Your Seasonal Wellbeing

Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water 

In traditional Chinese medicine there are Five Elements and each element gives birth to the next and nourishes it by a flow of energy.  So the bracken is burnt, the ashes go into the earth and form minerals, the water flows and there is new growth.  Kinesiology is an effective methodology for balancing the energies of your meridians. Balancing your meridians with Kinesiology can improve health and wellbeing on a physical, mental and emotional levels.

Meridians are passages of energy flow located all over your body, as a kinesiologist I work with Chinese Medicine Five Element Theory, which believes that everything in the universe, including our health, is governed by five natural elements: WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL and WATER. This theory underscores the Traditional Chinese Medicine understanding that human beings, both physically and mentally, are intertwined with nature.

An individual’s state of health manifests according to the balance between these Elements.

Summer-Fire

We enter summer around June 21^st when we have the longest day of daylight of the year.  In Chinese Medicine summer is linked to the element of Fire and the meridians of the Triple Heater; the upper heater relates to the heart and lungs, the middle heater relates to the stomach, gall bladder, liver and small intestine and the lower is associated with the large intestine , bladder and kidneys.  Their job is to produce heat and energy for the body through respiration, digestion and elimination.  The Heart Protector protects the heart and regulates blood flow, heat and nourishment.

The Heart and Small Intestine meridians correspond to the summer season.

The Fire element is associated with the emotions of Joy and Depression.  The Heart meridian is the ‘Lord and Sovereign’. Root of life. Grand Master. Radiance of Spirit. Speech. In control. Balanced. Clarity. Insight. Understanding. Peace and harmony

The Small intestine meridian is the ‘Facilitator’.  It is the separator and sorter. Assimilation, sorting what is needed for survival and thriving. Sorts pure from impure. Discernment. Discrimination.

Summer is usually hot and we are more active. We need a diet which keeps us cool and light.  Primarily raw fruit and vegetables.  For breakfast maybe fruit and yoghurt or a smoothie.

The taste associated with the fire element is ‘bitter’.  So, anything with a bitter taste like watercress supports fire.  As always avoid salt, fatty foods, sugar and refined foods. Drink plenty of water.  If you do not have a filter boil for 15 minutes and leave the jug in sunlight for a couple of days to remove the chlorine etc.

Summer is the season to strengthen your Fire element.  The sun helps but also Cayenne Pepper and Ginger. For the small intestine comfrey, liquorice root, fennel seed.  Hawthorne berries are a good heart tonic (steep 2 ounces of berries in boiled water for 30 minutes and drink the water a couple of times a day).

Summer is the time to recharge your internal batteries with solar power.  Keep the Fire element balanced with Water.  Keep the body loose and get plenty of exercise.

The Fire element relates to the energy of creativity, intuition and motion.

MAKKA HO STRETCH for the Heart and Small Intestine Meridian.

The following stretch works with the Heart and Small intestine meridians, they enrich the earth element and melt the metal element

Sit with the soles of your feet together and your hands grasping your feet. Inhale and bend your body forward over your knees.  Move your elbows forward, alternating each one as you exhale. Return to starting position and repeat the sequence five times.