Greetings on the Summer Solstice! May this summer find you with friends and loved ones, reliving and relishing traditions that were missed last year.
In Chinese Medicine, summer is associated with Yang energies, which are bright, active, and warming. It is also represented by the element of Fire, replete with warmth of the sun. To balance this high Yang energy, we must also attend to the seed of Yin within Yang. Yin is our nutritive, watery, cool, moist aspect of life’s expression. This is accomplished with adequate hydration ~ try for approximately three liters each day. You can add a bit of lemon to one, lime to a second and berries to a third if you’d like flavoring. Also, eat more cooling foods such as lettuces and sprouts, fruits, and easy-to-digest proteins such as fish, chicken breast, and beans. In short, eat what is harvested locally (and, of course, organically) in this season.
Remember to get to sleep on time – it’s easy to find the clock turning 11 before we even consider going to bed, but the hours between 11pm and 5am are important for detoxifying and rebuilding our bodies, including our brains through the glymphatic system, in which cerebral spinal fluid flushes the brain of toxins, reducing its size to make room for more storage the next day! Unless you’re living above the Artic Circle, sunset occurs around 8:30 and darkness falls approximately 90 minutes thereafter, so a 10pm bedtime is doable if we turn down or off lights and electronics!
Since enjoying outdoors includes potential excess sun exposure and insect stings or bites, I recommend the following items from PureHaven, a company whose products are 100% toxin-free. Here is a link to the e-store, where these and a wide variety of products can make you and your home a safer environment: https://purehaven.com/drsusanfox
F
ace Sunscreen Lotion
Lightweight and easy to apply, our daily sunscreen face lotion helps prevent sunburn and protect the delicate skin on your face and neck from premature aging, dark spots, and overall skin damage caused by the sun’s UVA and UVB rays and from the blue light emitted by digital devices. It’s made with zinc oxide, a physical sunblock, and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. 1 oz net wt. LEARN MORE
Bug Off Citronella Candle
Our bug off candle contains a specially-formulated blend of essential oils, including citronella, rosemary, and cedarwood, known to keep insects away. it’s made with only plant-based ingredients, including non-GMO soy wax, and a cotton wick, which emit no toxins or carcinogens. it’s perfect for outdoor gatherings all summer long. LEARN MORE
Bug Off Citronella Spray
Bug off spray saves the summer, no DEET necessary! its specially-formulated blend of essential oils, safe for the entire family, is known to repel pesky, biting insects. LEARN MORE
Neem-O Tea Tree Lavender Chamomile
soothe bug bites and minor cuts and scrapes with neem-o. made with skin-nourishing ingredients, including tea tree, lavender, chamomile, and neem oils, it’s a must-have for calming skin irritations. LEARN MORE
Have a beautiful Summer!
