Heat, fatigue and dehydration: the summer trio to anticipate
Anticipating heat, especially during periods of intense activity, helps prevent the body from gradually weakening. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dehydration is not just a lack of water, but often reflects an imbalance of Yin and Body Fluids.
💧 Persistent fatigue, dry mouth, mild headaches, dark urine... These signs may indicate a progressive depletion of Yin, particularly that of the Kidneys and Lungs.
Fortunately, TCM offers natural and adapted strategies to maintain the body's water balance while supporting vital energy (Qi).
Yin and Body Fluids in TCM: Much More Than Hydration
In the Chinese energetic view, Body Fluids (Jin Ye) are essential for the proper functioning of the body. They include all the body's fluids: saliva, sweat, tears, intracellular fluids, etc.
Yin, on the other hand, represents the “cool,” nourishing, and restful part of the body. When it weakens, the body overheats, becomes agitated, and symptoms of dryness appear. In TCM, Yin represents calm, cold, matter, and interiority. It nourishes and stabilizes the body. An imbalance of Yin can lead to dryness, insomnia, or hot flashes.
❗️Excessive sweating (related to heat or stress), an unsuitable diet, or an overly intense lifestyle can deplete these reserves, leading to:
- Fatigue with sensation of heat
- Restlessness, palpitations, irritability
- Dry skin, irritated throat, unquenched thirst
How heat depletes Qi and fluids in summer and becomes a source of dehydration
According to TCM, summer is the season of Fire. It's natural for external heat to stimulate our Yang (dynamic energy), but if it becomes excessive, it can burn through our internal reserves.
Exhaustion mechanisms that lead to dehydration
- Intense external heat → loss of sweat → loss of body fluids
- Prolonged mental effort → overwork of the Heart → agitation of the Shen and exhaustion of the Yin
- Hot or spicy food → worsening of internal heat
The Kidneys (deep Yin reserve) and the Lungs (masters of fluids and skin) are particularly vulnerable to these exhaustions.
Hydrating and Cooling Foods According to TCM
Chinese dietetics never separates food from its energetic nature. Certain foods, through their freshness and richness in water, nourish organic fluids and refresh the body without blocking digestion.
Favor foods rich in water and Yin
- Watermelon, melon, cucumber, pear: hydrate and eliminate heat
- Light green tea, chrysanthemum infusion, sweet mint: refresh the liver and clear heat
- Pearl barley, lotus seeds, silken tofu: nourish Kidney Yin and soothe the Heart
To be limited during hot weather
- Very spicy, fried, or fatty foods
- Coffee, alcohol, very salty or processed products
- Iced drinks, which block Spleen Qi
Drinks and good practices to hydrate the body in summer
- Drink in small amounts throughout the day, at room temperature
- Prepare warm infusions made from refreshing flowers or seeds
Qi, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is the vital energy that animates the body and supports all its functions. It circulates through the meridians, nourishes the organs, warms, protects, and enables movement. Proper balance of Qi is essential for good health; if it is blocked, depleted, or imbalanced, it can lead to fatigue, pain, or illness.
✅ The ideal: a light diet, based on steaming or boiling, with foods rich in water and in season. And as always, a small session acupuncture to help!
Energy practices to refresh and regenerate body and mind in summer
In addition to diet, certain practices help to preserve Yin and circulate energy without overheating.
Refreshing breathing and self-massages
- Gentle breathing (Qigong type): morning or evening, in a sitting position, breathe in slowly through the nose, breathe out through the mouth as if you were blowing on a flame
- Massage points :
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- R6 (Zhaohai): tonifies Yin
- P7 (Lieque): humidifies the lungs
- GI11 (Quchi): disperses heat
In conclusion – Refresh and nourish to prevent dehydration
Anticipating the effects of heat helps prevent silent dehydration, which weakens the body deeply. By following the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, you provide your body with quality hydration that respects its energy balance.
☀️ Nourishing your Yin means strengthening your vitality, your inner calm, and your resistance to summer fatigue.