Stay Cool Naturally with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

When summer turns up the heat, it’s not just the sun that can leave you feeling frazzled. Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and even skin flare-ups can all be signs of excess internal heat — something Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes seriously. At Forest Park Wellness, we offer a gentle, natural solution for cooling down from the inside out: acupuncture.

How Acupuncture Helps You Chill — Inside and Out

In TCM, heat in the body isn’t just about temperature — it’s also about balance. Too much heat, and your body may show it in ways like restlessness, poor sleep, flushed skin, or inflammation. Whether it’s seasonal heat or hormonal shifts like menopause, acupuncture works to restore your inner cool through:

🔹 Activating Cooling Pathways
Specific acupuncture points help circulate energy (Qi) and release built-up heat, creating a cooling effect throughout the body.

🔹 Balancing Yin and Yang
Yin represents our cooling, calming forces. When it’s depleted — from stress, age, or environment — symptoms like hot flashes or insomnia can appear. Acupuncture nourishes Yin and helps bring your system back into balance.

🔹 Tailoring Relief to You
Each session is personalized. Whether you’re experiencing menopausal heat, seasonal irritation, or skin issues, treatment is designed to match your body’s unique needs.

Cooling Points You Might Experience in a Session

Your treatment may include acupuncture points like:

• LI-11 (Quchi): Helps clear heat and reduce inflammation.
• GV-14 (Dazhui): Cools the body and supports immune balance.
• Heart 8: Targets restlessness, thirst, and night sweats.
• SP-6 (Sanyinjiao): Nourishes fluids and calms the nervous system.
• ST-36 (Zusanli): Boosts energy while aiding recovery from heat exposure.

A Traditional Medicine Take on Staying Cool

In Chinese Medicine, summer is the season of Yang — expansive, active, and hot. When that energy becomes excessive, it can lead to internal heat and dampness, which often show up as fatigue, digestive upset, skin irritation, or that heavy, sluggish feeling that’s hard to shake.

At Forest Park Wellness, Kaz uses acupuncture to help release that heat, regulate body temperature, and support the Spleen system, which plays a central role in digestion and fluid balance. Acupuncture helps the body stay adaptable in the face of heat — but you can also support the process at home with a few seasonal shifts:

Hydrating Foods with a Cooling Nature
Water-rich fruits and vegetables — like watermelon, cucumber, and leafy greens — help cool the body and gently clear heat. Watermelon, especially when eaten close to the rind, has a mild diuretic effect and is a summer favorite in Chinese medicine.

What About Mung Beans?
Mung beans are known in TCM for clearing heat, supporting detoxification, and nourishing Qi. A simple mung bean soup can be surprisingly sweet and cooling — perfect if you’re feeling overheated, fatigued, or inflamed.

Mint Tea for a Refreshing Reset
Mint (Bo He) is a cooling herb that helps relieve heat in the head and chest while calming the mind. A cool cup of mint tea is a great midday pick-me-up — and mint is easy to grow in a garden or container if you’re feeling herbal-curious.

Respect the Sun’s Power
Avoid outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day when possible. Instead, take advantage of early morning or evening hours for gentle movement like Qi Gong, walking, or yoga.

 Replenish with Intention
While hydration is crucial, balance matters. Overhydrating with plain water can dilute your body’s salt levels. Add a pinch of sea salt to your water, try coconut water, or include a mineral-rich electrolyte mix — especially if you’ve been sweating a lot.

It’s Not Just Ancient Wisdom — Science Backs It Up

Modern research supports acupuncture’s ability to regulate body temperature and reduce symptoms of heat-related discomfort. Studies have shown benefits for menopausal hot flashes, improved thermoregulation, and even reduced sweating — all by tapping into the nervous system’s temperature controls.

Ready to Cool Down?

If you’re feeling overheated — physically or emotionally — acupuncture may help you reset. Sessions at Forest Park Wellness are designed to calm the body, clear heat, and support your whole system in staying cool, grounded, and balanced all summer long.

At Forest Park Wellness, Kaz Kasunic brings decades of experience and a calm, intuitive approach to each treatment. Whether you’re new to acupuncture or a longtime fan, you’ll feel supported, heard, and cared for every step of the way. Feeling the heat? Book your cooling acupuncture session with our online portal or call (503) 272-6646.