You, Your Kidneys and Winter
Chinese medicine does a beautiful job of bringing awareness to how we live and interact with our environment. The environment we live in influences us, is us and we depend on it. By looking at the seasons and the organs of the season we can learn to live in greater harmony with the world around us. Sleep, movement, rest and diet can all be tailored to our own constitution and to the season we are in.
Each season in Chinese medicine correlates to a specific organ pair. The organs most energized in winter are the kidneys and bladder. Kidney and bladder energetic systems influence numerous areas of the body. Those areas include the ears, bones, teeth, spinal cord, brain, marrow, respiration, lower back, water metabolism and hair. The predominant emotion of the kidneys is fear and the balance to fear is wisdom.
Factors which can influence the energy of the kidneys are prolonged stress, inadequate hydration, a diet excess or deficient in salt and life situations/job environments with intense emotions or fear. Signs that you may be experiencing low kidney energy can include concerns in any of the areas mentioned above as well as low back ache, hypothyroidism, posterior neck pain, asthma, osteoarthritis, anxiety, urinary concerns, lack of motivation, depression and seasonal affective disorder.
So, let’s reflect. Do your kidneys need a little nourishment? Is there an imbalance in the body that needs more support? Below is a list of ways your lifestyle can support the seasonal flow in your body and create greater alignment with this wonderful planet we live on.
Movement of qi (body energy) and blood are integral for long lasting health. Winter is a great time for gentler exercise and reflective practices. Yin or restorative yoga, snowy winter walks and meditation are some great options. Blend these types of movement into the winter activities of skiing, snowboarding, skating and snowshoeing to bring harmony with the season. Also remember to just play! Enjoy the snow and make any activity joyful!
Rest as a balance to busy lifestyles and to movement is key. We can take our cue from the wildlife around us and find time to settle in for a little winter hibernation. Nap if you feel you need to. Sit and do nothing without the distraction of devices. Make a cozy mug of tea and just sit and drink it with no other multitasking. Aim to sleep earlier, 9pm to 10 pm. If your schedule allows sleep a little bit later. Leave the early mornings to the summer when the sun is up bright and early. The more we rest now the better supported the body will be in the upcoming seasons.
Winter is a great time to reflect on boundaries. How and why are you using your resources. Over committing, being afraid to say no and not honoring what your body needs can be tasking on the kidney system. Allowing space for rest, reflection is integral for long lasting kidney health.
Fear was mentioned as the predominant emotion of the kidneys. This can manifest in many ways. Restless energy, nervous anxiety, a go go go mentality thinking there is always energy to burn, trouble making decisions, giving up believing you have no control over your fate or a fear of death. One question you can ask yourself is what is motivating my decisions? Am I coming from a place of fear?
Cooking in winter is very different than the yang heat of summer. To align with winter energetics focus on cooked foods with long cook times at low temperatures such as soups, stews, baking and casseroles. Quick cooking such as steaming or stir frying can deplete energy. Add in salty and bitter foods as these foods bring energy downward in the body building our energetic stores for the busier seasons. Great foods to add in are; miso, black beans, black sesame seeds, black chia seeds, blackberries, bone broth, rye, quinoa, amaranth, millet, soy sauce, citrus peels, potatoes, roasted nuts, chicken, lamb, fennel, winter greens, carrots, mushrooms, turnips, ginger, garlic and root veggies. Did you notice that a lot of the foods for the kidneys are black? This is because according to Chinese medicine theory certain colors correlate to certain organs, black foods relate to the kidneys!
Last but not least, acupuncture! Acupuncture is a beautiful restful way to support the body. There are points that can help balance the kidney energetic system and through detailed intake we can pinpoint exactly which area of the kidneys we need to focus on, the yin, yang or qi. Points can help release fear and bring greater awareness to how the emotional, spiritual and energetic kidney system is doing while also treating the physical concerns that arise due to a kidney imbalance. Acupuncture allows your body to find its rhythm again so that you can thrive bringing all your magic into the world.
