Summer is a time when the element of fire (tejas) is increased; there is more warmth, dryness and lightness. These are qualities that increase pitta and can also caus vata to accumulate. The digestive agni becomes easily displaced by the increase in external evironmental heat drawing the internal fire to the surface.

Myth 4
Licorice is a dangerous herb because it raises blood pressure.

Licorice root, one of the most common Chinese herbs, appears in the majority of Chinese herbal formulas. Yes, it has been known to raise blood pressure in some folks. But just how common is this? The Food Reference website (www.foodreference.com) claims that as many as one third of people will experience hypertension from licorice. But can this really be true? And if so, why haven't Chinese practitioners ever noticed it?

Much of the concern comes from the media picking up stories like this one from The New England Journal of Medicine: "A 70-year-old man was admitted to San Francisco General Hospital because of weakness, mental slowness, and significant weight loss. It was found that he had been eating 25 to 40 licorice candies a day for four to five years. Some of his symptoms persisted for four months after he stopped eating licorice."

Every human being has five senses, which are associated with the five elements. Sound and hearing are related to the element of space, color and sight to fire, taste to water, smell and aroma to earth, and touch to air. These five senses are the gateways of perception for the human being, and they can be used for healing purposes.

Aromatherapy uses incense and essential oils made from flowers, plants, trees, and grasses to relay fragrances through the olfactory sense to the brain, in order to bring healing energy to mind and body. Ayurveda teaches that smells are directly related to doshic balance and imbalance, and that certain aromas are heating, cooling, or neutral.

Pitta and the heat of summer may be soothed by the use of cooling, calming, sweet aromas such as sandalwood, jasmine, rose and khus. Lemongrass, fennel, peppermint, gardenia, rose geranium and mint may also be beneficial.

Sandalwood is anti-inflammatory and cooling; it is calming and soothing for pitta but may increase kapha or vata. Jasmine too is cooling and sweet and good for pitta, but it may build up kapha over time. Khus (the essence of khus grass) is grounding, pleasant, and cooling. It has a sweet smell and pacifies pitta, but it may provoke kapha and vata.