Balance Blog
All Things Health, Wellness, and Chinese Medicine
Stepping Into the Year of the Yang Fire Horse
As we enter the Lunar New Year, we move through a powerful energetic transition from the Year of the Yin Wood Snake into the Year of the Yang Fire Horse. February 4th is the official transition to the new year, and February 17th is the celebration. Read on to learn about the energetics of the new year!
Summer Damp-Heat: What It Is, How It Feels, and How to Beat It (TCM-Style!)
Struggling with summer sluggishness in Charleston’s heat? Learn how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) helps clear damp-heat- a common pattern in hot, humid weather that can cause bloating, brain fog, skin flare-ups, and more. We break down the signs of damp-heat and share natural ways to treat it with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, essential oils, and at-home acupressure. Discover how to stay cool, clear, and energized all summer long!
TCM, Summer + the Fire Element
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season is associated with specific elements, organs, emotions, and health practices to maintain harmony and balance. Summer, governed by the Fire element, is a time of abundance, activity, and outward energy. Here’s how TCM approaches health during the toasty summer season!
TCM Food Therapy for Summer Wellness
Summer is just around the corner! Beach days, barbecues, and pool hangs are calling our name. The energy of the season is all about joy, connection, expansiveness, and fun. To enjoy the season to its fullest, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) teaches us how to live in harmony with the season and the feisty element of Fire. Food therapy plays a major role in how we can maintain good health year round!
The Spirit of the Small Intestine Acupuncture Channel
In Five Element theory, each of the five elements has a correlating season and organ system pair. For the Fire element, the season is Summer and the organ systems are the Heart and Small Intestine. Here, the spotlight is on the Small Intestine- a favorite channel used to clear summer-related heat and dampness, improve mental clarity, calm the spirit, and support digestion and gut health.
Summer Self-Care from a Chinese Medical Perspective
Summer is here! Whether you thrive in the heat or want to melt away, self-care is essential this time of year. The organ system related to the fire element is the heart, so our summer our wellness outine should support a healthy heart and circulatory system. As the heat turns up, here are our favorite ways to stay healthy!