Stay Healthy this Winter with Chinese Medicine

Winter is here! It's the season to sit by a fire and snuggle up with a warm drink. This is the time of year when the plants have retreated back into the earth to lie dormant until their spring rebirth. The energy of winter moves downwards and inwards.The trees and plants hardly look alive. They have gone back into the earth to rest and conserve energy for their resurgence in spring.

 According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), like in nature, this is a time of year for rest and contemplation. To remain healthy during the winter season, we should encourage our energy to move downward. It is a time for rest, reflection, conservation, and storage. We should take time for ourselves to relax and rest our bodies. It is a natural time to reduce activity, but we have to be careful not to overindulge this time of year or it can lead to weight gain. It is a good time to do gentle activities such as yoga and meditation. We want to work to conserve our energy because it is easily depleted this time of year.

 The kidney and bladder meridians relate to the season of winter and are susceptible to damage by cold. They influence the low back and knees, so it’s important to your body covered and warm. It is also important to get enough sleep in the winter to restore yourself physically and mentally. The days are shorter and we should make an effort to go to bed earlier than we did in the summer time.

 To nourish yourself, choose root vegetables, legumes, soups and cooked foods. Raw food is cold and can lead to imbalance this time of year. It is also good to add warming spices such as ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and cloves to your foods and drink. Most of all try not to stress after the holidays, just relax and enjoy time with family and friends. That will give you a good foundation for the year ahead.

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