Healthy Winters according to Chinese Medicine

Published on Sakara S LIFE MAG • January 15, 2015

Winter season affects the human body just as it does every other part of nature. Our organs function differently, and our bodies respond to the change in energy whether we acknowledge it or not.

Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that we are still able to thrive in this season if we know how to observe the natural changes and work with the different energy. Then it cannot work against us, and our internal environment finds harmony with the external. This is a core concept in the ancient philosophy of Taoism upon which TCM emerged from.

In TCM, winter is the season that rules the kidneys, and the element of water: it is a ‘yin’ season that rules the darker, colder, slower and more internal energy. So it’s the most important time to look after our kidneys, and make sure our bodies stay balanced and don't fall too deeply into a yin state. 

Kidney Energy is the root of our ‘essence’ according to TCM: our most basic and fundamental energy. It controls the immune system, bones, bone marrow, brain, body fluids, sexual energy and reproduction. From a biomedical.standpoint it also corresponds to the function of our adrenal glands. Our longevity and ability to delay the ageing process is greatly determined by how well we balance kidney energy.

Things like dehydration, mineral imbalance, and excessive behaviours weaken our kidney energy. We should be drinking more hot liquids, balancing salt and mineral intake, and balancing the quantities and types of foods we eat. It is also important to monitor adrenal load by addressing behaviours that contribute to chronic stress and energy taxation.

When things get too yin, we need to add back some yang. Yang energy is warming and stimulating, and foods that nourish our yang energy are essential to supporting kidney health in a season where kidney yang gets depleted. An excessively yin body is a cold body: the kind of environment that undesired microbes love. Research confirms that a higher body temperature can tremendously increase immunity, strengthen the endocrine system and boost the body’s basal metabolic rate.

So the perfect foods for this season nourish our kidney yin and yang: black beans, black mushrooms, black sesame seeds, blackberries, black tea (kidney energy corresponds to the colour black); walnuts, seeds, asparagus (bitter foods balance the kidneys); and some seaweed (moderate salt and mineral intake). Cut back on sugars (nature doesn’t grow many sweet fruits in this season for a reason), and excessively cooling foods like salads. Give your body what it really needs: warming, grounding, nourishing foods. It seems intuitive enough, right?

It is also important to look after our lower body specifically, as it is the yin part of our anatomy. Because warmth is important for health, it’s a great idea to incorporate hot foot soaks into your bedtime routine. Add some warming spices and essential oils like ginger for extra warmth and stimulation!

Finally, balancing kidney energy goes beyond the physical plane: it is essential that we balance our emotions too. The emotion of fear relates to the kidneys and a body holding too much fear can weaken the organs just us much as improper nutrition can. Living with adrenal burnout,  chronic stress and anxiety and unresolved emotions weighs heavy on the kidney essence. The introspective winter energy offers us an opportunity to slow down, reflect, meditate and tend to our more internal needs.  Your body wants you to slow down in winter, and when you let it, it will become stronger for you. A balanced body in tune with the natural environment is much more easily liberated from stagnant energy and imbalanced emotions.

So take extra care to balance stress levels, and make sure you are getting enough sleep: there’s a reason the days are shorter this time of year. Go to bed a little earlier, and also wake up a little later if you can – we give you full permission! 

There’s no need to expect colds, depression and boredom when winter hits: following natures changes and adapting a little is all it takes to maintain vibrancy and health this season.