a chinese winter

the ancient chinese believed that human beings should live in harmony with the natural cycles of their environment.  the cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow down.  this is the time of year to reflect on our health, replenish our energy, and conserve our strength.


winter is yin in nature; it is inactive, cold, and damp. remain introspective, restful, and consolidate your qi through the season and prepare for the outburst of new life and energy in the spring.


“The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and he will be witness to a long life.” - Huangdi Neijing Suwen


it is fascinating to learn about how different cultures view health, sickness, seasons, and all life systems.  this is what the chinese believe about winter...


winter is ruled by the water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands.  according to the philosophy of traditional chinese medicine, the kidneys are considered the source of all energy within the body.  they store all of the reserve qi in the body so that it can be used in times of stress and change, or to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully.  during the winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our kidney qi.  it is the time where this energy can be most easily depleted.  our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter — rest, reflection, conservation, and storage.


foods for winter.  winter is a time when many people tend to reduce their activity. if that’s true for you, it’s wise to reduce the amount of food you eat, too, to avoid gaining weight unnecessarily. avoid raw foods during the winter as much as possible, as these tend to cool the body. during winter you should emphasize warming foods such as soups and stews, root vegetables, beans, miso and seasweed, and garlic and ginger.  eating warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the body’s core and to keep us nourished.  


sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum quantity of energy.