We always keep several beautiful blooming orchids in the office. I give them careful attention because a healthy bloom represents to me what my clients are going through. Here in San Francisco we are currently in a state of extreme drought. What’s interesting about this and the body is that many of our patients are also experiencing an internal drought or what we call Yin Deficiency in Chinese Medicine.
How does lack of water affect the body?
Yin Deficiency in Chinese Medicine refers to deficiency of fluids. When the earth gets too dry it can no longer balance the warmth of the sun. Think of the weather in San Francisco this summer; uncharacteristically warm and sunny. While lovely for a few days, it soon leads to thirsty plants and trees, fruits and harvests coming up scanty or dying. The same thing happens inside the body. Yin deficiency quickly becomes inflammation, and inflammation is an opportunistic environment for many diseases and disorders. Left unchecked in the body inflammation causes allergies, arthritis, immune disorders, restless sleep, night sweating, and eventually dries out our own organs, our skin, and frequently our reproductive mucous and egg supply. Our body is a beautiful environment with its own brilliantly planned ecosystem. If we look to the outer world we know we need moisture to flourish. For a body to be fertile on the inside we must nourish it regularly with water and healthy moistening oils and fats that come from the diet.
If your insides are in a period of extreme drought look at what you’re putting into your body.
- Limit dry, stimulating, inflammation causing foods and beverages like alcohol, caffeine, sugar and spicy foods.
- Increase fruits, vegetables and healthy oils.
- And buy a beautiful blooming houseplant. Treat it with a healthy balance of patience, water, warmth and love. This is fertility.
