Tips for the Winter Season
Element of Winter: Water | Organs of Fall: Kidney & Bladder | Emotions: Fear, Courage, Wisdom, Inner-knowing |
Herbs for Fall: Cinnamon, Ginger, Garlic, Seaweeds, Ginseng | Foods: beans, walnuts, black sesame, beef, lamb, miso
The Winter season in East Asian medicine is the epitome of supreme yin (stillness, rest, quietude). It is the time of year when many outward activities cease and rather, we turn inward focusing on the inner cultivation of self. This quite literally shows up in some animals as hibernation, and while we humans may not have the luxury of an extended snooze, there are lessons to be learned from the rhythms of the natural world.
Water—the Element of Winter
The element of the season is water. Water is the resource that gives life to our planet, yet it can take on many different forms. It does not fight it’s way through the world, but instead molds to any form or container. This poetic description can teach us much about how we should operate during the winter/water season. Instead of muscling through and overextending ourselves, we should embody fluidity. Thinking and matching our actions to this concept can go a long way for physical and mental health.
The Organs—Kidney & Bladder
The organs associated with this time of year are the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder. In East Asian medicine, the Kidneys can be thought of as the root of the body or the wellspring of life. The Kidneys are the storehouse for our life force, and as such have a big tie to the genetic material and influence our family endows upon us. Throughout life we are continually called to pull from the reserves of the Kidneys and as such, it is very easy for them to get depleted. The Bladder is the organ that is able to tap into the reserves of the Kidney and utilize them. If the Kidneys are a well, then the Bladder is the bucket and rope, used to pull the water up.
During this time of year it is important to engage in activities that shore up and replenish these stores rather than drain them. This is a time to rest more, eat more nutritiously dense food, and work on cultivation of the self, so that the Kidneys won’t be drained too easily in the warmer, more yang months of the year. We can think of the world during this time as a seed in the soil: cold and hard on the exterior, but filled with potential for life on the inside. How can we cultivate and support this inner potential and zest for life?
With the emphasis on the Kidneys and Bladder, this is a time of year where we often see more issues with the back, knees, ankles, and feet (all these areas are governed by the Kd/BL). Compounded with the cold temperatures, everything gets a little stiffer and creakier. If these tend to be troublesome areas for you, winter is a great time of year to focus on self-care and injury prevention.
Because they are so anatomically related to the Kidneys, the adrenal glands should also be paid special attention to this time of year. If you are someone that tends to operate at a high level of stress and find yourself “on” much of the time, you’ll want to ensure you are paying attention to the adrenal glands. Burnout and fatigue are common manifestations of a compromised kidney/adrenal complex.
The Emotions of the Season
As with every season, there are also corresponding emotions and virtues. The emotion associated with Winter is fear. Now you may think, “fear doesn't sound like a very good thing to have more of, what’s that all about?!” It’s true fear can be stifling and all-consuming to our mental and emotional faculties, but it is important for our survival response. The virtue associated with fear during the Winter is wisdom and will-power. This wisdom is more an inner-knowing or instinctual sense. Wisdom and willpower lead us through the fog, even if we’re unsure of what lies ahead, but with most actions during this season we want to ensure that this momentum forward comes from a deep sense of security and inner-knowing, not sheer might or reckless abandon. Thus it is of utmost importance that we work on cultivating this deep-knowing during the winter, so that we might make it through the cold and dark to the warmer days of spring.
Here are some Tips for Living in Harmony with the Winter Season:
Slow it down. Yep, it’s ok. You may even think but 2020 has been so slow already, how can I possibly slow it down more?! You can, it’s been A LOT to process everything we’ve experienced this year. Take on less, delegate, create more space, even if it scares you. We need more stillness to keep strong in years to come.
Gentle movement. This might not be the best season to start HIIT workouts or Orange Theory if you’ve never done them before. Even if you do keep a pretty high intensity to workouts throughout the year, try and swap out 1 or 2 days a week for a gentle yin or restorative yoga practice. Our most intense activities should take place in the summer, and recovery should be during the winter.
Like fall, focus on warm foods. Swap the smoothie for warm oatmeal or rice porridge (congee), Eat more soup, warm beverages, and stew with warming herbs and spices.
It’s ok to sleep a little longer. Every week, I have someone in the clinic say “I’m so tired, but I feel like I haven’t been doing anything.” While this might be pathological if longstanding, it’s totally normal to feel a little more sleepy this time of year, and let’s be real, 2020 has been A LOT. We should match our level of rest with the sun, go to bed earlier, sleep a bit later. Your body will thank you.
If you’ve been on the fence, now is the great time to start a meditation/mindfulness/qigong/or other spiritual practice. When we talk about this “inner knowing.” This is something that takes time to generate, especially if we live with trauma, anxiety, or health challenges. Taking a few minutes each day to quiet the mind and observe your thoughts will allow for reflection & a sense of calm.
Take care of your mental health. Things like Seasonal Affective Disorder, depression, and anxiety seem to hit harder, especially here in the Northern Hemisphere. Make sure you’re doing things that bring you into a better headspace: movement, therapy, acupuncture, social time, etc.
Self massage on the Kidney and BL channel. Gently work from the feet upwards making gentle circular motions with the thumbs or fingers, stopping at any especially tender areas. You can also tap over these areas with a loose fist for a quick tune up. (See channels below)
Sources:
Nourishing Destiny by Lonny Jarrett
A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman
Weave Wellness Fall Recipe-Savory Squash Crumble
Traditional Chinese Nutritional Theory is about using the energetics of food and the season to bring the body into harmony. Casey & I created this Fall inspired recipe utilizing ingredients that are appropriate for the season. We hope you enjoy our Savory Squash Crumble—it is gluten free and vegetarian.