Dog Days of Summer: Ancient Chinese Wisdom Meets Modern Self-Care

Dog Days of Summer: Ancient Chinese Wisdom Meets Modern Self-Care

Dog Days of Summer: Ancient Chinese Wisdom Meets Modern Self-Care

When the heat feels relentless and the humidity lingers like a heavy blanket, you’re likely feeling the effects of what ancient Chinese medicine calls the “Dog Days of Summer” — known in Chinese as 三伏天 (sān fú tiān).

We are now entering the peak of this season, known as 中伏 (zhōng fú) — a time when yang energy reaches its absolute peak, intensifying the body’s internal heat and amplifying feelings of fatigue, irritability, sluggish digestion, and even inflammation.

But with the right food, herbs, and mindful support — including mushrooms, CBD, and yin-nourishing rituals — you can move through this intense time with grace and vitality.

🌞 What Are the Dog Days (三伏天)?

In Chinese tradition, the Dog Days also called "Three Fus" span a 30-40 day period from mid-July through August, based on the lunar calendar and ancient cosmological systems. It’s divided into three phases:

  • 初伏 (chū fú) – Early Dog Days

  • 中伏 (zhōng fú) – Mid-Dog Days / Peak heat (where we are now)

  • 末伏 (mò fú) – Late Dog Days

During 中伏 (Mid-Dog Days), the body is especially susceptible to heatstroke, dehydration, digestive issues, and excess internal dampness — which can manifest as brain fog, bloating, skin breakouts, and fatigue. In TCM, this is a time to cool the body and clear damp heat through nourishing food, herbs, and lifestyle practices.

🌿 Self-Care Tips to Thrive During Mid-Dog Days "中伏"

1. Eat Cooling, Yin-Nourishing Foods

Focus on light, hydrating, and easy-to-digest foods that balance your internal fire and support fluid production.

Recommended Foods:

  • Mung bean soup (绿豆汤): Detoxifies, clears heat

  • Cucumber, bitter melon, and winter melon: Dispel heat and support digestion

  • Watermelon and Asian pear: Moistens lungs and hydrates

  • Lotus root and lily bulb: Nourish yin and calm the spirit

  • Herbal congee with chrysanthemum or goji berries: Strengthens qi without overtaxing the gut

Avoid greasy, spicy, or heavy meals, which can trap heat and create more dampness in the body.

2. Medicinal Mushrooms for Heat & Dampness

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, certain mushrooms are considered cooling, adaptogenic, and excellent at clearing internal heat and dampness. Here are a few standouts to include during the Dog Days:

🍄 Reishi (灵芝 / Língzhī)

  • Calms the heart and spirit

  • Helps with sleep and stress during hot, restless nights

  • Strengthens immune function without adding heat

🍄 Cordyceps (冬虫夏草 / Dōngchóng xiàcǎo)

  • Supports lung function and energy

  • Helps balance fatigue from heat and dampness

  • Improves oxygen uptake and endurance

🍄 Poria (茯苓 / Fú Líng)

  • Drains dampness

  • Strengthens the spleen and digestion

  • Calms the mind and supports water metabolism

🍄 Turkey Tail (云芝 / Yúnzhī)

  • Balances the immune system

  • Supports gut health

  • Known to reduce internal inflammation

You can enjoy these mushrooms as capsules, powders, or tea decoctions, or find blends that combine multiple varieties for optimal support. (We carry select mushroom products at Kota Botanics™ — stop in or shop online for curated picks.)

3. Stay Hydrated — the TCM Way

Replenish fluids while gently cooling the body with:

  • Chrysanthemum and honeysuckle tea

  • Mint, goji, and licorice infusions

  • Light barley or rice water with lemon

  • Coconut water with a pinch of sea salt

These not only hydrate but also help release internal dampness and support digestion.

The Brothers Apothecary CBD Tea | Mellow Mint (3-pack) image 0

4. CBD for Calm, Sleep, and Inflammation

CBD, when paired with heat-clearing herbs and mushrooms, can help regulate the body’s stress and immune responses — all of which tend to get aggravated in this intense phase of summer.

Benefits of CBD during Mid-Dog Days "中伏":

  • Reduces stress, anxiety, and restlessness

  • Improves quality of sleep, even in hot, sticky nights

  • Eases inflammation and body aches

  • Supports gut-brain balance, which is often disrupted in heat

At Kota Botanics™, our CBD oil tinctures and gummies are infused with botanicals that align with seasonal needs — calm, balance, and gentle detox. Try adding CBD to your nighttime wind-down or as part of your morning hydration ritual.

Kota Botanics ™ Delta 9 THC Gummies | Balance (50mg) image 0

5. Move Gently, Protect Your Qi

  • Practice morning tai chi or qigong to circulate energy before the day heats up

  • Avoid excessive sweating or midday workouts that can deplete fluids

  • Try acupressure, gua sha, or cupping to release trapped heat and tension

  • Take short afternoon rests to support heart and kidney function

6. Care for Skin, Too

Excess heat often shows up in the skin. Make sure you wear sunblock when going out and reduce the extreme exercise outdoor such as long distance running. Use cooling topical CBD balms or roll-ons to soothe any inflammation or irritations. Avoid heavy makeup or thick creams that trap heat.

✨ Final Thoughts: Align with the Season, Protect Your Vitality

The Dog Days, especially during 中伏, are not just about surviving the heat — they’re about listening to your body’s changing needs. By eating wisely, integrating cooling herbs and mushrooms, and supporting your system with natural remedies like CBD, you can maintain your calm and keep your inner fire from burning out.

Embrace stillness. Nourish the yin. And let nature guide your summer rhythm.

🛒 Ready to Feel Better in the Heat?

Explore Kota Botanics™ for:

  • CBD tinctures & gummies designed for seasonal support

  • Functional mushroom blends for heat, energy, and digestion

  • Herbal teas and plant-based self-care essentials

Stay grounded, cool, and balanced — even in the hottest days of the year.

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