By Cassandra Rose, L.Ac. – Licensed Acupuncturist
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) there are 5 seasons: winter, spring, summer, late summer and Fall. Each have their own energies, organs and patterns. Many of the theories in TCM grew out of observing the natural patterns and our relationship to those patterns. Winter is the season of turning inwards and building our stores of energy. It is a time for reflection and introspection. Using the tools that TCM teaches us we can create more harmony between our bodies and the natural world.
Associations
Winter relates to the TCM Kidney system. The Kidney is the deepest reserve of energy in the whole body. It is the spark that creates life. It governs bones, bone marrow and water metabolism. It stores our vital essence, governs growth and development, houses our will power, carries the constitution inherited from our ancestors that we will pass to the next generation and more. It is associated with the flavor of salt, the colors black and deep blue, the northern direction, the emotion of fear, cold temperatures and the hours of 5pm to 7pm.
Body
In a practical sense this means nourishing and protecting your Kidney energy determines how you grow and age with grace. To physically protect the Kidney it is important to keep your low back, feet and the back of your neck warm. It is also important to stay hydrated. After all it is the time of water. Warm salt water foot soaks in the evening, especially during the Kidney time, are recommended. Traditionally a moderate amount of alcohol is recommended in the evening as well. A glass of wine or a small amount of liquor in hot water will warm the blood and keep it flowing smoothly. There are wonderful herbs you can add to wine or liquor to help you weather the Winter. One particularly helpful herb that is traditional in wines and liquor this time of year is Ci Wu Jia. In English it is called Eleuthro or Siberian Ginseng. This protects the joints from the pain and stagnation cold can bring. As with all things balance is the key. A small amount of alcohol can be medicinal for the body but too much creates Heart fire and damages the organs.
Food
Warming, nourishing and gentle celebration are the themes of this season. It is no coincidence that the winter holidays are about coming together in cozy celebrations and connecting with loved ones. Focus on foods that are cooked for longer at lower temperatures, as well as, soups, stews and bone broths. Salt is the flavor of winter, but like most things, we need to follow the healthy middle path. A small healthy amount of salt in your winter foods in plenty to bring the positive effects of this mineral. Foods that are particularly supportive of the Kidney energy are lamb, chicken, dark leafy greens, whole grains, black sesame seeds, walnuts, kidney beans, black beans, micro-algae, seaweeds and most black foods. It should be noted that cold and raw foods will damage the digestion at this time of year.
Exercise
The winter is the most Yin time of the year. When the elements are at the most extreme end of their natural swing they are slightly out balance. This means the the Yang energy is slightly weak and it easily escapes the body at this time. This usually happens through sweat and the open pores. That is why this time of year gentle rhythmic movements such as walking, yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong are recommended. It is very important to move the body to prevent stagnation and irritability but sweaty workouts in winter can be hard on the body and use our resources that we need to age well.
Meditation
Winter is wonderful time to explore deeper issues and reflect on who we are and have been in life. This process may naturally bring up energy or patterns that have been stuck because the winter allows for deep introspection. Winter is a powerful time to combine acupuncture with conscious pattern building in our lives to make shifts and move past fear. If this process of working with fear to create lasting positive change brings up trauma it is important to seek out the support you need from a mental health professional. This can, in fact, be a good time of year to begin many kinds of therapies.
Symptoms
There are a number of symptoms associated with the water element being out of balance: low back pain, knee pain, urinary problems, fatigue, shortness of breath, vertigo, dizziness, libido disorders, anxiety, fear, high blood pressure and inflexible resistance to change. These are common in modern life because we often cannot take the time to hibernate like a bear and revel in the winter or we risk our careers and ways of life. While we cannot always live the pastoral ideal we can incorporate many of these ideas into our modern realities. Small changes over time can make a profound shifts in our health and wellbeing.
Big Picture
Stay warm, hydrated and nourished. Slow down and give yourself space to dive deep into the stillness of the season when you can.
Cassandra Rose, L.Ac. is a board certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in Minnesota and California. She earned a Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco and completed a clinical internship at the Zhejiang TCM Hospitals of Hangzhou, China. Cassandra had the privileged of interning with Dr. Erlene Chiang DAOM, one of the foremost Chinese medicine oncologists in the country. Currently she is a DAOM candidate with a focus in gynecology and pain management
Her passion is to creating accessibility around acupuncture. She has given more than 10,000 acupuncture treatments since obtaining her license in 2015. As a practitioner she has helped folks with stress, digestion, oncology side effects, fertility, reproductive health, immune support, the common cold, pain management and more.
She can be reached at roselac.com, (612)564-8714 or cassandra@bhakticlinic.com.