Glean the Most From the Gifts of Winter

With all of the holidays this month, it’s no surprise that winter bears many gifts. Most faiths exchange kind offerings to one another with the hopes of bringing more light into a sometimes, darkened world. Winter similarly follows suit. It is a dark season—we lose sunshine and length of day, and yet, there are gifts of “light” to be discovered within it.

If we probe winter through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we find it linked to the water element. The energy of water governs the kidneys and bladder, and generally, the lower body including joints and reproductive organs. Kidney Qi or “chi” is particularly important in Chinese medicine because all organs in the body rely on the kidneys for proper growth. Fluids are also regulated and balanced by these twin organs. Receiving the presents winter has to offer has much to do with understanding and then nurturing the kidneys. By doing so, we’ll grow stronger with this cold season, rather than being weakened by it.

Healthy kidneys allow the body to generate heat, and in winter, this is especially important. If you tend to be chilled easily, with cold limbs and lower back pain, there’s a good chance your kidneys may need some extra help. Earaches and knee pain may also indicate weakness. Connections to immunity are dependent upon the body’s ability to lubricate, repair and protect itself. If the water element is weakened or out of balance, there can be “dark” consequences. Poor kidney function can occur due to excess cold or excess heat. Let’s look at symptoms of both:

Yang energy deficiency due to excess cold: cold lower back and legs, incontinence, decreased mental or physical movement, fluid retention in limbs and midsection, frequent urination, and stiff joints—especially the knees.

Yin energy deficiency due to excess heat: dry skin, ringing in the ears, water retention, night sweats, insomnia, emotional fright, constipation, restlessness, anxiety, agitation, red face, weak bones, chronic fever, sore throat, dry mouth, memory loss, sweaty palms and feet or chest, slow wound healing, rashes or bumps on the skin, hair loss, weakened eyes, extreme libido levels, dark urine, pre-mature ejaculation, hot flashes and lower back pain.

Psychologically, the emotion linked to the kidneys is fear. The water element and winter season is associated with the color black, or blue, and relates to a person’s will. This would also bridge to the second chakra, which represents emotional identity and self-gratification. Ideally, balance here aids intimate connections by highlighting feeling and sensation, desire, as well as an ability to move gracefully with life’s changes, much like a winding stream or river.

Taking this into account, we can conclude that winter is a time for comfort foods—at least for the kidneys and bladder. Although it would be fun to say all things decadent are prescribed here, I won’t. (Well, I could say that to Becca Whited; she’d rig up some healthy infused version!) The best foods for winter are root vegetables. We’re talking carrots, parsnips, garlic, onions, squash, potatoes and beets. Adzuki beans are especially good for the kidneys and black beans nourish the sexual organs, helping to balance out irregular menstruation, barrenness, or slack libido. Asparagus is another known kidney builder.

This time of the year you may notice an increased want for salt. This craving is a clue to pay attention to your kidneys and may be a sign of a weakened state. Consider:

Chinese herbal remedies: Nature’s Sunshine has powerful formulas for virile kidneys—KBC, Kidney Activator and Mineral Chi Tonic. There are also “western” remedies like Kidney Drainage, Cranberry Buchu, Uva Ursi, and Juniper Berries that target the bladder as well.

Rub your hands briskly together (to generate warmth) and place them on your lower back, where the kidneys reside. Or, place the back of your fists in the same place and briskly (and gently) rub the area up and down for about a minute. This stimulates acupressure points that enhance immunity.

Keep these winter herbs on hand: Ginger, for increasing circulation and warming the body; Elderberry for upper respiratory congestion and infections; Yarrow for increased blood flow, oxygen and warmth to tissue surfaces of skin and mucus membranes; Sage for sore throats; Mullein for lung congestion and soothing mucus membranes; Astragalus to rebuild immunity, restore energy and buffer stress; Fenugreek and Thyme for respiratory infections, sore throats, or coughs; Marshmallow to stimulate immunity; Echinacea to attack bacterial, viral, and fungal infections; and Garlic, to kill everything everywhere! I read that the blood of garlic eaters kills bacteria and even the vapor from freshly cut cloves annihilates bacteria up to 20 centimeters away.