypochondrium
Jaundice, Diabetes, epilepsy, and other tremors
irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, hernia, enuresis
Lower Jiao disharmonies this month include:
Lassitude and heaviness of the extremities, overweight (systemic dampness)
edema, diarrhea, weakness, numbness, and pain in the lower extremities
impotence, frequent urination
Depending on the organs and regions affected, there are specific herbal strategies that are very effective for treating all the conditions listed above.
Here at Meridian Harmonics, during this month we will supplement our treatments to support Yang Earth Monkey Month for each patient. This can be accomplished using specific acupuncture and herbal therapies. Each patient is different. We will assess each patient, individually, on what strategies are best suited for them.
Modifying one’s lifestyle can support this period and the late summer season. This period in the year brings very hot damp humid weather patterns. It’s important 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. Because of the damp influence of Yang Earth Monkey Month, it's important to avoid foods that are oily, greasy, fried, overly sweet, or rich.
Late summer meals need to be simpler, 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. Eat more bitter whole foods to aid in draining dampness and phlegm.
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.
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Closed: Sat, Sun, Mon
Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy
