What a Tree Taught Me About Healing
July 1, 2026
Why I Built Root and Restore and How You Can Create the Conditions for Healing at Home “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
As a Minnesota native, I am grateful to be back home and honored to be in the clinic after continuing my herbal education in the Pacific Northwest. One of the things I love most about Minnesota is not only the diversity of our ecosystems, but also the distinct rhythm of our changing seasons. The landscape transforms throughout the year, and so do we. Each season invites us into a different relationship with our bodies, our health, and the world around us, serving as a reminder that we are a microcosm of the macrocosm deeply connected to and shaped by the natural world.
Chinese herbal medicine has long recognized that each season places different demands on the body, and summer calls for a unique approach to staying balanced.
As we move into the height of summer during the Year of the Fire Horse, a time associated with heightened yang energy, activity, and intensity, many people notice physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances rising to the surface. Summer is a season of expansion, movement, creativity, and outward expression.
Modern life already asks us to operate at a relentless pace. Combined with the heat and intensity of summer, many people find themselves feeling overstretched, overheated, or depleted. Even those who are generally healthy may notice difficulty slowing down, increased emotional reactivity, or a tendency to push beyond healthy limits.
While summer energy can support growth and transformation, it can also contribute to:
This is a season for balancing activity with restoration. Prioritizing hydration, adequate sleep, restorative movement, mindfulness, and moments of stillness helps protect our yin energy and vital fluids while supporting the healthy expression of yang energy.
Just as important as how we move through the season is how we nourish ourselves. Summer is an ideal time to incorporate cooling, moistening, and nourishing foods such as watermelon and cucumber. These foods help support the body’s ability to regulate heat while replenishing fluids that can be depleted during the warmer months. It is also beneficial to include foods such as bitter melon, kale, dandelion greens, and arugula, whose bitter qualities help clear excess heat and gently drain dampness that can accumulate during Minnesota’s warm, humid summer season.
Drinking herbal tea can also be a simple and effective way to support balance throughout the season. Cooling teas such as mint and chrysanthemum have long been enjoyed for their ability to help ease restlessness, clear excess heat, and provide gentle relief from the intensity of summer.
One of my favorite summer allies is lotus (lián huā). Revered in both culinary and herbal traditions, lotus offers a beautiful way to harmonize with the season. Lotus root adds nourishment to soups and stir-fries, the seeds provide gentle support for the body’s yin systems, and the flowers can be brewed into a delicate tea that is both cooling and restorative.
For those of us living in the Midwest, lotus leaf is especially valuable during the hot, humid days of summer. It helps the body adapt to environmental heat and dampness while supporting internal balance. Whether prepared as a tea or incorporated into seasonal recipes, lotus leaf is a gentle and dependable companion for maintaining equilibrium throughout the summer months.
As I settle back into life and practice in Minnesota, I am continually reminded that true wellness is not about resisting the seasons but learning to move with them. The plants around us offer steady guidance, helping us adapt to change while maintaining balance through life’s many transitions.
It would be an honor to walk alongside you through those changes, supporting you season after season as you cultivate greater resilience, vitality, and well-being. Whether you are navigating a specific health concern, seeking a deeper connection with yourself, or simply looking to feel your best, herbal medicine can help. Personalized herbal consultations at Selby combine traditional Chinese herbal medicine with individualized recommendations based on your health goals, constitution, and the season.
I look forward to meeting you, helping you strengthen your relationship with our plant allies, and deepening your connection to the natural world that surrounds us. No matter what season of the year or season of life you find yourself in, it would be my honor to support you along the way.
Dr. Gemma Beck, Clinical Herbalist & Acupuncturist
Curious how herbal medicine can support your health goals? Call 651-224-6678 or schedule an herbal consultation with Gemma to learn more about personalized herbal care at Selby.
Why I Built Root and Restore and How You Can Create the Conditions for Healing at Home “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
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