During the Summer Season, we focus on nourishing the heart and small intestine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, when we talk about organs, we’re not just talking about the actual organs in the body, but also the energy meridians associated with them.
THE HEART
The heart is physically responsible for pumping blood throughout your body. Energetically, the heart houses the Shen, or spirit. The Shen is said to encompass consciousness, emotions, mental acuity and thought, as well as the ability to process incoming sensory information.
Joy is the emotion associated with the heart. While joy nourishes the heart, an excess, i.e. mania, is a symptom of an imbalance in this system.
The heart represents the very act of being alive –
- from the physical heart beating in our chest
- to the flow of blood through our veins
- to our mental ability to stay present and focused
- to our emotional selves feeling whole and complete
It is the energy of summertime – abundant, hot and alive.
When your heart is struggling physically, circulation is poor, your cells don’t receive the oxygenated blood they need one and they can’t efficiently excrete wastes. Energetically, an imbalanced heart expresses as feeling “off” and a bit out of sorts.
THE SMALL INTESTINE
The small intestine is responsible for most chemical digestion of food and nearly all the absorption of nutrients. Once nutrients are absorbed, they are delivered to your organs through the bloodstream… which links us back to the heart!
Comprised of three separate parts, the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum, the small intestine measures upwards of six to seven meters long and it has a surface area of over 200 meters.
Like the heart, in the Traditional Chinese Medical, the small intestine is much more than just its physical traits.
The small intestine
- receives
- transforms and
- separates solids and fluids
Nutrients get dispersed throughout the body and while impurities are flushed into the large intestine for excretion.
Cold is a problem for the small intestine meridian. Ice cold foods can trigger pain around the navel, watery diarrhea or loose stools, frequent clear urination and loud gurgling sounds in the abdomen.
Just as the small intestine receives, transforms and separates foods, it is also said to separate clear thoughts from the rocky ones. Where the heart houses facets of the mind and oversees our mental health, the small intestine governs clarity and judgement.
NOURISHING THE HEART AND SMALL INTESTINE
Our aim this summer is to reduce the burden on the heart and small intestine, reconnect with the wisdom of our body and restore our natural vitality so we glow from the inside out!
Physically, vibrant, colorful, hydrating, antioxidant and fiber rich summer foods are good for the heart and small intestine. Any of the detox techniques like dry brushing, detox baths, sauna, oil pulling, castor oil packs, etc are supportive for the physical health of these organs and the health of your skin! I welcome you to check out the links below and learn more about the tools I use for improved health.
Tools:
How To Use a Castor Oil Pack to Slim Down
Healthy Habits: Let’s Talk About Oil Pulling
Boost Your Immune System with Detox Baths
Energetically, try these things this season:
Experience Joy.
- Celebrate and embrace the things you love in the world – people, places and thoughts
- Connect — Reach out to friends and family, forge new relationships and strengthen existing ones.
The Blessings of Beauty.
- Take time to appreciate the beauty of your natural surroundings
- Explore music, poetry, art and dance
- Soak up many of life’s “little moments”
Experiment With a New Ritual.
- Write down five things you are grateful for each night
- Incorporate gentle exercise during each morning
- Practice 10 minutes of sitting meditation each day
- Enjoy regular time in nature or in your choice of sanctuary
With the summer season, there are many benefits of eating nourishing summer foods. Some of my favorites are tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and squash, berries, watermelon and peaches.
Here are some of my favorite recipes to try:
FARM FRESH WATERMELON POPSICLES
Chicken with Zoodles, Tomato and Feta
FARM FRESH TOMATO, BASIL AND FETA SALAD
If you find some of these tips helpful or try any of the yummy recipes, I welcome your comments below. You’re welcome to message me too!
P.S. If you’re feeling like you could use a reset this summer or want to feel better while preparing to send the kiddos back to school, I welcome you to contact me (link above in menu) or check out my Sexy Summer Slim Down
Keep Living Your Most Nourished Life, Friends!
XOXO,
Kim