Tending the Heart Fire: Acupuncture & Herbal Rituals for a Nourished Summer
Tending the Heart Fire with Colleen Putnam.
Summer is the season of ripening. The sun stands high, days stretch long, and nature pulses with vibrant energy. In Chinese Medicine, summer is governed by the Fire element, which rules the Heart and the Small Intestine—organs that speak to connection, circulation, discernment, and spirit. This season invites us to bloom, to express joy, and to connect authentically with the world around us. But when summer’s fire becomes too intense, either externally or internally, it can leave us feeling burnt out, anxious, overheated, or disconnected from our center.
Let’s explore how acupuncture, herbal remedies, and seasonal living can help us nourish the Heart fire and stay rooted in joy without burning out.
The Wisdom of Summer in Chinese Medicine
In the Five Element system, summer corresponds to:
Element: Fire
Organs: Heart (the emperor) and Small Intestine
Emotion: Joy
Spirit: Shen (our consciousness, presence, and clarity)
When our Heart is in balance, we feel calm, connected, inspired, and attuned to love, both giving and receiving.
When out of balance, we may experience:
Insomnia or dream-disturbed sleep
Restlessness, anxiety, or agitation
Palpitations or emotional overwhelm.
Heat signs: red face, mouth sores, night sweats, flushed skin
How Acupuncture Can Support You During the Summer Season
Acupuncture offers a subtle yet powerful way to regulate Heart qi, anchor the spirit, and cool excess heat—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Treatments in summer often focus on:
Calming the Shen (spirit)
Harmonizing Heart and Kidney (fire and water)
Clearing excess heat that shows up as inflammation, irritability, or insomnia
Strengthening the Small Intestine’s role in discernment; what to absorb, what to release
In a season of outward energy, acupuncture helps bring you home to your center, offering sanctuary from overstimulation and a space to realign with your essence.
Herbal Remedies for a Cool, Clear Summer
Nature provides her remedies for summer heat. Many herbs that thrive in this season are light, cooling, and spirit-soothing. Some of my favorites include:
Cooling & Clearing Herbs
Mint (Bo He) – disperses heat and gently moves stagnant Qi
Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) – clears wind-heat and soothes the eyes
Lotus Leaf (He Ye) – harmonizes the middle burner, clears summer heat
Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua) – cleanses heat and supports immunity
Shen-Calming Allies
Suan Zao Ren (Zizyphus seed) – nourishes Heart yin, supports restful sleep
He Huan Pi (Mimosa bark) – known as the “collective happiness bark” for a reason
Bai Zi Ren – moistens and calms, especially when the spirit feels dry or untethered
These can be taken as teas, tinctures, or part of a personalized herbal formula. At Nido Wellness, we create custom blends based on your unique constitution and seasonal needs. Since herbs are powerful allies and medicine, we recommend consulting with an herbalist before taking any herbs.
Summer Rituals for Tending the Inner Flame
Rise with the sun and open your heart to the day’s blessings
Drink warm (not icy) teas to cool the body gently from within
Create boundaries around output—joy doesn’t require exhaustion
Ground barefoot in the early morning, anchoring your fire to the Earth
Journal or meditate in the evening to help the spirit settle
Like the honeybee, one of nature’s most attuned and purposeful beings, we can gather the sweetness of life without scattering our energy. Balance lies in discernment, presence, and alignment with the natural world.
At Nido Wellness in Petaluma, we offer seasonal acupuncture treatments, herbal consultations, and energy medicine to support you through the turning tides. If you’re feeling overextended, ungrounded, or simply wish to align more deeply with nature’s rhythms, we would love to work with you.
Book a session today at our Petaluma acupuncture office!
Nido Wellness acupuncturist, Colleen Putnam, has an affinity for Sa’am acupuncture and for bees! She loves to go deep with her clients and help them achieve real transformation.