Winter Recommendations for the Season
Winter is Coming/The Yin Times
The cool autumn breeze is noticeably becoming a sharper chill these days. The early morning dew is now a light frost, and the air is considerably colder as the sun begins to descend towards the horizon around 3pm. Winter is coming. In Chinese Medicine this is the most “Yin” time of the year. Cold temperatures, long dark nights, and a quiet stillness in the air.
As the fall symbolizes a “letting go,” winter brings a time of rest and consolidation. Time to slow down and look inward. This is a time to conserve and nourish.
The seasonal element is Water and the representative organs are the Bladder and Kidneys. Symptoms that may arise when Water is imbalanced can show up as: low back and/or knee pain, poor circulation, fatigue, urinary issues, low libido, problems with memory, menstrual pain and emotions rooted in fear (fearful anxiety or phobias).
With Winter comes cold. Cold contracts, it slows things down. Bears hibernate, plants and seeds lie dormant. Getting ready to sprout in the spring. To live in harmony with the seasons is to somewhat mimic what nature is doing. Of course, in these modern times, none of us are able to stay home and sleep for three months; but here are five things that we can do, to maintain our mental and physical health:
1. Rest. Rest. Rest…
If you don’t have a sleep schedule, this may be a good time to start one. It gets dark early; the body is already being signaled to start slowing down and preparing for sleep. Use the opportunity of early sunsets to begin a wind down routine in preparation for a good night sleep. Take an evening bath with Epsom salts, enjoy a cup of herbal tea, refrain from screen use an hour before bed. Replace that phone with a good book, nothing too stimulating though.
2. Stay Warm.
In the fall, we recommend wearing a scarf to keep your neck protected from the wind. As winter approaches. Be sure to wear layers to keep your internal body temperature warm. Cold Bladder and Kidneys can exacerbate low back pain, menstrual cramps and can affect urinary frequency.
3. Eat warm nourishing foods.
“Start warm, stay warm” Start your day with warmth. Before the morning cup of coffee drink a cup of hot water to wake up your metabolism for the day. Foods like oatmeal, congee or toast are great seasonal choices for your first meal of the day. Keeping your insides warm, allows the digestive system to do its job of transforming food and transporting nutrients throughout the body.
Nourishing soups and stews are perfect wintertime meals. Black bean stew, Kale and bean soups are a couple of suggestions. Eat leafy greens, seaweed, and warm grains such as millet and barley. Keep walnuts on hand for a protein packed snack.
4. Slow Down.
The intention of winter is to conserve our energy in preparation for the growth spurt that comes with Spring. Turn down the dial on the exercise routine. Switch the run to a brisk walk, incorporate slower exercises such as yin yoga and Tai Chi. Keep the sweat to a minimum; open pores in the cold make the body vulnerable to opportunistic pathogens. Wear a scarf and hat to maintain your body’s natural heat.
5. Take time for yourself.
You’ve spent three of four seasons, expending your resources. Now is the time to replenish that energy by looking inwards and focusing on self. Schedule at least 15 minutes of quiet alone time. Use this block to reflect on the day, meditate, journal, or simply focus on slow deep breaths. Feel free to incrementally increase Quiet-Time by up to 5 minutes each week. 30 minutes is a good time to aim for, 60 minutes is ideal.
Of course, we are also here for you. Weekly acupuncture and herbal therapy are excellent methods to support you through the season.