Summer is the season of Fire, a time when nature reaches its peak ripeness and maturity, radiating warmth, vitality, and enthusiasm. Fire represents the energy of expansion, the drive to grow, and a wholehearted embrace of life.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Fire is among the five elements that form a dynamic system used to understand and maintain the balance and flow of energy (Qi) within the body.
Fire is the only element (or phase) represented by two pairs of meridians (meridians are briefly explained in this blog). At the center of the Fire element is the Heart, known as the “Emperor,” and is regarded as the ruler of the body’s internal governance and source of spirit and consciousness. Because of its vital importance, the “Emperor” is protected by the three other meridians: Heart Protector, Triple Heater, and The Small Intestine. The Heart Protector looks after the Heart via regulation of emotional boundaries and blood circulation. The Triple Heater, though not a physical organ, functions as a vital system that manages the body’s energy distribution, fluids, and temperature. The Small Intestine protects the Heart by separating pure from impure, thus assimilating only what is beneficial to the body.
Nourish your Fire energy with this practices:
- Express yourself: deepen your self-knowledge and your connection with inner truths
- Connect: cuddle a pet, your mum, your kids, yourself
- Show, find, build and share love: have regular, top quality get-togethers with your loved ones
- Good therapies: Shiatsu, counselling, dance, singing, massage, meditation.
Foods for Strengthening the Fire Element
In TCM, the Fire element thrives on nutrient-dense, bitter greens, and red-coloured foods. Avoid excessive stimulants like coffee, alcohol, or chocolate which overstrain Fire.
1. Bitter Flavoured Foods
The bitter taste supports the Heart in maintaining balance, promoting healthy circulation and calming the Shen (spirit/mind).
- Watercress salad cools and dries excess Heart heat
- Chamomile tea every evening calms Heart Shen
2. Red Foods
Red foods nourish blood and Qi, supporting the Heart’s circulation and vitality.
- Red lentils, watermelon, red potatoes, beetroot
Nightshade vegetables like tomatoes or aubergine are not recommended due to their overbearing Fire energy.
3. Heart-Nourishing Foods
The Heart governs the blood, here is a list of foods that enhance blood production and flow in the Heart.
- Pulses and protein: red lentils, corn, butter beans, kidney beans, tofu, tempeh and natto
- Vegetables: rocket, kale, dandelion greens, chicory, broccoli, turnip
- Grains: rye, basmati rice, quinoa, amaranth, cous-cous
- Seeds: roasted seeds, alfalfa
- Seaweed: sea vegetable, dulce, nori
4. Herbs and Tea
Below are some examples of herbs and teas, along with their benefits for the Heart.
- Green tea: its bitter taste clears excess Heart heat, reducing symptoms like anxiety, palpitations or insomnia
- Mild dandelion root: clears Heart heat, reducing symptoms like restlessness or palpitation
- Thyme: it’s warming nature boosts Heart Yang, improving blood flow to extremities
- Marjoram: warms the Heart, enhancing circulation
- Parsley: rich in iron and vitamin C which supports blood production
- Cinnamon: warms the Heart, enhancing circulation
If you’d like to try some summer-specific recipes, it is worth looking at these cookbooks:
- Macrobiotics for All Seasons by Marlene Watson-Tara, Chapter 7: Fit as a Fiddle for Summer
- Riverford Spring and Summer cooking with a veg box by Guy Watson, Spring and Summer
- The Changing Seasons Macrobiotic Cookbook by Wendy Esko, Chapter 3: Summer cooking
Awaken summer’s warmth and rejuvenate your body with a vibrant, heart-nourishing diet. Bloom even further into a season of joy and connection, embracing vitality and emotional balance. This is the time to support your Heart and its protectors to ensure smooth circulation and energy flow for a radiant summer ahead.
By Hana Starace, Certified Shiatsu & Nutritional Practitioner