As Autumn gives way to Winter’s chilly darkness, we should feel an urge to slow down. Winter is a time of reflection and introspection, a time to rest and conserve your Qi, rebuilding our strength for Spring’s rapid burst of new life.
Classically, the Chinese (and other cultures) believed that we should live in harmony with the seasons. This was out of necessity in ages where life was dominated by the elements—simply catching a cold could be life threatening. Today, those of us living in the industrialized world suffer little from the extremes of nature yet learning to harmonize with each season can make a huge impact on our health and well being.
The Five Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) carefully observed the natural phenomenon and flow of the seasons. Each season was assigned an element, organ system, quality, sound, taste and emotion (to name a few categories). These correlations became guidelines for everything from when to go to war to identifying disease patterns in the physical body.
Winter is ruled by the Water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. In TCM, the kidneys are the source of Qi and store all energy or “Qi” within the body. These storehouses of Qi are dipped into to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully. If we lead lifestyles that overly deplete the stores, the body depletes and withers.
During the winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our kidney Qi. It is the time when this energy can be most easily depleted. Our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter – rest, reflection, conservation and storage.
Many of us find ourselves increasingly busy during winter. Holidays and parties can be stressful; many people battle with depression during the colder months. The current economic situation plays a role, as many people fear for their savings and reserves—a characteristic of the water element.
Below are a few simple tips to help you embrace the winter season. By recognizing the potential value within each seasonal element we can move through our lives with greater ease.
- Nourish yourself — eating warm hearty soups, root vegetables, winter squash, whole grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the body’s core.
- Rest appropriately — sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum quantity of energy.
- Get moderate exercise — movement helps lift the spirits. Keep with the energy of the season. If you don’t exercise much, bundle up and go for a walk. If you exercise excessively, slow down a little to conserve your Qi.
- Brighten your space — whether or not you celebrate the holidays, refresh your home or workspace with cheerful colors or seasonal décor. Hollies bright berries, pine’s uplifting scent and a few splashes of red can add warmth to your space.
Don’t forget to join us.
For Harmonizing with the Seasons: Embracing Winter.
December 3rd, 7-8:30, Boise Public Library!
We had great fun with Harmonizing with the Seasons; Embracing Winter at the Library. We are scheduling to offer more of the free information classes for the upcoming seasons….
Oh..yes. There are 5 seasons in Chinese Medicine. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Late Summer(or the transition of all seasons).