Surviving the Summer Solstice in a Fiery Year

Keep your cool with this medicinal soup recipe to nourish yin

— contributed by Virginia Schuler, L.Ac

Back on February 17th, we welcomed a new Chinese zodiac year: The Year of the Fire Horse. Now, at the end of June, we’ve hit the boiling point for 2026.

This year’s summer solstice, a time when yang reaches its zenith, arises during a double-yang year. What does that mean? Yang (the opposite of yin) represents the lifeforce that begets action. It’s hot, bright, and sparkly. Summertime is yang; wintertime is yin. Fire is the most yang-type element and the symbol of the horse also encapsulates yang energy. So, this summer solstice may feel even fizzier than usual.  

Summer of 2026’s triple-yang energy could spice up your life in the best way, but remember to honor your inner yin.

Recently in the clinic, I’ve seen an uptick in “hot” and “dry” pathologies. Many patients have presented with insomnia, night sweats, dry eyes, dry cough, and excessive thirst. When it comes to musculoskeletal pain, I’ve also noticed a prevalence of dehydrated fascia, even in patients who drink lots of water. All of these symptoms highlight the fact that it’s time to nourish yin: to cool down, replenish fluids, and preserve elasticity.

However, “cooling down and replenishing fluids” doesn’t mean you should drink a glass of iced water. Supporting yin requires a balanced approach to not extinguish your digestive fire and create dampness. From a Chinese medicine perspective, consuming cold foods and drinks is almost never a good idea. Instead, opt for cool, supple nutrition. 

In search of a dish with medicinal-level powers to nourish yin, I turned to the pages of Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford. This iconic food guide shares how to make a summer soup that can nourish yin and diversify the gut microbiome with creative plant ingredients:

Jade green soup

(serves 3-4)


½ cup tofu

2 cups leafy greens, chopped

¼ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon olive oil

3 cups broth

½ tablespoon kudzu dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

• Sauté or steam the tofu for 5 minutes; add salt.

• Add greens and sauté for 2 minutes.

• Add broth and simmer until greens are brightly colored.

• Add kudzu mixture and simmer until thickened. 

Enjoy with a bit of warm (not cold) water or tea!

Food & Lifestyle as Medicine

You may have noticed that that soup recipe calls for kudzu, the vine that smothers entire forests here in North Carolina. But when kudzu isn’t killing trees, it functions as a Chinese herb (known as ge gen) that improves water metabolism to alleviate thirst, clears rashes, stops diarrhea, and cools inflammatory muscle pain. The jade green soup also contains tofu, which clears internal heat and lubricates dryness; sea salt for electrolytes; nutrient-dense broth; and leafy greens. According to Chinese medicine, green foods help soothe liver qi. From a Western perspective, many green foods promote the production of glutathione, an antioxidant that supports liver health. 

Some other yin-protecting foods/herbs to incorporate this summer include:

• Watermelon (You can cook with just the rind to avoid excess sugar intake.)

• Cucumber

• Mung beans

• Millet

• Seaweed

• Peppermint

• Chrysanthemum (also great as a compress if you have red, swollen eyes)

• Dandelion

Eating with seasonal wisdom in mind is one of the best forms of preventive medicine, as are small lifestyle adjustments. For example, you can enjoy the summer while preserving yin by gardening in the shade and contacting the soil (aka “grounding”). Yin yoga and acupuncture also work wonders to reduce inflammation and calm the nervous system as temperatures rise outside. 

To conceptualize the interplay of yin-and-yang regarding bodily processes, Chinese medicine uses the metaphor of a candle. The flame represents yang-type activities, while the wax represents the yin substance that feeds and contains the flame. By honoring yin, your inner flame will have the capacity to reach new heights during this triple-yang summer. 

Here’s to burning brightly without burning out in the Year of the Fire Horse!