Some of this year’s herbaceous peonies 芍藥
It’s hard to believe that June is already here as this year has practically flown by. One nice thing this year is that the last month or so has seen very mild and overall slightly cooler weather than usual for the Northeastern United States. That means the peony season – both tree peonies and herbaceous peonies – was particularly long. We actually still have blooms of herbaceous peonies that are continuing to hold on.
I also recently noticed that I haven’t posted the current seasonal node, Bearded Grain (Mang Zhong 芒種), since the early part of the pandemic in 2020. Looking back, it’s hard to really digest all the things that have happened over these last few years, and how many changes have happened since then.
Today, June 6th, is the beginning of Bearded Grain, the ninth of the year. Bearded Grain is also the last node just before Summer Solstice, the most expansive and Yang time of the year. The name, ‘Bearded Grain,’ is a reference to crops. The word Mang (芒) refers to the maturing crops, especially the winter wheat, which is harvested about this time of year, and the word Zhong (種) is a reference then to the new rice crops that are planted at this time. This gives us the image of one thing coming to maturity (as in the growing Yang of the season) so that it can eventually perish (i.e., be harvested), allowing a new crop to be started. The image of transfer and renewal is characteristic of the transition period of the solstice that fast approaches.
The three smaller 5-day material manifestations of this node are Tanglang sheng 螳螂生 (Praying Mantises Are Born), Ju shi ming 鵙始鳴(Shrikes Begin to Sing), Fanshe wusheng 反舌無聲 (Mocking Birds Cease to Vocalize). The first two are dramatically illustrative of the current node. Praying mantises are notorious for females killing males just after mating. And shrikes are about the creepiest birds I know! These birds are known for catching their prey, usually large insects or small mammals such as rodents, and then impaling them on some natural spike-like plant for them to come back later and consume after the creature has died. Both images are images of the death bringers. Eventually Summer Solstice is the time of Yin’s rebirth – days will get shorter again. It is the reminder that all life cycles back towards quiescence, towards winter, towards death, towards Yin.
But we must get back to more practical concerns… During this time of year there are several things traditionally recommended for healthy living. The first is taking a siesta – in other words an afternoon nap (in Chinese, Wu Shui 午睡). During this time of year damp and heat evils in the environment start to predominate. In Chinese medicine the Spleen is susceptible to dampness, the disease evil associated with the Soil-Earth phase. The Spleen governs the flesh and the four limbs. Damp evils encumber the flesh of the four limbs making them feel heavy and weary, leading our body feeling fatigued and without strength. Napping is a way to recuperate vitality, especially when done during the most Yang/hot time of day. Napping traditionally allowed people a rest from the summer heat and dampness, and offered a way to support the Latter Heaven (hou tian 後天) of the Spleen.
The second recommendation is to regularly clear toxins. Toxins in this case refers to both heat toxins and water toxins, since, again, this is a time of increasing dampness and heat in the environment. In much of Asia, this is the rainy season. Likewise, here in New Jersey, last week we saw rain and this week we will see more. During this time period it’s important for us all to be sure we stay cool and dry inside. Be cautious of overexposure to the heat, especially during the middle part of the day. Patients who are prone to internal damp conditions should reduce salt or other similar dietary intake that can lead to accumulation of fluids and swelling.
Our next admonition is both a “to do” and a “to avoid.” Mang Zhong is the time of the year to really keep our environment sanitary to avoid molds, as warm, humid, and rainy weather is the perfect combination for toxic molds to start growing. Keep houses clean and dry, and quickly patch up any areas of water leaks that may lead to mold growth. Natural products such as Tea Tree Oil and even plain white vinegar are effective anti-mold cleaning agents and people should be encouraged to make use of them! This is important for just about all our patients, but especially so for people with various environmental sensitivities, breathing difficulties, or damp patterns.
Remember, much of our treatment goes way beyond the time we spend putting in needles or writing formulas. Basic concepts of public health and hygiene are some of the most important things we can help teach our patients.
Diet for Bearded Grain
As already mentioned, the Bearded Grain seasonal node is characterized by dampness and summer’s heat, and this is especially so in parts of the world where this month is rainy season. In general, this time of year one should avoid eating too many sour foods, instead focusing on bitter flavors. For example, in China there is one type of famous tea called Qing Shan Lü Shui 青山綠水 – “Clear Mountain Green Water.” This wonderful tea from the Sichuan region is not an actual tea plant and has no caffeine. Rather, it is the first flush of an herb called Ku Ding Cha 苦丁茶, “bitter spike tea.” The taste of the young plant is very mildly bitter at the beginning with a faint sweet aftertaste. It is the perfect damp draining and mildly cooling herb for this summer that replenishes Qi as well with a mildly sweet nature. The other side of this is that mild sour flavors are good for people who are dehydrated or who live in climates that are too dry this time of year. A simple refreshing and rehydrating drink is water with just a little lemon juice squeezed in.
Since this a hotter time of year, during the warmest days in have patients focus on mildly heat clearing and bland foods. Also eat foods that expel summerheat and nourish fluids to stop thirst. These foods include melons and fruits, leafy greens, rice, beans, and bean products (such as tofu). The foods that should be minimized in the diet include greasy foods and meats. This is the time eat more vegetarian for sure. Patients who are slightly cold or Qi deficient can eat more mildly warming fruits such as cherries, lychees, longans, coconut milk, and apricots. Patients with warm patterns can focus more on cooling fruits such as watermelon, bananas, pears, tomatoes, persimmons, and cucumbers. Balanced temperature fruits for just about everyone are pineapples, grapes, apples, peach, coconut flesh, oranges, and ginkgo nut.
Recipe for Bearded Grain – Licorice and Mung Bean Congee (Gan Cao Lü Dou Zhou 甘草綠豆粥)
Ingredients:
Rice 150g
Mung Beans (lü dou 綠豆) – 50g
Chinese licorice root (gan cao 甘草) – 50g
Rock sugar to taste
Directions:
Rinse the rice and mung beans, wrap gan cao in teabag to make removing easier (optional)
Place gan cao in about 1750 ml (about 7 cups) of water, bring to a boil and simmer until water is a yellow color
Add in mung beans, bring to boil again and then simmer on low for about 40 minutes until beans soften
Add in rice and continue cooking for about 30 minutes until the rice starts to beak apart and mixture is the consistency of congee
Remove from heat, add in rock sugar to taste (optional)
This recipe aromatically opens the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen and transforms damp, and clears heat and disinhibits damp. It should be used with caution in patients with Spleen and Stomach vacuity cold, or patients with chronic diarrhea. The source text for this recipe was the Ming Dynasty encyclopedic work, the Pu Ji Fang (Prescriptions for Universal Relief).
My best wishes for everyone’s health. Stay cool and dry!