Summer Is Here: Stay Cool, Calm & Connected

We’re almost officially in summer—the season of sun, movement, and joy! According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), summer is associated with the Fire element, which governs the Heart and Small Intestine. If you’ve been following along with these newsletters, you know that Winter is that yin time of year, but now we are in the yang time!! This is a time for outward energy, movement, connection, and growth… but it can also bring challenges if we’re not mindful of balance. I outline some symptoms to be weary of incase you start to notice them creep into your life. I also created a fun personality quiz that can give you insight on how you can spend your Summer feelign refreshed, balanced, happy, and grounded.

As always, thank you for your loyalty and putting trust in me to help you on your healing journey. Follow me on Instagram BalancingHarmonyWithin for any updates. I look forward to seeing you!

With gratitude, Brittany Moore

In TCM, the Heart isn't just about blood circulation—it’s the home of the Shen (spirit). The shen (closest translation to English is the mind) is responsible for so many things in the body. Without a calm shen/mind, the body can quickly become out of balance. Symptoms associated with an unbalanced Shen can be excess heat, anxiety, restlessness, and even insomnia. You might feel more social and energized, but also a little scattered or overwhelmed. Finding a good balance between feeling grounded, but also outgoing, is super important this time of year. Use the sun’s energy to nurture yourself with as much yang energy as your body needs!

Common signs of imbalance:

• Trouble sleeping- easily waking up, dream-disturbed sleep, hard time falling asleep

• Feeling overheated or flushed

• Heart palpitations or anxiety

• Digestive upset- acid reflux, vomiting, constipation

• Mouth ulcers/canker sores

• Excessive thirst

1. Eat cooling foods: Think watermelon, cucumber, leafy greens, mint, mung beans, and coconut water. I usually tell people to avoid salads as these are hard to digest, but if you’re a salad fanatic, this is your time to eat them. Depending on different make-ups, it could be a good time to have those cold, raw veggies. Come ask me if you’re unsure!! Avoid heavy, greasy meals and excess caffeine.

2. Slow your scroll: Give yourself quiet time to rest your nervous system—whether that’s meditation, a screen-free walk, or, of course, an acupuncture session.

3. Grounding with Earth: do some gardening, yard work, or simple relaxing outside barefoot. Taking your shoes off and rooting within the ground is a great way to keep the nervous system in check and helps to reduce over tension in the body. It’s hard to do grounding when it’s Winter because the ground is so cold, so take advantage of the Earth’s warmth when we can!!

Summer often throws off routines—kids are home, travel ramps up, and schedules get loose. That’s okay! Instead of fighting the chaos, try creating anchoring rituals:

• Stick to consistent sleep and wake times (your Heart will thank you). Find a schedule that works for you and try to keep up with it. Sleep schedules work great for babies, why do we get away from that as we age? There’s a reason, it’s recommended for babies!!

• Pick one day a week for a personal “wellness hour”—no screens, just rest and replenishment. If you’re looking to take it a step further, unplug from all technology and especially bluetooth devices. Headphones, smart watches, phones, technology…you’re body will thank you!! Bluetooth is a relatively new technology in the grand scheme of things. Personally, I’ll be curious (and a little nervous) to see the long term effects of bluetooth down the road on individual health.

• Pre-book your acupuncture sessions so your self-care doesn’t get pushed aside. It’s super easy to get swept up with the craziness in the Summer with kids being home, school vacation, beach vacations, ect. Schedule your appointment in advance so that you can be sure you are taking the time that you need to be the best mom, dad, partner, grandparent, sibling, and friend that you can be!

Discover your energetic match and how to stay balanced this season, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine!

As discussed earlier, Summer is ruled by the Fire element in TCM, but we each carry different elemental tendencies year-round. Take this quick quiz to find out which element is leading your summer—and how to work with it for better energy, mood, and balance.

1. When the weather heats up, you…

A. Come alive—bring on the fun!
B. Feel drained and want to stay inside.
C. Get inspired but struggle to stay focused.
D. Crave downtime and simple pleasures.
E. Want structure and get annoyed by chaos.

2. Your ideal summer day involves:

A. A big group hang—music, food, laughter.
B. A peaceful nap in the shade.
C. A road trip or last-minute adventure.
D. Time in the garden or baking something nourishing.
E. A tidy home, a to-do list, and air conditioning.

3. When you’re out of balance, you tend to:

A. Get anxious, overstimulated, or have trouble sleeping.
B. Overheat or feel inflamed and fatigued.
C. Feel impatient, irritable, or scattered.
D. Worry too much or emotionally overextend.
E. Become rigid, critical, or overly withdrawn.

4. Your superpower is:

A. Charisma and warmth
B. Reflection and sensitivity
C. Drive and independence
D. Compassion and nurturing
E. Discipline and discernment

5. What’s your current relationship with summer?

A. Love it—it’s my season!
B. Too much heat, too many people.
C. Fun, but I get thrown off routine.
D. Slower pace is nice, but I forget to care for myself.
E. It’s disorganized—I prefer cooler seasons.

What do your results mean?

Mostly A’s – FIRE ELEMENT
You're energized, expressive, and love connection—but may overdo it. Watch for burnout, sleep issues, and anxiety. Cool down with calming rituals, early bedtimes, and heart-supporting foods like bitter greens and watermelon.

Mostly B’s – WATER ELEMENT
You're deep, intuitive, and need plenty of rest. Summer’s heat and social busyness can overwhelm you. Focus on staying hydrated, saying no when needed, and honoring your quiet rhythms.

Mostly C’s – WOOD ELEMENT
You crave movement, growth, and freedom. Summer fuels your spontaneity, but it can also scatter your energy. Support your Liver with leafy greens, keep a loose structure, and get bodywork to keep things flowing.

Mostly D’s – EARTH ELEMENT
You’re caring, grounded, and love to support others. But over-giving can lead to exhaustion and worry. Nourish yourself with easy-to-digest foods, gentle movement, and regular acupuncture to center yourself.

Mostly E’s – METAL ELEMENT
You value order, reflection, and quiet. Summer’s chaos might throw you off. Carve out structured solitude, declutter your space, and breathe deeply to support your Lung and Large Intestine energy.

***Hint Hint***

I take these elemental tendencies into account during our treatments. Based on our conversations, how you express yourself, your tongue and pulse, and even your facial features, I’m able to get a sense of your elemental makeup and tailor treatments accordingly. It’s one of the many ways acupuncture is personalized and deeply attuned to you as a whole person.