Late Summer and Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Good Morning!

 

Late Summer and Traditional

 

Late Summer is considered the " dog day afternoons " when in late

August and " Indian Summer " are hotter and damper days rich in

humidity and a feeling of heaviness in the air. This often parallels

the way our bodies feel during this period.

 

Dampness is associated with the element earth and is most active in

late summer. Ailments of excessive dampness can be induced by sudden

exposure to fog or mist, immersion in water or exposure to rain, and

living in excessively damp locations or climates. The surface pores

on the body are open.

 

Because summer is humid, the pathogenic factors, which cause diseases

in this season always mix with dampness. The symptoms include

excessive fluids in the body with symptoms of abdominal bloating,

abdominal pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, intestinal

spasms, diarrhea, lethargy, lack of thirst, feeling of heaviness,

heaviness in the chest or being sluggish and stiff, aching or sore

joints - are characteristically heavy and sluggish in nature and tend

to block the flow of energy throughout the body.

 

Damp Heat is a condition of dampness and heat combined with symptoms

of thick yellow secretions and phlegm such as jaundice, hepatitis,

urinary problems, or eczema.

 

" Inner-dampness " is caused by excess cold consumption of liquor, tea,

cold melons, and sweet, greasy foods. These impede spleen functions.

 

The Spleen and Stomach

 

In , the spleen and stomach are associated with Late

Summer. They belong to the element of Earth. The stomach's function

is to rot and rippen food and break it down for transportation. The

spleen's functions: transform and transport foods and body fluids to

make ready for absorption. The spleen raises our (Qi) energy up. The

spleen controls the blood and keeps it in the vessels. The spleen

also nourishes the muscles.

 

Signs and symptoms of poor spleen function include dizziness, pale

complexion, low energy, prolapse of organs such as the rectum

(hemmorhoids) and uterus. Spontaneous bleeding, muscle weakness and

muscle atrophy can all be due to problems with the spleen.

 

Signs and symptoms of poor stomach function are numerous. Stomach

heat manifests as too much heat in the stomach and is represented by

bad breath, bleeding or swollen gums, burning sensation in the

stomach, extreme thirst, frontal headaches and/or mouth ulcers.

 

Consider a healthy, nutritional diet, getting good quality sleep and

moderate exercise this can keep our physical form at it's best,

always. Need help? Consider Traditional , herbal

medicine or homeopathic medicine .

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

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