“Grain in Ear” 芒種, 6.5 – 19
Dear friends, I am traveling and too jet-lagged to turn this post into a podcast. But for those of you still following along here are some basics about this next seasonal node we've just begun.
In the world:
The first summer crops are typically harvested around this time – wheat, paddy rice, millet, and sorghum.
Three traditional mini-seasons of 5 days each:
一候螳螂生: praying mantises are born
二候鵙始鳴: shrike’s begin to call
三候反舌無聲: the “reversed tongue” birds (a type of finch) falls silent
On dragon boat festival day (5th day of the 5th lunar month) it is traditional to pick mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and hang some by your door; if you harvest mugwort, or any Artemisia species, it’s best to do so in the next couple of weeks, before the plants produce seeds.
Be cautious of mosquitos.
In the body:
Humidity really increases at this time, so feelings of lassitude (bodily laziness) will increase. High temperatures combined with humidity mean that you’re probably craving more cold drinks, which hinder the qi production cycle of the digestion, which in Chinese medical perspective relies on heat. Support the transportation and transformation (processing and distribution) of extra fluids by making sure you move your limbs in the early or later parts of the day, not midday when you’ll be prone to over sweating. Also be cautious about intaking large quantities of raw and cold things – have them, but in proper balance. Light meals, mindful sun exposure, and take a break/nap around lunch to recharge your qi.
Food recommendations:
Cucumbers are a great, fluid and electrolyte rich vegetable to eat during this season. They’re known to clear heat, detoxify, and promote urination. Recipes frequently balance their cooling nature by marinating them with garlic or chilies. Wash them thoroughly to remove surface pesticides (peel the larger/thornier ones).
It’s currently mango season in Taiwan; southern Taiwan is especially famous for mangoes, which were originally introduced from India by Dutch traders. Mangoes are one of the few fruits that is considered warm in nature (semi-related to why many people have mango allergies); they’re also high in potassium so people with kidney or heart problems should eat sparingly.
Traditional food taboos during this season include avoiding eggplant (it stirs up the qi) and chives (damaging to the eyes).