Cooling the Fire: How TCM Supports Cardiovascular Health in Summer

Summer revolves around sunny days, vacations, and engaging in outdoor activities. During this time of year, various factors such as heat, humidity, and changes in daily routines can impact heart health. It is important to be aware of how these elements may affect cardiovascular well-being.

Common Heart Problems That Can Heat Up in Summer

High Blood Pressure

During summer, your body attempts to cool itself by widening your blood vessels, which can occasionally reduce your blood pressure. Nevertheless, if you have high blood pressure, it's crucial to pay attention to your fluid consumption. Insufficient hydration or overindulging in caffeine, alcohol, or salty snacks (hello, BBQ season) can cause unexpected fluctuations in blood pressure.

Poor Circulation

Heat causes blood vessels to dilate, leading to swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet. Conversely, dehydration thickens your blood, hindering smooth flow, particularly if you already have circulation issues.

Heart Palpitations or Irregular Heartbeat

Excessive heat can cause restlessness, anxiety, and that peculiar fluttering sensation in your chest. Combine this with too much caffeine, inadequate sleep, or emotional stress, and your heart may feel like it’s dancing to its own rhythm.

What Traditional Chinese Medicine Says About It

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is the season of the heart and fire element. It’s the time of year when yang energy is at its peak—lots of heat, lots of movement. But too much heat (internal or external) can cause problems like palpitations, irritability, insomnia, excessive sweating, and fatigue, etc. So, in TCM, summer heart care is all about clearing heat, nourishing Yin (your cooling energy), and keeping fluids in balance.

How Acupuncture Helps with Common Heart Issues

Acupuncture effectively reduces blood pressure by calming the nervous system and promoting relaxation in blood vessels. It also alleviates stress and tension, which often worsen high blood pressure. Acupuncture manages this by addressing what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calls “Heart Fire” or “disturbed Shen” (spirit/mind). It restores the flow of Qi and blood, enhancing circulation and supporting long-term heart health.

Key acupuncture points include: PC6 – beneficial for nausea, anxiety, and heart rhythm; HT7 – calms the mind and aids sleep; and LI11 and LI4 – cool the body and release excess heat.

You can practice light acupressure at home or visit a licensed acupuncturist.

Be Mindful of Your Routine During Summer Heat

Gently Move Your Qi—Participating in activities like Tai Chi or Qi Gong is perfect for the summer. These exercises are low-impact, soothing, and improve blood circulation without overheating your body. The optimal times to practice are early mornings or evenings when it's cooler.

Meanwhile, take a break during the hottest part of the day (usually between 11 am and 3 pm). Keep your bedroom cool and airy to enhance sleep quality. Don't forget to take your medications, even when on vacation! Be cautious of sudden chills, such as those from strong air conditioning, as abrupt temperature changes can be a shock to your system.

Looking to improve your heart health? Schedule an appointment with Toronto Integrative Medicine Centre.

Caring for Yourself in Menopause with Chinese Medicine

Let’s be honest—menopause can feel like a wild ride.

One minute you're totally fine, the next you're sweating buckets, feeling moody, and wondering where your sleep went. It’s all part of the natural transition, but that doesn’t mean you have to just “tough it out.” This is where Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can come in as a supportive friend—offering time-tested ways to bring some balance and ease back into your life.

So, What’s Going On During Menopause?

In Western medicine, menopause is seen mostly as a drop in hormones—primarily estrogen and progesterone. In TCM, it’s a little more poetic. Menopause is viewed as a shift in the balance of yin and yang, often involving a deficiency in Kidney Yin. When Yin (the cooling, moistening energy) gets low, the Yang (the warming, active side) can go unchecked—hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability.

TCM’s Approach to Menopause

TCM doesn't treat menopause like a "problem to fix," but rather a natural phase that might need some support to help the body adjust smoothly. Here are some of the ways TCM steps in:

1. Herbal Medicine

TCM herbal formulas are often customized to your unique symptoms, but here are a few common ones:

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan （六味地黄丸）– This classic formula nourishes Kidney Yin and is great if you’re dealing with hot flashes, dryness, or irritability.

Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan （知柏地黄丸）– A variation of the above, this one’s especially helpful for more intense heat symptoms like night sweats or red flushing.

Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan （天王补心丹）– Often used for insomnia, anxiety, and palpitations—great if menopause is messing with your sleep and emotions.

Of course, you should always consult a licensed TCM practitioner to get a formula that fits you, not just your symptoms.

2. Acupuncture

When you're going through menopause, your body's energy (or Qi) can feel all over the place. Acupuncture works by gently nudging your system back into balance using specific points on the body.

Here are some of the most commonly used acupuncture points for menopause symptoms, and what they’re believed to help with in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):

Kidney 3 (Taixi)

Location: Inside of the ankle, between the Achilles tendon and the ankle bone.

Why it’s used: In TCM, the Kidneys are the root of reproductive energy and hormone balance. Kidney 3 is a superstar point for nourishing Kidney Yin, which tends to get depleted during menopause—especially if you're having hot flashes, night sweats, or dryness.

Spleen 6 (Sanyinjiao)

Location: About 3 finger-widths above the inner ankle bone, on the inside of the leg.

Why it’s used: This point connects three key meridians (Spleen, Liver, and Kidney). It’s excellent for balancing hormones, supporting digestion, easing anxiety, and improving sleep. It’s often used in women’s health overall—from PMS to menopause.

Liver 3 (Taichong)

Location: On the top of the foot, in the webbing between the big toe and second toe.

Why it’s used: Liver Qi tends to get “stuck” during menopause, which can lead to mood swings, irritability, and tension. Liver 3 helps smooth the flow of Qi and calm the mind. Great for emotional ups and downs.

Heart 7 (Shenmen)

Location: On the wrist crease, in line with the pinky finger.

Why it’s used: Known as the “Spirit Gate,” this point helps calm the mind, reduce insomnia, and ease anxiety or palpitations. It’s often used for sleep disturbances common in menopause.

Ren 4 (Guanyuan)

Location: About three finger-widths below the belly button, on the midline of the body.

Why it’s used: This is a major point for boosting Kidney energy and reproductive health. It helps replenish depleted Yin and supports general vitality—great if you're feeling drained or cold internally.

Important Note:

These points are part of a personalized treatment plan. A licensed acupuncturist will choose a combination of points based on your specific symptoms and constitution—no two menopause experiences are the same! However, some of these points (like Spleen 6 or Kidney 3) can be gently massaged at home for a few minutes each day. It’s not a substitute for a real treatment, but it can be calming and supportive between sessions. Book an appointment with us to explore natural menopause remedies in Toronto.

Sleepless No More: TCM Solutions for Insomnia

Let’s be real—insomnia sucks. You’re exhausted all day, but the second your head hits the pillow? Boom. Your brain starts playing a full highlight reel of every awkward thing you’ve ever said… plus tomorrow’s to-do list… and maybe even the theme song to some random commercial.

Reasons You Couldn't Sleep

Insomnia can happen for a bunch of reasons, and from a medical point of view, it often comes down to how the brain and body are working (or not working) together to help you sleep. Your brain uses chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA to help you relax and drift off—but if those get out of balance, falling asleep can be tough. Stress is a big one too; when your body’s pumping out too much cortisol (the stress hormone), it can keep you wired even when you're exhausted. Other health issues like chronic pain, anxiety, depression, or even things like acid reflux can make sleep harder. Plus, habits like drinking caffeine late in the day, scrolling on your phone in bed, or going to sleep at different times every night can all mess with your internal clock. It’s kind of like your body’s trying to hit snooze but just can’t find the button.

How Insomnia is Treated in Western Medicine

When it comes to treating insomnia from a western medicine point of view, the goal is to figure out what’s messing with your sleep and fix it. One of the best go-to treatments is something called CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia). It’s a fancy name for a type of therapy that helps you change negative thoughts and habits around sleep—like stressing out about not sleeping or lying in bed for hours staring at the ceiling.

If therapy alone isn’t cutting it, doctors might recommend sleep medications—like sleeping pills or melatonin-based meds—to help you get some rest. These can be helpful in the short term, but they’re usually not meant to be a long-term fix because of things like side effects or the chance of becoming dependent on them.

Insomnia From a TCM Viewpoint

In TCM, sleep is all about balance. Instead of just focusing on the brain or melatonin levels, TCM looks at your whole body, your energy (called Qi), your emotions, and how your internal organs are doing.When your Yin (the calming, cooling energy) and Yang (the active, warm energy) are in harmony, you drift off to sleep peacefully. But if something throws that balance off—boom, insomnia.

Here are a few common TCM causes of insomnia:

1. Heart and Shen (Spirit) DisharmonyThe Heart in TCM isn’t just a physical organ—it houses your Shen, or spirit. If your Heart is out of whack, your mind can’t settle. You might feel restless, anxious, or have racing thoughts at night.

2. Liver Qi StagnationIf you’re stressed or bottling up emotions, your Liver Qi (energy flow of the Liver) can get stuck. This can lead to trouble falling asleep or waking up feeling wired. Think: lying in bed replaying every awkward thing you said all day.

3. Kidney Yin DeficiencyThis usually shows up in people who are run down or dealing with long-term stress. You might feel hot at night, have night sweats, and keep waking up. Your body’s cooling system isn’t doing its job, so you feel too “yang” at night.

4. Spleen Qi DeficiencyThis often happens if your diet isn’t great or you're overthinking a lot. Your body isn't producing enough "Blood" (in TCM terms), which your mind needs to settle down. You might have light, dream-disturbed sleep.

Treatment in TCM usually involves a combo of acupuncture, herbs, diet tweaks, and lifestyle changes. It's all about getting your body back in balance so your sleep can naturally improve.

Treating Insomnia the TCM Way (No Stress, Just Balance)

Instead of just popping a sleeping pill, it aims to fix the root cause, not just the symptoms. Think of it like tuning up your whole system so your body naturally knows how to chill and fall asleep.

Here’s how TCM usually approaches treatment for insomnia:

Acupuncture: Tiny Needles, Big Chill

It helps calm your nervous system, quiet the mind, and bring your body into a more relaxed state. A lot of people say they sleep better after just one session.

Herbal Medicine: Nature’s Sleep Support

There are some amazing TCM herbs used to help with sleep, but they’re picked based on what’s causing your insomnia.

Some popular herbs include:

• Suan Zao Ren (Semen Zizyphi Spinosae) – calming and nourishing

• Bai Zi Ren (Semen Platycladi)– helps with restlessness

• He Huan Pi (Cortex Albizziae)– great for stress and mood

(Definitely work with a licensed herbalist though—TCM formulas are custom, not one-size-fits-all.)

Diet Tweaks: You Are What You Eat (Even at Bedtime)

TCM believes food has energetic properties. For example:

• Avoid spicy, greasy, or super “hot” foods at night—they can stir up too much Yang energy.

• Eat more nourishing, grounding foods like cooked veggies, rice, oats, soups, or teas made with dates and goji berries.

• Don’t eat too late! A heavy dinner right before bed can keep your Spleen busy digesting when it should be helping you wind down.

  
  

Lifestyle & Habits: Slow Down to Sleep Better

TCM loves balance in everything, so here’s what helps:

• Stick to a sleep routine. Going to bed and waking up at the same time helps regulate your internal clock.

• Screen time detox. Blue light messes with your Shen. Wind down with a book or calming music instead.

• Gentle movement. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or just stretching can help release stuck energy and prep your body for rest.

TCM doesn’t treat insomnia like a standalone thing—it sees it as a signal that something’s out of sync in your body or mind. By balancing your organs, calming your mind, and smoothing your energy flow, sleep becomes easier and more natural.

Book an acupuncture treatment for a better sleep at Toronto Integrative Medicine Center.