Winter and Chinese Medicine
Winter is a challenging season for many with the darkness and cold contributing to feelings of depression, seasonal affective disorder and increased feelings of loneliness. This year the pandemic and social isolation are certainly adding to the challenges. However, looking deeper at the meaning of winter in Chinese Medicine may offer some insight on how to support your body and your spirit during the next few months.
Yin and Water
Winter is the deepest point of yin in Chinese Medicine. Yin energy is associated with darkness, cold, stillness and quiet. This is reflected in nature with shorter days, grayer skies and colder temps. If you are someone who gets outside in winter, you know that a forest full of fresh snow is beautifully quiet and still; a huge contrast from the buzz of insects and bird sounds in summertime. It is a time where a plant’s energy is stored in the roots and in seeds- concentrating and conserving the life force into the innermost regions.
Just like nature, humans are best suited to quiet rest in winter. It is a time when our qi is most active deep inside, and can easily be exhausted by overwork, activity, stress or staying up late. Winter can be a deeply nourishing time when we support our internal qi by pursuing meditation, reflection and visioning. The deep nature of the season and the yin energy can make it easier to connect to our own depths, and can offer insights on emotions, relationships and life goals that may not have been accessible at other times.
The element associated with winter is Water and the organ system is the Kidneys. Water should be able to flow easily and is one of the most fundamental substances for life. Water is the element that stores our energy reserves, making rest even more crucial during winter. A healthy Water element and Kidney organ system is associated with inner strength, courage and will.
How to support your water element in winter
1) Activity- as stated above, one of the most important, and often most difficult things for many of us, is to not overextend ourselves physically, emotionally or mentally during winter. This means practicing awareness and checking in with yourself before making social or other commitments. It’s about finding balance- doing the things you really love but listening to your body when you need a break. Can something be taken off your plate or postponed to another time? In the west we are taught to feel like we always need to be doing or accomplishing something and winter is the time to let some of that go. Go to bed earlier and sleep later. Accept that it’s OK to be more still. If you want to take on something new, look into yoga, meditation, qi gong, journaling, or other practices that help to create inner awakening and harmony.
2) Food- focus on warmth in the form of soups, stews and warming spices like cinnamon and ginger. Avoid raw and cold foods- save those for spring and summer. Nuts, seeds, fish, seaweed, and root vegetables are very nourishing in the winter months. Try making a bone broth and sipping a cup or two during the day, the added minerals and nutrients will feel deeply warming and are a great support to the Kidneys. Trade out table salt for better quality Himalayan salt or Real Salt with better mineral quality. Holy Basil tea which is a great adaptogenic herb to support the stress response and your Kidneys can be another good addition. Consider seeing an herbalist for a more individual prescription if you feel you need more support.
If you find yourself fighting feelings of depression during winter, try to be still and listen deeply inside yourself- you will find what you are looking for there. Call a friend for connection or bundle up and take a quiet walk in the woods. Spend more time paying attention to the natural world around you but also to your inner self which remains strong and bright despite the cold outside. By using some of the practices above, we can hold on to the light and sun within us to feel more balanced throughout this season. In doing so we can hopefully achieve that grounded, strong quality of Water as the seasonal energy moves up and out in the coming months.