Seasonal Food against Summer Heat

By Lee Seung-hun

Even with all the temperamental weather we’ve seen over the past months, summer is definitely here, and Chobok – the first of the so-called “Three-Bok” days – is just around the corner. Three-Bok marks the hottest days during summer. Historical records show that on such days during the Joseon Dynasty era, government officials were given “ice-tickets” so that they could claim ice from government warehouses to battle the heat.

It was also recorded that to survive the hot weather, women and children were encouraged to consume summer seasonal fruits and adults prepared food and beverages to go on picnics in the mountain valleys to “wet” their feet in the cold valley creeks. With the recent outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, public interest has peaked regarding general well-being and strengthening the immune system. Along the same trend, many have asked how to endure and possibly enjoy the summer heat in a healthy way.

In “donguibogam,” an Oriental Medicine reference book compiled by Huh Jun, a royal doctor during the Joseon dynasty, “seo-byoung,” literal meaning heat illness that arises after the summer solstice is described. Seo-byoung is caused by the heat that makes our body consume qi, causes pulses to weaken, temperatures to rise, perspiration to increase and the mouth to dry. There are two types of seo-byoung. One is where the patient is seated in a shadowy Yin area for an extended time and cannot release the warm qi, and the other is where the patient works and plays outdoors and is damaged by the external heat.

Because of the generally hot summer weather, heat in our body is released through our skin making the stomach organs depleted and relatively cold. If a person remains in a cold place for too long, or consumes large amounts of cold beverages and food, the cold-qi hinders spreading of heat-qi in our body causing illness. Symptoms include headaches, pain all over the body, chills, fever, nausea and diarrhea. Oriental medicine treats these by removing the cold-qi and dispensing the heat.

On the other hand, if you are committed to outdoor activities despite the hot weather, the external heat can damage lung qi, causing headaches, fever and perspiration while feeling exhausted and thirsty, making the heat unbearable. Treatment then focuses on bringing the fever down while replenishing the spent qi.

Other heat-caused symptoms can include fever and thirst if one cannot perspire adequately, as perspiration naturally dispenses our bodily heat. Also, from late spring to early summer, some complain of feeling lackadaisical, lack of appetite, headaches, leg pain and slight fever, which are all caused by depleted core qi, which needs to be supplemented with medication.

Principally, those Oriental medicinal ingredients prescribed against summer illnesses perform the following: warm up the digestive system that has gone cold, supplement the body’s qi and promote proper dispensing of heat.

To prevent seo-byoung, seasonal food can provide a great boost.

Watermelon, as its other name han-gwa literally meaning “cold fruit” suggests, is a food of cold characteristics. With the highest water content among fruits while containing vitamins, proteins, fructose, glucose, and various minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, watermelon is almost like a natural ionic sports drink. It can help fight the heat while quenching the thirst, acting as a diuretic and lowering blood pressure, and it is known to be helpful in relieving the swelling caused by stomatitis and kidney inflammations. However, it should be avoided or consumed in moderate amounts by children with cold stomach and frequent diarrhea or weak constitutions. As watermelon can make the stomach colder that can weaken the digestive functions, excessive amounts should be avoided.

Tomatoes can quench the thirst, lower the blood temperature, strengthen the stomach and promote and aid in proper digestion. They help generate bodily fluids, help liver function optimally and detoxify people’s bodies. Tomatoes are recommended not only as healthy snacks for the elderly and children but also as supplementary food for patients with high blood pressure, cardiac disease and hepatitis. Among the known summer vegetables, tomatoes are rare in their characteristics as they are not cold and can be safely consumed by those with weaker stomachs and digestive systems.

Peaches are characteristically warm fruits, which can be safely consumed during summer season by everyone, even those who are prone to stomachaches and diarrhea. Peaches are also known to be helpful for those with weak lungs. Peach pits are actually medicinal that are frequently prescribed in Oriental medication to soothe phlegm, to alleviate asthma, coughing, and even menstrual irregularity. They are also known to purify the blood and help the stomach function better.

True summer heat will be upon us all soon. Losing the grip on your health during the summer season can mean that your health for the rest of the year can be affected as well. 2015’s summer seems to have come to us a little bit sooner than usual, but I wish that all readers have a healthy and joyous season.

The writer practices oriental medicine at the UN Oriental Medical Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul.