Beat The Heat Naturally

By Mimi Tagher, LAc, LMT

In Chinese medicine the heat of summer is associated with the energy of yang; in Auyveda it is associated with the dosh Pitta. Over exposure to excessively high temperatures, or summer heat, can cause symptoms such as fever, thirst, restlessness, sweating, agitation, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, poor appetite, collapse and sunstroke. As we head in to the dog days of summer, changing our diets to more cooling foods can go a long way in helping to combat the heat.The best foods to help keep cool during summer are watermelon, cucumber, mint, coconut, summer squash, fennel, cilantro, and aloe vera. Other good choices include: bamboo shoot, banana, bitter gourd, clam, crab, grapefruit, lettuce, persimmon, seaweed, star fruit, water chestnut, lotus root, barley, egg white, oyster, pear, peppermint, strawberry, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini. It is best to avoid spicy, acidic and greasy foods be- cause they will increase heat in the body, making the heat of summer more difficult to tolerate.

Another way to help minimize the effects of summer heat is with the use of some common Chinese herbs: bai bian dou (hyacinth bean), he ye (lotus leaf), lu dou (mung bean), ging hao (wormwood), xi gua (watermelon), suan mei tang (sour plum)

and chrysanthemum.

Though we often think of Chinese herbs as bad tasting teas, some of the summertime mixtures are much more palatable. For example, watermelon is not only a delicious summer treat, but it is also a powerful and effective medicine. One cup of

fresh or juiced melon is the recommended dose. Watermelon is so high in water content that juicing is easy: simply blend watermelon pieces in the blender, no straining is necessary. For an especially cooling summer treat blend the watermelon with ice and add mint.

Another example is Chrysanthemum tea, which helps aid mild sunstroke and thirst issues. Below is a recipe that can be made with or without added electrolytes. If you know you will be sweating a lot (heavy outdoor activity for two hours or longer) it may be wise to add in some electrolytes to make a drink that will be healthier than high fructose corn syrup based electrolyte drinks:

Chrysanthemum Tea

Ingredients

• 70 white or yellow Chrysanthemum flowers (the yellow is
• better for clearing heat, while the white is better for red, itchy
• eyes, but there is no reason not to combine them).
• Sweetener to taste (use Raw honey, maple syrup, or skip)
• 3 L water

Instructions

1. Boil water for two minutes. Shut off the heat. Add the flowers and let steep for one hour. Add sweetener as the mixture cools to a warm level.
2. 1 or 2 green tea bags or equivalent TBSP of green tea leaves can be added to the mix for additional cooling benefits. Keep in mind that green tea does contain caffeine and too much caffeine may interfere with normal hydration levels.
3. When the mixture is almost room temperature, 1 tsp of high quality sea salt may be added for extra electrolytes. 

Article by Mimi Tagher, LAc, LMT

Mimi Tagher is Nationally Board Certified in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, and Oriental Medicine. She received her Masters Degree from The International Institute of Chinese Medicine. Mimi is also a Biodynamic Craniosacral teacher and practitioner, and a licensed massage therapist. Her specialty is combining acupuncture with craniosacral therapy to help balance the body physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

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