Summer, Yin-Yang, and Wellbeing

Summer, Yin-Yang, and Wellbeing: How to Maintain Energetic Balance and Stay Cool

The arrival of summer brings longer days, higher temperatures, and a natural urge for activity and socializing. While some people feel invigorated by this season, others may experience fatigue, irritability, insomnia, or a sense of internal “overheating.” These symptoms often reflect an imbalance in our energetic system, which Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) explains through the interplay of Yin and Yang.

Understanding Yin and Yang in Summer

Yang represents heat, activity, movement, light, and expansion. In summer, Yang energy is at its peak: the climate is hot, the sun is strong, and everything encourages action and outward expression.

Yin symbolizes coolness, stillness, darkness, hydration, and stability. Yin cools and moisturizes the body, protects against excess, and maintains internal equilibrium.

Excess Yang may manifest as body heat, intense sweating, dry skin, restlessness, or irritability.
Insufficient Yin often leads to dryness (mouth, throat, skin), thirst, hot flashes, insomnia, palpitations, and a general inability to “cool down” the body.

Imagine Yin as the water in a lake and Yang as the sun shining on it: if the lake is full, the sun can shine without a problem. If there’s little water, the lake dries up quickly under the heat.

Why Yin Weakens in Summer

Yin can be depleted for various reasons:

Hormonal changes (e.g., menopause)
Prolonged stress
Lack of sleep
Overly “hot” diet (spicy foods, fried foods, alcohol)
Too much activity without adequate rest

When Yin is low, the body struggles to balance external heat, leading to symptoms like dryness, hot flashes, fatigue, and insomnia.

The Summer Meridians: Functions, Emotions, and Rhythms

Summer is governed by the Fire element in TCM, activating two main pairs of meridians:

Heart (Yin) / Small Intestine (Yang)
Pericardium (Heart Protector, Yin) / Triple Burner (Yang)

What They Govern:

Heart: The “Emperor” of the body, governing blood circulation, consciousness, joy, and emotional balance.
Small Intestine: Sorts the pure from the impure, both physically (assimilation) and emotionally (clarity, discernment).
Pericardium: Shields the Heart, manages relationships, and emotional boundaries.
Triple Burner: Regulates body temperature, energy and fluid circulation, and balance among different body systems.

Emotional Significance:

Joy is the key emotion of summer and the Heart, fostering openness, sociability, communication, and vitality.
Imbalance: Excess Yang or a disturbed Heart can cause agitation, insomnia, euphoria, anxiety, or sadness. Deficient Yin manifests as fatigue, emotional dryness, and difficulty feeling joy or connecting with others.

Daily Rhythms:

Heart: 11am–1pm (ideal for rest or gentle activity)
Small Intestine: 1pm–3pm (best for digestion and calm)
Pericardium: 7pm–9pm (perfect for socializing)
Triple Burner: 9pm–11pm (preparation for sleep, relaxation)

Plants to Strengthen Yin and Soothe the Heat

To support Yin in summer, naturopathy recommends several local plants with hydrating, soothing, and cooling properties:

Mallow (Malva sylvestris): Softening and emollient, supports mucosal hydration and calms internal irritation.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): Cooling and relaxing, soothes the heart and nervous system, ideal for agitation or insomnia.
Linden Flowers (Tilia platyphyllos): Calming, promote sleep and relaxation, support gentle perspiration.
Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora): Refreshing and digestive, excellent as an infusion to cool internal heat.
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile): Soothing and anti-inflammatory, supports digestion and relaxation.
Nettle (Urtica dioica): Remineralizing, helps compensate for water and mineral loss due to heat.

Usage Tip: Prepare these as warm or room-temperature infusions to sip throughout the day.

Flavored Water Recipes to Nourish Yin

Mallow & Peach Infused Water

1 liter room-temperature water
1 tbsp dried mallow flowers
1 peach, chopped
Let infuse for 2 hours, then strain before drinking.

Lemon Balm, Lemon, & Cucumber Water

1 liter water
1 handful fresh lemon balm leaves
½ lemon, sliced
5 cucumber slices
Infuse for 1 hour, serve without ice.

Linden, Raspberry & Lemon Verbena Water

1 liter water
1 tbsp linden flowers
1 sprig lemon verbena
80g fresh raspberries
Infuse at room temperature, then strain.

Important: Do not drink iced beverages! Very cold drinks cause thermal shock, weaken digestion, and can paradoxically increase the sensation of internal heat. Always choose drinks at room temperature or slightly warm, even in summer.

Practical Self-Care: Body Routines and Self-Evaluation

Self-massage and Acupressure (See the image at the end of the post).

Kidney 6 (Zhaohai): Just below the inner ankle bone; supports hydration and emotional calm.
Spleen 6 (Sanyinjiao): Four finger-widths above the inner ankle; nourishes Yin and relieves dryness.
Liver 3 (Taichong): Between the first and second toes; releases tension and supports overall balance.

Meridian Massage:

Gentle tapping along the inner arm (Heart and Pericardium meridians).
Circular massage at the center of the chest (Ren Mai point 17).

Gentle Movement:

Arm stretches, chest opening.

Self-check:

Do you feel tired, dry, or have trouble feeling joy? Adjust your routines, hydrate, and slow your pace.

Personalized and Adaptive Tips

Listen to your rhythm: Prefer gentle activity during cooler hours, rest during peak heat.
Adjust your diet: Focus on water-rich fruits and vegetables, avoid spicy, fried foods and alcool.
Keep a journal of your sensations to adapt your habits to your needs.

Summer is the season of joy, openness, and sharing.

Foster sociability: Enjoy healthy meals with family, laughter, and moderate outdoor activities.
Care for your emotional balance: Practice gratitude and meditation, cultivate kindness toward yourself and others.

In Summary

To move through summer harmoniously:

Support your Yin with plants and hydrating, cooling foods.
Practice mindful (never iced!) hydration.
Incorporate body routines, gentle movement, and self-massage.
Nurture your emotional and social wellbeing.
Respect the rhythms of the Fire meridians and listen to your body’s needs.

By integrating these practices, you can experience the summer season with vitality, inner freshness, and true wellbeing