Summer Invasion
In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s hot, hot, hot. So how are you feeling? Invigorated? Sapped of energy? Firing on all cylinders? Or flat as a pancake?
The heat affects everyone to varying degrees (sorry for the pun), but did you know heat can invade your body in the manner of a virus? In Chinese Medicine this is known as Summer-Heat and most of us will be familiar with its milder effects of thirst and sweating. But when Summer-Heat really gets into your body, it can become what is more commonly known as heatstroke.
When Summer-Heat truly gets you in its grip, it brings with it headaches, fever, thirst, sweating and irritability. It can even aggravate digestion, leading to bloating, an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach and, at its worst, nausea and vomiting.
So here are a few tips to help you keep cool and enjoy the heatwave this weekend:
Summer-Heat invades the top half of the body – make sure you’re in the shade or at least wearing a stylish hat. And never underestimate the power of bare feet on a tiled floor to take the heat out. Or, if you don’t have a tiled floor to hand, a bowl of cool water will do the trick just as well.
Summer-Heat dries up the body fluids – keep your fluid intake up, especially if you’re enjoying an alcoholic beverage or two.
Look after your stomach – Be kind to this vulnerable part of your body in the heat and avoid ice in your drinks and heavy, heating foods such as red meat. There goes the barbecue. Sorry.
Summer-Heat can fray you around the edges – feeling irritable? You’re doing too much. Take it easy in the heat. Mowing the lawn can wait.
So there you have it: plenty of fluids, nothing too heavy to eat, lots of shade and not much activity. That sounds like a perfect weekend to me.
Have fun!
