Acupuncture and Conditions
5 Secrets to Winter Health and Energy
By Maoshing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D.
When the weather gets colder, it is a wise choice to take some time for yourself to restore your energy. Don't resist the urge to nestle into your snug home. It turns out that the law of nature requires you to slow down in the winter. Here are five secrets that will preserve your energy, bringing you health, and tranquility.
Winter: the sleep of nature
Nearly five millennia ago, the Yellow
Emperor's Classics of Medicine recognized the seasonal influences on health and illness.
According to Chinese medicine, the winter season is linked to kidneys, the adrenal glands,
and the bladder. When these bodily systems are out of balance, energy becomes depleted and
this can pave the way to illness. During the cold months of winter, people are more prone
to colds, flu, poor circulation, low vitality, and seasonal mood disorders.
To stay healthy, happy, and vital,
follow the wise winter advice of the Yellow Emperor:
Go to sleep early and wait to let
the sun bathe the house before rising from bed. Get your zzz's in -- at least 8 hours
of sleep every night. Try taking a 20- to 30-minute easy walk one hour before you go to bed
to improve the quality of your sleep...
Follow your bliss. Use the cold dark days
of winter to stay in and cuddle up with a book, or pick up a new indoor hobby,
like knitting, woodcarving, baking -- whatever appeals to you.
Beat the winter blues with light therapy.
Studies show that exposure to sunlight stimulates the pineal gland, which affects the
production of other brain chemicals such as serotonin, the neurotransmitter sometimes
called the "mood chemical." It can also boost your immune system, waking up the activities
of the natural killer cells that patrol our borders looking for intruders and cancer cells.
If weather permits, get outdoors daily and let the sun bathe you with its life-giving and
spirit-lifting properties. Even in the winter, avoid overexposure with sunscreen if out in
the sun between 10 am - 3 pm.
The three months of winter are when all
living things should return home and be conserved. Engage in activities that are in harmony
with the energies of winter.
Physical movement is essential for
circulating energy -- but avoid perspiring excessively. In Chinese medicine, the sweat is
seen as an escape of yang energy. Nurture your energy reserves by being active in a
moderate way. Walking is one moderate activity to keep your energy up. Or consider
practicing tai chi or qigong exercises, which are very effective in balancing energy.
Avoid energy-depleting activities.
Don't try to do too much in one day. Try making only one or two items a priority every day.
And be sure you give yourself some personal time, not just from other people, but also from
our modern amenities that claim ever more of our personal space, such as TV, computers,
and smart phones. Try this: pick one day a week to perform your own "system restore."
Turn off the TV. Don't watch the news. Limit your email time. These are the ways to
maintain your energy and lessen stress.
To keep your health and energy up in the
cold months of winter, the Yellow Emperor recommends avoiding cold and raw foods, reducing
salt to protect your kidneys, and increasing bitter flavors (like kale, for instance.)
So steer clear of raw vegetables, cold salads, and icy cold foods and beverages.
Instead your diet should follow nature's menu for the seasons.
In winter, you'll tend toward a warming
diet including leeks, onions, and turnips. Also, iron-rich foods can help warm you up:
try spinach, broccoli, dried plums, oats, quinoa, sunflower and sesame seeds, walnuts,
yams, squash, kale, garlic, scallions, and parsley. Hearty soups are good for you during
the winter months. Drink only warm or hot water.
Dress warmly, paying special attention
to your middle. In Chinese medicine, the abdomen is considered the storehouse of
the body's energy. Keeping your abdomen warm and protected from weather extremes
has immense immunity benefits. A good way to replenish your energy bank is to
regularly place a hot water bottle on your middle.
Drink warming tea to keep your vitality
fired up. Steep 1 teaspoon of any of the following in 1 cup of hot water: ginger, cinnamon,
and clove.
Chinese herbs can protect your energy
reserves and boost your immunity. Astragalus and ginseng are considered to be adaptogens
-- natural substances that improve the body's resistance to physical and environmental
stress, thereby enhancing the immune system. I hope this advice gives you the steps for
a healthy, happy winter!
The winter season is when nature sleeps, and everything experiences the slowing of natural
processes -- even our bodies. Humans stopped hibernating like their ancestral cousins
long ago, but our bodies still experience the natural inclination to slow down in winter.
The winter is a time to come back to quietness and rebuild your energy reserves.
1. Early to bed, rise when the sun is up
2. Be contented
3. Nurture energy storage
4. Eat for the season: no raw, cold foods
5. Avoid coldness and linger around warmth