Introduction to the disharmony
Major symptoms:
- thirst
- sweating
- fever
- diarrhea
- all of the above symptoms manifesting during summer season
“Summer Heat” is a climatic factor (a climatic "evil" in traditional Chinese medicine) that relates to the season summer and “acts” only in its own season. When it attacks the body it manifests with heat signs such as thirst, sweating and fever(1)(2). Since the humidity during summer is high, the summer heat mixes with the humidity, and creates a mixture of heat and damp, which may manifest in diarrhea.
The herbs that clear summer heat are fever reducing, fluid producing, and have the property to alleviate thirst. Some are also diuretic(2).
Major Chinese Herbs
Bian Dou (Dolichos lablab) is a bean, used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of summerheat, especially with pronounced diarrhea and vomiting. Dou Juan (Glycine mas) – young soybean sprout – is good for early stage summerheat. Lotus leaf – He Ye (Nelumbo nucifera) and wormwood – Qing Hao (Artemisia annua) – both have the property to treat summer heat and stop bleeding(2).
Healing foods
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Food therapy is the most economical and non-toxic biochemical approach to health and disease. Food is something we continuously use to sustain our lives. Learning what foods are healing (and what disruptive) for each condition has the potential to convert every meal into a form of therapy.
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(1) Deng Liangye, Gan Yijun, He Shuhui, Ji Xiaoping, Li Yang, Wang Rufen, Wang Wenjing, Wang Xuetai, Xu Hengze, Xue Xuiling, Yuan Jiuling (1987). Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. China: Foreign Languages Press
(2) Benski, Dan & Gamble, Andrew (1993). Materia Medica, Revised Edition. Seatle: Eastland Press, Incorporated
Related Articles:
How the Climatic Factor Summerheat Affects Health
Summer (Element Fire) - "summerheat evil"
How the Climatic Factor Heat Affects Health
Heat and Dryness in the Large Intestine
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