We are still seeing patients with the summer ‘vexed’ feeling: that hot, tired, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me’ feeling. We’ve seen it more this summer than in the past.
As always, a few weeks before the season changes we see symptoms coming in. In Oriental Medicine there is a season called “late summer,” and it will be here soon. Late summer brings symptoms we all call food poisoning or a summer cold.
As I’ve written before, in Oriental Medicine we have seasons that correspond with Meridians. The Spleen and Stomach Meridians will be focused in August. Practitioners have thousands of years’ experience watching people and their symptoms, matching them with the seasons…and it still works! I find it helps me focus on my patients and their symptoms. After 16 years in practice, I see the same thing every season; 2 weeks before the season begins, the problems arise.
Stomach/Spleen Meridians work with digesting food, building blood, transforming and transporting nutrients. It deals with dampness (a heavy feeling), sinus congestions, headaches on the forehead, a heavy feeling or a tight band around the head, muscle cramps and aches, edema, diarrhea, nausea, and phlegm. These are the problems coming in regularly now.
I have a list of ideal foods for you to eat during this Late Summer season, too. Check out my new article that includes the list and more details about the specific benefits of watercress, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, avocado, and horseradish.