Stay cool with these time-honored practical TCM tips

The summer solstice has come and gone, and we are now in the full swing of summer, which the Chinese lunar calendar calls "minor heat" or xiǎo shǔ (小暑), which is the first half of the hottest period of the year and began on July 6th.

It's easy to get overheated or sunburned during this time. Drinking plenty of cool or room temperature (not ice cold, which can hurt your Stomach) fluids and having lots of watermelon can help one beat the heat. In TCM, watermelon is touted for its cooling and hydrating properties, so much so that it's even recommended for fevers, inflammation, or burns. Yes, in a pinch, you can use watermelon to soothe sunburns, although it gets sticky quickly!

Other seasonal or tropical foods can help combat overheating and sweating too much. Foods that are grown during the summer or in hot tropical weather often have a cooling essence, which helps these plants to survive hot climates. These include melon, berries, avocado, pineapple, coconut, mango, cucumbers, citrus fruits, tomatoes, zucchini, kiwi, any kind of seasonal leafy vegetable, herbal teas such as green tea, chrysanthemum, and mint, and bitter seasonal greens such as dandelion, mustard greens, or chicory.

Above all, save your Qi and give your body a break by staying out of the heat and sun as much as possible. It's easy to overdo it while sunning yourself at the beach or playing sports during this heat wave, so save those activities for either the early morning or for later in the month, when the heat is at more tolerable levels.