The Fire Element | Early Summer

Five element acupuncture is based on nature. More specifically the five energies, referred to as the Five Elements represent Fire, Earth, Metal, Water & Wood. These form a way of describing or classifying the way we live in the world.

The Fire element season represents early summer. The spring has brought an explosion of beautiful flora all around us and a new sense of joy with longer days are on the way. The Fire element is all about re kindling joyous activities.

Here's a few suggestions:

Go outside in the grass barefoot and feel the textures greeting your feet.

Go into the garden or nearby park listen intently to birds and insects.

Have a lay down on a blanket, watch the clouds roll by. What do you see?

Smell the flowers. Stop, take time to allow them in.

Taste fresh fruits and vegetables popping up locally.

Pick you own! Look up your local farm to collect the bounty of fresh veg & fruit.

Forage. There are some great app’s to help you identify plant material. Elderflowers are at full bounty in May & June.

Pack a picnic and find a new walk around your area.

The Fire element corresponds to a few organs, The Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium & The Triple Burner. 

Tips for your Fire Element: 

Trust your intuition. The heart rules understanding and intelligence, but not of the cerebral type. When we know something in our heart, we are connected to a deeper part of our being. Try to engage in this deeper knowing. Take the time to listen to your inner voice.

Eat foods for the Fire element. Enjoy the flavours of the vegetables & fruits in season. The taste associated with Fire is bitter, so try to include bitter greens like endive, escarole, spinach, kale and swiss chard in your diet.

Drink lots of pure, fresh water. The sun pulls the moisture from your pores, so it is important to rehydrate. Drink around 1 to 1.5 litres minimum of water per day. If you don’t feel thirsty, try to drink it anyway. Your body will give a sigh of relief, thanking you.

Exercise. A healthy heart needs regular exercise to keep the circulatory system in good condition. Get a good cardiovascular exercise and try to build a sweat, which helps to cleanse toxins from the body. Depending on your level of fitness, make your workout fit in. If you are out of shape, begin slowly by walking daily. Try to walk fast enough to just break a bit of a sweat, but don’t overdo it. The heart is more vulnerable in the summer, so build your exercise routine gradually.

A Few Other Tips: 

Balance your social time with alone time. This is a good tip not just for Fire element folks but everyone. This will be especially important if you are an introvert.

When you feel a bit chaotic with too much going on, schedule in some journalling time or meditation. It is really worth 30 minutes of your day to promote a sense of calmness and energy restoration.

Get outside and explore! Grab sunshine while you can. Exposure to sunlight increases the hormone serotonin which helps us feel calm & focused. Anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight on your arms, hands and face 2 to 3 times a week boosts Vit D. The sun must penetrate skin, wearing sunscreen or clothing won’t result in Vit D production.