Time to recharge your internal batteries with solar power

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 way of balancing the energies of your meridians which can improve health and wellbeing on a physical, mental and emotional level.

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 21st 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 is associated with the emotion of  JOY

MERIDIAN MASSAGE

Heart meridian: Place open hand underneath opposite armpit in alignment with little finger and trace straight down inside the arm and off the little finger. Both sides

Small intestine meridian:  Turn hand over and starting at the little finger trace go straight up the outside of the arm to shoulder drop back on your scapula go over to your cheekbone and back to the opening of the ear

Circulation sex meridian: Place the fingers of one hand at the outside of the opposite nipple, come up over the shoulder, go down inside arm and off middle finger

Triple warmer meridian: Turn hand over and starting at the ring finger, trace straight up the arm to beneath your ear follow your ear around and behind ending at you r temple

QI GONG MOVEMENT FOR TRIPLE WARMER

HOLDING UP THE HEAVENS

  • Stand with your feet shoulder length apart.
  • Inhale as you raise your hands, palms up.
  • At chest level, start turning your palms out.
  • At forehead level, your palms should be facing front.
  • Continue to raise your hands overhead holding both hands as if to hold the sky.  At the same time thinking of the sky, earth and yourself as a whole unit.
  • Rise up on your toes (if possible) as you extend your arms, palms facing the sky, fingertips close together and eyes watching your hands.
  • Exhale as you sweep your arms to the side, with your palms facing down, until you are standing flat footed.

Repeat. Work up to being able to do 8 repetitions.

Practicing this movement helps build good posture. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practicing this movement helps to regulate the Triple Burner, and relieve fatigue by activating the fluid flowing in the Triple Burner and ensuring proper nourishment throughout the body