Staying Cool in Summer When You're Already Hot: Perimenopause Edition

Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine Women’s Health Wisdom

Navigating Perimenopause Through Summer Season: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Women

In this episode, Dr. Chitra (Ayurveda specialist) and Clarissa (Chinese Medicine practitioner) explore how women in perimenopause can navigate the challenging transition from spring to summer while managing hormonal changes. They discuss the intersection of seasonal energy shifts with menopausal symptoms, explaining how traditional Chinese medicine views this as a time when yang energy peaks while women typically need more cooling yin energy. The conversation covers the six seasons in Ayurveda versus the five elements in Chinese medicine, and how both systems recognize menopause as a natural life transition requiring specific dietary and lifestyle adjustments during warmer months.

Key Topics & Practical Advice for Perimenopause Summer Management

The practitioners share actionable strategies for staying balanced during hot weather while experiencing perimenopause symptoms. They recommend avoiding cold foods like ice cream and raw salads, instead focusing on lightly cooked, steamed vegetables that provide moisture without shocking the digestive system. Both experts emphasize the importance of warm, cooked foods even in summer, explaining how steaming introduces beneficial moisture while maintaining digestive fire. They discuss movement practices including Qigong's five-element system and gentle walking after meals, plus breathing techniques and color visualization exercises that can help balance the heart and kidney systems during this challenging seasonal transition.

Modern Challenges & Ancient Solutions for Women's Health

The episode addresses how contemporary lifestyle factors - including climate control, artificial lighting, processed foods, and increased alcohol consumption - have intensified menopausal symptoms compared to previous generations. Both practitioners stress that reproductive health is the last system to receive nourishment in the body, making early intervention through diet, lifestyle, and stress management crucial. They explain how their individualized approaches differ from conventional medicine's symptom-focused treatment, offering holistic strategies that work with natural body rhythms rather than against them. The discussion includes upcoming community programs and membership offerings for women seeking support through perimenopause and menopause transitions.00:00 Introduction to Summer and Perimenopause

02:07 Meet: Chitra and Clarissa

04:04 Understanding Ayurveda and Menopause

07:30 Chinese Medicine and Qigong Explained

13:09 The Interplay of Seasons and Health

27:40 Navigating Perimenopause in Spring and Summer

45:06 Understanding Digestive Irregularities

45:46 The Importance of Warm Foods in Chinese Medicine

47:09 Qigong and Meditation Practices

47:37 Engaging with the Audience

48:46 Women's Health and Menopause

51:06 Seasonal Dietary Adjustments

52:36 Exercise and Movement in Ayurveda

56:47 Balancing the Elements through Movement

01:00:41 Adapting Ancient Practices to Modern Life

01:04:45 Managing Menopausal Symptoms

01:11:12 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Have you considered the affect of seasonal changes on your menopausal symptoms?

Fresh unconventional conversations from the world of Ayurveda and TCM.

Discover what’s really happening during perimenopause beyond hormones. Join us for the next Art & Heart of Menopause live salon on Thursdays.