If you?re reading this, you might be wondering: what do the seasons have to do with sex? But you may also be thinking, Hey, Now That You Mention It?I DO Feel Sexier in the (pick one) Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring than other times!
 
In Eastern medicine, the changes in the seasons are believed to directly affect our health and well-being, and in some healing traditions, there are specific things people do to adjust to the these seasonal shifts. If you find you feel differently from one season to the next, you might consider trying some of the tips in this article to achieve optimum health and, as a result, achieve optimum sexual well-being! (Also check out ?Staying Sexy All Year Round? for ideas for looking and feeling your sexy best!)

The Seasons, Elements and Systems of the Body
The Chinese believe that each season corresponds to one of the body?s elements (there are five: wood, water, metal, earth and fire), and these elements are connected to the function of the major organs, including the skin. In the Indian system, called Ayurveda, the seasons are known to affect the body?s doshas, and to positively or negatively affect the three different body types (known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha). In Tibetan medicine, the plant foods available in the different seasons are linked to different methods of healing various ailments. All of these systems have ont thing in common: a holistic approach to health. In other words, they seek to maintain health in a preventive way, as opposed to the more Western idea of waiting until symptoms of ill health appear. In holistic medicine, symptoms such as frequent colds, fatigue, skin problems, loss of appetite, digestive problems, and emotional symptoms like irritability, depression or insomnia, are usually linked to one of the organ systems of the body needing to be better cared for. The liver, lungs and intestines are vitally important to the body?s function and if left untreated, mild symptoms like those listed above might lead to serious conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease or auto-immune disorders like multiple sclerosis or fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, women especially are prone to auto-immune diseases, and so listening to your body for the first sign of trouble is very important.
 
Sexual health, as you have probably noticed, is directly affected by your overall well-being. For some women, menstrual difficulties lead to an interruption in their sexual activity. Everything from cramps and bloating and headaches, to digestive difficulties or bad mood, can affect our ability to feel sexually confident and open. Diet can be a real key to helping overcome menstrual difficulties, and this is a key component of the ?Seasonal Shift Health Plan? we will feature below. Other health issues affect our levels of sexual desire or even our physical ability to have sex, for example, frequent digestive complaints are sure to make us feel less than amorous, and chronic back pain may make us unable to indulge in the way we want to. This can lead to frustration on all sides, and sometimes we are reluctant to discuss personal health issues with our partners.
 
 
In the Chinese system, similarities are seen between the natural elements and the body. Fire, earth, metal, water and wood correspond to different organs and also to different actions such as detoxification. The relationships between these elements is more important than any one separately, so it is the process of balance that is crucial to maintaining health in this model, and this relationship follows the natural rhythms of life, death and rebirth, both actually and symbolically. (For example, menstruation marks the end of one fertile cycle and the beginning of another). In addition, the concepts of Yin and Yang rule the perception of bodily health, as the qualities of Yin (female, damp, earth, dark, cold) and Yang (male, dry, fire, light, heat) balance each other.
 
A Simple Guide to the Seasons
This rhythm of events resembles a circle known as the Creation Cycle. In this cycle, wood burns to feed fire; fire's ashes produce earth; earth gives up its ore to create metal; metal causes condensation to bring forth water; and water nourishes and creates plants and trees, creating wood. Each element is related to a specific bodily system, as well as to a pair of internal organs?you guessed it, a yin organ and a yang organ. The yin organ is solid and dense, like the liver, while its yang partner is hollow or forms a pocket, like the gallbladder. Remember, no one element is the beginning or end?they flow together in an endless loop. It is the proper interaction of the organ partners that influences how well the entire body functions. The elements and their related systems and organs are shown in the table below. (The preceding information and this table are from ?Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine? on the www.informit.com website).
 
In this table, we see the ways the organs are related to these elements and the seasons. There is a ?fifth season? that is prominent in this system, which is late summer, and a very important time for maintaining health. This is when the body is often full of vitality, and an appropriate time for fasting to cleanse the body and strengthen it in preparation for winter.

Beginning in spring, we find the time of new beginnings (like the sun rising in the east), associated with the wood element, the material trees are composed of (trees being the most grand example of growth and life in nature). Spring is when we cleanse the body from the heavy diet and inactivity of winter. ?Spring fever? strikes and we become aware of our surroundings, and ready for love! We eat lighter, hoping to reawaken our senses and get healthier. Nature makes an abundance of foods available now for this detoxing process, like greens, herbs and fruits which are perfect for clearing away the?debris.? Teas like nettle and clover, and salads full of fresh vegetables are perfect now, as are berries, peaches and other fresh fruits in season. Drinking green tea also kick-starts the immune system with its anti-oxidants, and can help aid weight loss.
 
In Chinese culture, the south is at the top of the compass or map, making south or fire the high point (which corresponds to summer). On this table, fire rules the heart and small intestine; the heart pumps blood and keeps us alive, the small intestine is where the body begins to distribute nutrients from the food we eat. Fire also refers to the body?s energy and activity and summer is the time when most of us are very active; we also tend to be more social, and both these trends may lead us to engage in sex more often. Inadequate ?fuel? makes the fire burn poorly; a poor diet also leads to what is called ?acidification? of the blood, making the body susceptible to all manner of disease. This is what is meant when we say a ?toxic? diet! Eating an alkaline (opposite of acid) diet is best, including plenty of green vegetables, fresh fruits, raw milk products like yogurt, and raw nuts. Grains, fish and eggs are eaten in moderation, and meats, fats, alcohol and dairy kept to a minimum. Fast food or junk food have no place in this system, so ?go eastern?for a while and see if you don?t feel healthier (and sexier) as a result! Extra sexy tip: Eating fruits and veggies also makes your vaginal secretions tastier!
 
West, which rules autumn and metal (this imagery is related to when and how harvesting tools are made), is the direction of the setting sun, associated with maturity. The lungs and large intestine are systems where serious illness can settle, and so maintaining them in good working order is important. Diet-related complaints show up here first: mucus is produced by too much rich food (like dairy, meat and sugar), leading to more colds and upper respiratory infections. Too much mucus finds its way into the vaginal area, too, causing yeast infections or other problems. Likewise, a diet deficient in fiber and healthful plant foods (grains, fruits and vegetables) leads to sluggish digestion or constipation, which can lead to bigger problems if left unchecked. Autumn is a transitional time when we sometimes feel more emotional, or slightly depressed. But it is also a very exciting time, between the passionate energy of summer and the more relaxed pace of winter; it can also be a very sexually-charged time, as sunny days give way to crisp nights and our senses are alive to the changing colors and scents of the season.
 
North is linked to winter and water: being the opposite of fire, this season is a time of dormancy and rest. We eat heavier foods in winter, so it is important to eat healthfully to prevent weight gain. We must also guard against being too lazy and take up an indoor exercise routine if cold weather sports don?t appeal to us. The kidneys and bladder help us regulate our fluid intake, so be sure to drink plenty of water and herb teas to stay hydrated in winter (when we normally don?t feel as thirsty), and eat foods that keep these organs toned, like fresh fruit and vegetables. Also, eating plenty of fresh garlic and ginger (put both in a healthy stir fry!) have a warming effect on the organs in winter and help prevent infections. Finding creative ways to avoid going ?stir-crazy? challenges some of us in colder climates; staying healthy keeps us up for this challenge!
 
The fifth and central element, earth, is related to the late summer season and a time of maturity. This season is listed last because even though it is shortest in duration it is crucial to helping keep the body in balance throughout the rest of the seasons. If we undertake a fast at this time, we can ensure that we will get through winter in more optimal health, and with greater energy and vitality. As in spring, Mother Nature provides us with many foods of the season to help us out. This is the time to do most of your food shopping in the produce section or at the farmers? market, if you have one in your area. Check out www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm to find one near you). Red, yellow and orange veggies like tomatoes, squash, corn, carrots and sweet peppers give us the vitamins A, B, C and E we need, plus beta-carotene and other important nutrients. Leafy green stuff is still abundant and is probably the healthiest thing we can eat. Plus there are many tempting healthful fruits: peaches, early apples, berries, pears and grapes. Fix a tantalizing meal for your lover, maybe getting ideas for aphrodisiac recipes from Intercourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook (check out www.intercourses.com for more info).
 
This article just touches the tip of the iceberg for ways to integrate holistic health ideas into your lifestyle. Check out these great websites for more information:
 
For more information on Holistic Health

 
For more on Traditional Chinese Medicine

For information on Ayurveda and healthy cooking