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| | Staying
Healthy in Winter
Seasons change, and your body and mental outlook change with
them in predictable ways. Oriental medicine combines knowledge of seasonal
characteristics with your unique health situation, to balance your energy (chi)
and help you adapt and thrive during the cold months of winter.
Topics on this page:
The Water
Element
Every season is associated with one of the Five
Elements, and for Winter, the element is Water—the energetic
force that governs the health and functionality of your Kidneys
and Urinary Bladder.
According to Taoist 5 Element Theory, the Kidneys play a
key role in the health of the entire lower part of your body. This includes
balancing and processing fluids, as well as, strong joints, healthy sexual
function, and more.
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Try This ...
|
The
color for Winter is black or blue—generally anything in the dark
range. Experiment with how dark colors affect your mood and notice any
subtle effects on how you feel. See if you can sense what ancient
observers did when they included colors in their Five Element system.
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to Top
Protect
Yourself Against Cold
To avoid getting sick, keep your wrists, ankles, and
especially the back of your neck from being exposed to the cold. When you're
outside, be sensitive to how you feel and make sure your extremities don't get
too cold—especially your fingers and toes.
When your Kidneys are working well, the proper amount of heat is
generated in your body, and normal precautions like "bundling up" in
the winter will prevent cold from entering and getting trapped in your body.
When your Kidneys are out of balance, you'll notice a persistent feeling of cold
in your lower back and extremities. If this is the case, you need to strengthen
them. Otherwise you'll be more vulnerable to pathogens and illness.
|
Did You Know ...
|
Women living in cold
mountainous climates wrap woolen sashes around their waists—with
older women wearing more layers, and younger women fewer. Padding
around the waist maintains the warmth your Kidneys and internal organs
need to function healthily and supports your back when lifting heavy
objects.
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to Top
Taking
Care of Your
Kidneys
There are several ways to build and maintain the health of your
kidneys.
Chi Kung.
Take 30 seconds to a minute—a few times during the day—and briskly rub your
hands together to generate warmth in your palms. Then place your warm palms on
your lower back, and feel the warmth from your palms penetrate into your kidneys.
Then, gently massage your back. This simple exercise is an enjoyable way to invigorate
your kidneys.
Chinese
Herbs. Traditional Chinese herbal combinations provide an excellent way to strengthen
your kidneys.
Acupuncture
& Acupressure.
These time-tested methods for improving the flow of chi (health-maintaining
energy) in your body works to nurture your kidneys.
Diet
and Nutrition. This basic approach to health is a simple way to nourish
your kidneys.
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to Top
Winter
Food Tips
Ancient wisdom tells us that "for everything there is a
season ...". With this in mind, here are some diet and nutrition tips for
the Winter season:
-
Eat root vegetables like carrots, onions, potatoes,
beets, and (unsweetened) Winter squash. Miso soup is a nourishing Winter soup
that provides a healthy way to get the moderate amount of salt you need.
-
Eat foods that are high in calcium to strengthen your
kidneys. aduki beans would be a particularly good addition to your Winter diet. Black beans, black "woodear" mushrooms, and black
"cloudear" mushrooms will also add robustness to your Kidney
energy.
|
Did You Know ...
|
Vegetables are smart!
While the air is cold or freezing, Winter vegetables send their chi
(life force) down into their roots where it's protected
underground. Our ancestors were smart too, because they understood the
life-sustaining value of these roots ... and we should too.
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Winter
Health Tips
Here are some things to be aware of as you become more conscious
about how to stay healthy in Winter:
-
Moderate the amount of
salty food you eat.
-
Stay away from diuretic
foods, like celery.
-
Remember that caffeine is
particularly hard on the kidneys. (Consider drinking tea
or decaffeinated coffee.)
|
An In-Sight ... |
Notice if you find
yourself craving salty foods during the Winter. If you do, your
kidneys are probably weak and need some strengthening.
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to Top
Winter Remedies
During those time when your immunity is low, and you feel cold-
or flu-like symptoms, it's time to take preventive action by enjoying one of
these nourishing, natural home brews.
Scallion Broth. This simple broth will help you sweat
lightly, and is an excellent remedy for preventing and getting rid of colds:
-
Take one scallion, and chop it up.
-
Boil in water for 5 to 10 minutes. (Keep the lid on the pot
to prevent vapor from escaping.)
-
Flavor with tamari.
-
Sip it slowly, bundle up, then lie down, or go to sleep.
Ginger Tea. If scallion broth doesn't suit your culinary
fancy, try ginger tea:
-
Put a couple of slices of fresh ginger in one and one-half
cups of water.
-
Boil for 5 to 10 minutes. (Time it based on how strong you
like your ginger tea.)
-
Keep the lid on the pot to prevent vapor from escaping.
-
Add a little honey and lemon.
-
Sip it slowly, bundle up, then lie down, or go to sleep.
Scallion broth is the more effective of the two remedies, but if
for some reason it doesn't appeal to you, ginger tea is a good alternative
Get Help If You Need It
If you experience any kidney-related symptoms—lower back pain, earaches,
knee problems—or other symptoms that don't clear up quickly, call BIOM for an
appointment. It's best to alleviate your symptoms while addressing the root problem—before it
becomes more advanced.
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|
Call for a Free Phone
Consultation
(206) 842-6936
|
Find
out how Oriental Medicine can help you regain
and maintain your health.
|
BIOM Get-Away Packages
Get away for a day—or a weekend—to enjoy health and well-being at BIOM on
beautiful and relaxing Bainbridge Island. BIOM is a quiet, semi-secluded refuge
from the hustle and bustle of hectic schedules—just a relaxing 35-minute
ferry-ride from downtown Seattle.
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Related Topics
Oriental
Medicine at BIOM
Learn more about the basic concepts and components of Oriental
Medicine— an economical health care experience that yields results.
Five Element Diet
and Nutrition
Find out how Taoist Five Element Theory is used to combine and prepare the
food you and your family need to enjoy healthy, energetic lives.
Combining
Oriental and Western Medicine
See how Oriental Medicine practitioners and MDs can work together to provide you
with a total health care experience.
Experiencing
Oriental Medicine
Find out about the thorough, gentle, and effective health care you can receive
at BIOM.
The
Teahouse
More articles at The Teahouse.
The
Dojo
More articles at The Dojo.
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