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The Tao of Health
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Seasonal Health Tips
Kidney Health In Winter
Oriental Medicine helps your Kidney energy bloom in Winter
It’s Winter and according to Five Element Theory, the Water energy is at its lowest ebb.
Your Kidneys may be pretty pooped by now, leaving you feeling low in energy, and more susceptible to becoming cold. Overall, your immune system is a bit weaker due to the stresses it undergoes from warding-off illness. This is a time of year when more rest is needed to maintain normal energy levels.
Kidneys Are Most Vulnerable In Winter
Since the Kidneys are much more vulnerable right now, if they get too chilly, you’re more susceptible to injuries to the lower back, hips, legs and feet.
With the Water energy waning, the strength of the Kidneys and the parts of your body most dependent on them, can benefit from the support provided by:
Rebuild The Kidneys—Prepare The Liver
Acupuncture and Chinese medical herbs can help rebuild your strength.
The Water element energies of Winter will remain important until we get closer to the Vernal Equinox towards the end of March, when the Wood energy of Spring and the Liver will move to center stage. But, in these ecologically tumultuous times, it’s become evident that the Liver energy has already started to flow in, roiling the waters.
Seasonal changes are like changing tides: Where one tide has been high and begins to flow out (Water energy in Winter) the next season’s energy, or ‘tide,’ (Wood energy in Spring) is prematurely flowing in—causing unexpected pressures in your body and mind.
If you get too chilly, you’re more susceptible to injuries.
With the onset of Spring’s ‘Wood’ energy, pay attention to potential health issues affecting the Liver, gallbladder, eyes, and nerves. So if you find yourself unexpectedly irritable, or easily frustrated, this changing of the seasonal energy is a possible reason why.
Oriental Medicine Is Preventive Health Care
Remember to take advantage of preventative measures like acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herbs, Chi Kung exercises, and 5 Element diet and nutrition to prepare for the strong effects on your body and mind that Spring energy brings.
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Valentine’s Day: A Matter of the Heart (and Kidneys)
Happy Valentine’s Day! a celebration of the Heart — whose health depends on strong Kidneys. As Valentine’s Day inspires you to feel love in your heart, I encourage you to also focus for a minute or two on the level of energy (health) you’re feeling, or not feeling, in your Heart and Kidneys.
Tired Kidneys
Your Kidneys are probably pretty pooped by now, leaving you feeling low in energy. Look at the Five Element Cycle of Regulation illustration on this page and you’ll notice that the ‘Water’ element, embodied in your Kidneys, regulates the ‘Fire’ element, which is embodied in your Heart.
So if your Kidneys are low in energy they won’t be able to adequately support the Heart, and as a result, the Heart function can get a bit out of alignment.
So if your Kidneys are low in energy they won’t be able to adequately support the Heart, and as a result, the Heart function can get a bit out of alignment.
Heart Problems
If you’re already predisposed to Heart problems, you may be experiencing things like a little bit of extra pressure in the chest, or maybe some mild heart irregularities in the rhythm and beat, usually not to the extent of interfering with breathing; but for people who have compromised Heart energy, these symptoms may be more severe at this point in the winter.
Now is the time of year to start rebuilding the strength of your Kidneys.
Now is the time of year to start rebuilding the strength of your Kidneys.
Strengthening Kidneys and Heart
A ‘rule of thumb’ for good health is this: toward the middle and end of each season, focus on rebuilding the strength of the organ that is the focal point for that season. Right now, in Mid-Winter, it’s your Kidneys. And because each organ system has a companion organ that it regulates, (at mid-winter it’s your Heart), it’s a good idea to pay some attention to the companion organ too so that it will be in tune and ready to go when its season to perform comes—for the Heart, that’s summer).
How To Strengthen Your Organs
Acupuncture, Chinese Medical Herbs, Healthy Eating: The 5 Element Way and Chi Kung are simple, time-tested ways to balance the energy in the seasonally affected organs, and to build your overall level of energy so that you can enjoy that most wonderful, yet subtle, of feelings: Good Health!
Related Articles
What You Need to Know About Winter
Staying Healthy in Winter
Winter Photos
Food Remedies for Colds and Flu
During those times 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.
Learn more about preventing colds and flu.
Scallion Broth
This simple broth will help you sweat lightly, and is an excellent remedy for preventing and getting rid of colds:
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
Ginger Tea
If scallion broth doesn’t suit your culinary fancy, try ginger tea: