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Welcome to San Fu Tian, often celebrated as traditional medicine’s golden window for healing. Occurring during the hottest days of summer, this unique season offers us a rare opportunity to cultivate long-term vitality, clear deeply stored dampness, and dredge residual cold from the body.

San Fu Tian this year is from July 15th – August 23rd; we have ten extra days of San Fu Tian. This provides more opportunity to build a solid foundation for our health for the rest of the year.

By building up our internal energy now, we fortify our health for all the seasonal transitions in the months ahead. At Selby Acupuncture, we’ve gathered a few essential practices, dietary tips, and clinic offerings to help you make the most of this bountiful time. 

Nourishing Your Inner Fire: The Art of Seasonal Balance

During San Fu Tian, the key is to nourish your Yang (warm, active energy) for year-round vitality while gently balancing your body against the intense external heat with hydrating, cooling foods. Think of it as stoking your internal furnace while keeping your body refreshed and hydrated for internal and external balance. 

To Warm & Boost Yang Energy

To boost your vitality for year round health, we encourage warming and nourishing foods and herbs:

• Herbs & Spices: Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and garlic
• Vegetables & Proteins: Leeks, chives, chicken, prawns, and shrimp
• Nourishing Comforts: Warm soups, nourishing congee, and mineral-rich bone broth (tip: look for low-sodium options to keep it hydrating)

To Cool & Hydrate Against Summer Heat

Counteract extreme summer weather and keep your fluids balanced with:

• Herbal Teas: Mint tea and Chrysanthemum tea
• Hydrating Fruits & Veggies: Watermelon, pears, cucumbers, and mung beans
• Natural Electrolytes: Pure coconut water

What to Avoid (or Limit)

• Ice-cold drinks: Freezing drinks shock your digestion and dampen your digestive fire.
• Excessive raw foods: Opt for lightly cooked or steamed greens instead.
• Heavy, greasy foods: These create internal dampness and drag down your summer energy.

Movement for San Fu Tian

Summer movement should be intentional, enough to get your qi flowing without exhausting your vital fluids.

• Gentle Sweating: Practice light yoga, Qi Gong, or early morning walking. A soft sweat helps clear trapped heat and dampness from the pores.
• Avoid Over-Exertion: Refrain from intense workouts during the peak heat of the day to protect your body’s precious hydration and energy

How Selby Acupuncture Can Help

Let us support your seasonal wellness journey in person! Here is how we can help you align with the summer energy:

• Moxibustion (Moxa) Treatments: Experience deep thermal therapy to warm your meridians, dispel cold, and powerfully nourish your inner fire.
• Acupuncture Sessions: Bring your internal world into complete harmony with the energetic shifts of the external environment.
• Herbal Medicinary Consultation: Visit our medicinary for personalized herbal formulas and tailored dietary recommendations specific to your unique constitution.

Book an appointment with our Herbalist or Acupuncturists now

** If you would like to learn about the solar season of San Fu Tian, we have an in-depth post about it on our instagram @selbyacupuncture, go check it out!**