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Tending Your Inner Fire: Chinese Medicine Tips for Summer Joy, Balance, and Connection

Chinese Medicine reminds us that human beings are part of the natural world. 

The energetic shifts that occur in nature—such as the changing of seasons, birth, and death—also occur within us. Each season is associated with a variety of qualities, and nourishing the season within can help bring about balance, both mentally and physically, allowing us to live life more fully.


Summer is the season of the heart. 

We know the physiological function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body. In Chinese Medicine, however, the function of the heart is much broader. Summer, associated with the fire element, is linked to joy, spontaneity, and connection with others. It also corresponds to restful sleep, a calm nervous system, and healthy boundaries. A heart that is “out of balance” can manifest as micromanaging things outside of your control, feeling disconnected from others, seeking external validation, experiencing a lack of joy or desire for intimacy, and struggling with anxiety.


Fire is the light and warmth within us. 

It is what makes us captivating to others and puts people at ease. When in balance, fire expresses itself through joy, laughter, and spontaneity. It’s the connection we feel in a deeply intimate moment, as well as the shared laughter on a dance floor at a wedding. This connection can energize extroverts but may leave introverts feeling somewhat depleted. Each person has a unique balance of the fire element in relation to the other elements—earth, metal, water, and wood. While you can nourish the fire element at any time of year, doing so during its ruling season—summer—can be especially powerful.


The most common complaints I hear from patients related to the fire element include anxiety, depression (lack of joy), and difficulty falling or staying asleep. 

As an acupuncturist, I become immediately curious about the health of a person’s fire and choose acupuncture points that help bring them back into balance. Studies show that acupuncture can be effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and insomnia. Because the fire element is closely related to the nervous system and brain function, I also find it particularly useful in treating those with a history of trauma. Research has shown that acupuncture can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and both the U.S. Military and the Department of Veterans Affairs have adopted acupuncture to treat current and former service members.



Here are some ways you can tend your inner fire this summer:


  • Play – Playtime is for everyone! Kids and adults alike can be fun and silly. Have an impromptu water balloon fight or a dance contest. Laughter, like fire, is contagious!

  • Child with yellow floaties, playing in waves under a clear blue sky. Palm trees in the distance. Joyful and sunny beach scene.

    Connect – Connection is the gift of summer. Take a few minutes to be fully present with a friend, a partner, or a child. Allow your heart to be open to all of their gifts. What does it feel like in your body to see them exactly as they are in that moment—without trying to judge or change them?

  • Maintain Healthy Boundaries – In Chinese Medicine, the heart is seen as the equivalent of an emperor or empress, and is considered sacred. To protect the heart, a boundary exists around it, with a gate that opens and closes to allow or limit access. In health, this gate functions appropriately—it lets us be open and vulnerable when it’s safe, and it closes when we need to protect ourselves. The heart teaches us to establish boundaries by listening to our intuition, rather than conforming to others’ expectations. In acupuncture terms, it’s about putting the emperor or empress back on the throne.

  • Acupuncture – Symptoms of an imbalanced fire element during the summer may include insomnia, anxiety, depression, inflammation, and nervous system dysfunction. Acupuncture treatments aimed at supporting your inner fire can be especially effective during this season.


Summer is the medicine that invites us to look beyond our hectic schedules and mundane obligations and to find the sweetness in life that makes us human—connecting with others and discovering joy in unexpected moments.


At IVY Integrative, you can work with one practitioner or build your own team of holistic practitioners! Reach your optimum health in-person or online. Check out our Get Started page to learn how to work with us!


Your Acupuncturist,




References:

  1.  Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ. Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 30;20(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5. PMID: 33516258; PMCID: PMC7847562.

  2.  Armour M, Smith CA, Wang LQ, Naidoo D, Yang GY, MacPherson H, Lee MS, Hay P. Acupuncture for Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2019 Jul 31;8(8):1140. doi: 10.3390/jcm8081140. PMID: 31370200; PMCID: PMC6722678.

  3. Fei-Yi Z, Spencer S, Kennedy G, Zheng Z, Conduit R, Zhang W, Xu P, Yue L, Wang Y, Xu Y, Fu Q, Ho Y. Acupuncture for primary insomnia: Effectiveness, safety, mechanisms and recommendations for clinical practice. Sleep Med Reviews. 2024 Apr; Vol 74.101892.

  4.  Ding N, Li L, Song K, Huang A, Zhang H. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating post-traumatic stress disorder: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Jun 26;99(26):e20700. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000020700. PMID: 32590744; PMCID: PMC7328930.


Disclaimer:


This information is generalized and intended for educational purposes only. Due to potential individual contraindications, please see your primary care provider before implementing any strategies in these posts.

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