5 Natural Ways to Stay Cool During the Dog Days of Summer
Welcome to the Dog Days of Summer!
Fun Fact Alert: Did you know that these sizzling days are called the Dog Days because its the period when Sirius, the dog star, rises at the same time as the sun?!
How to stay cool: When things are working well, our bodies are amazing at keeping us cool! Here are 5 natural ways to help facilitate cooling in the body when AC and swimming aren’t an option ;)
1. Sitali Pranayam
I love sticking my tongue out in public places..;)
Yogic Cooling Breath: It’s super simple to do:
1. Roll your tongue
2. Take a nice long sip of air through this natural straw
3. Exhale through the nose.
Continue for 3 minutes.
You will feel the cooling effects immediately. This yogic breath also can help reduce fatigue, fevers, and high blood pressure.
2. Really Cool Acupuncture Point - Bladder 40 (supporting the middle)
Try this out! Hold an ice cube (or try peppermint oil - see below) behind the knees! Bladder 40 is an amazing point to cool summer heat!) It also helps with lower back pain, spasms and weakness in the legs, and digestive issues!
3. Medicinal Grade Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil can be like placing an icepack on the body! Put a drop behind the knees (see above), on the low back, or behind the neck for an instant cool down. You can also add a drop to water. PRECAUTIONS: Make sure you get a medicinal grade essential oil that you can apply directly to the skin. Do not get it in your eyes as it will burn! if you do apply coconut, olive or almond oil to the area. Note that water will amplify the effects but oil will dilute it.
4. Foods that cool summer heat
Cool as a cucumber ey? Well in Chinese Medicine there are foods that are energetically cooling! Cucumber and Watermelon are both amazing to reduce summer heat. And they just happen to be abundant at this time of year! YUM!
5. HYDRATE with H20!
Okay this is an obvious one but the most important...drink water! Water helps the body's own natural cooling process more that anything else! I usually recommend my patients drink 1/2 their body weight in water per day. so if you weigh 150 lbs drink 75 oz of water per day.
I hope these help you stay cool naturally! Oh and don't forget to go swimming!!
Lots of love,
Lance