The Yin Fire Snake refers to the 30th hexagram described in the I Ching and used in Feng Shui. Its image is Fire over Fire. The Yin Fire Snake signifies "Clinging". It is one of eight hexagrams with the same trigram in the upper and lower portion of the hexagram. The Yin Fire Snake is represented by the Fire trigram in both the upper and lower regions of the hexagram. It represents an image of heat ascending.
The Yin Fire Snake hexagram:
From the body and health perspective, the Yin Fire Snake hexagram continues a dramatic shift from what was observed in previous months. The environmental influences are transitioning to the Summer season. The Yin Fire Snake is a highly energetic hexagram. Its image is the Fire over Fire. The Yin Fire Snake represents an imbalance in the movement of systemic energies and inhibited cardiovascular functions. There are two pathological influences: internal organ problems and external environmental factors. The dominant pathological influences are characterized by heat and dryness. During the Yin Fire Snake month dry heat patterns have their root in mostly, environmental influences and secondarily, in organ problems.
The Fire trigram originates in the Fire element and is related to the Heart, Small Intestine, and Spleen. Its nature is heat rising. During the Summer environmental heat enters the body through the skin. This is known as Wind-Heat.
Each season consists of various energetic states, often in conflict. These energetic states will be reflected in nature and more importantly in our bodies. As mentioned before, the Yin Fire Snake represents a generalized pattern of Heat that affects various organs, tissues, and body regions. Each of these patterns has its own set of signs and symptoms.
Wind Heat enters, primarily, at the Taiyang level of the body. The Taiyang level is one of the six energetic levels of the body. It symbolizes the most exterior of the six levels and is easily affected by the external environment. Each of the six levels has links between the exterior and interior of our body. The Taiyang level links the nervous system with a major portion of our digestive tract. Unresolved external environmental heat can be transferred to the digestive tract. Likewise, digestive inflammation can result in inflammation within the nervous system.
Common signs of Wind-Heat are headaches, fever, sore and swollen throat, red and painful eyes, runny or congested nasal passages with thick yellow discharge, thirst with desire to drink cold fluids, shortness of breath, and tightness or pain in the chest. Just like in the winter when we need to protect ourselves from Wind-Cold, we need to take similar precautions in the summer to protect ourselves from Wind-Heat.
Here are some tips to protect yourself from Wind-Heat:
Avoid exposure to windy and hot environments: Try to avoid exposure to windy and hot environments, particularly during the summer months. Wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself from the sun and wind.
Keep yourself hydrated: Drink plenty of water and avoid consuming hot or spicy foods, which can aggravate Wind-Heat symptoms.
Rest and relaxation: Make sure to get enough rest and relaxation. Stress and fatigue can weaken the body's immune system, making it more susceptible to Wind-Heat.
During the next few months, especially here in Texas, many of our patients come in for acupuncture and herbal medicine to release Wind-Heat and its effects on their bodies. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help regulate the body's energy flow and strengthen the immune system, thereby reducing the likelihood of Wind-Heat damage.
Another pattern of disharmony during the Yin Fire Snake month is associated with internal inflammation unassociated with an external Wind-Heat scenario. In this pattern, consuming foods inappropriate for the current season or unsuitable for one's constitution creates an inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract. It doesn't even have to be "bad" food. All it has to be is food incompatible with a person's particular energetic nature or constitution. When this is the case I will have them meet with Michelle. She helps clients zero in on foods that are better suited for them along with those that should be avoided or eliminated from their diet.
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Meridian Harmonics Acupuncture and Herbal Compounding Pharmacy