SUMMER: Acupuncture and the Fire Element
[caption id="attachment_4834" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dr. Scott Greenapple[/caption] Summer in North America is almost officially here. In Eastern Medicine and China, the summer is split into two seasons, and the first part of summer began on May 7th. Days are longer and typically filled with sunshine. The season brings with it abundant energy, growth, and fun-filled activities. In traditional Chinese medicine, the five-element theory, acupuncture, and eastern philosophy, this season is considered in the fire element. It is the time of year for acupuncture treatments to focus on balancing this element. All elements in acupuncture have corresponding meridians or organs, and the fire element consists of the heart and the small intestine. The fire element is primarily governed by the heart. In fact, in Chinese medicine, the heart...