Winter has officially arrived in WNC! Water is the Element in Chinese Medicine that governs Winter, so we are now deep in the time of Water.
The energetics and physiology of the Kidney and Urinary Bladder (UB) meridians are under the direct influence of the Water element. In TCM, all the bodily systems rely on the Kidney for Qi, for the energy to function. It also maintains a balance between the Yin and Yang energies in the body, and within each organ system. Yin is associated with what is dark, still, cold, feminine and is inward. Yang is associated with what is more outward, hot, bright, moving and masculine. If the Kidney has become deficient in Yin energy, this will affect the Yin aspect of other organs. (In this case, some organ systems may seem unable to ‘switch off’ or find the balance between functioning and being overactive). Similarly, if the Kidney is deficient in Yang energy, this will affect the Yang aspect of other organs. (Some organ systems will then seem sluggish, unable to find the energy to function properly). The Kidneys also store the life force energy known as Jing, which declines as we get older. Jing can be described as one’s Essence, which is inherited from our parents. Your Jing contains your genetic expression, and contributes to the genetic expression of your children. The Kidneys control reproduction, growth, and development and are closely linked to the bones and marrow.
The Kidney is typically the root of many imbalances and is traditionally considered sensitive to cold, so now that we have finally settled into more traditional Winter weather here in WNC, there are some important things to keep in mind with the temperatures being consistently colder.
It is important to avoid letting your lower back get cold. Using a hot water bottle or heating pad to the area over the Kidneys & low back is a nice way to bolster the Water element and help to keep the Kidneys and the UB functioning optimally. It is also important to keep your neck covered (the UB channel traverses the neck, which is also the area of the body where all the yang channels converge), so find a cozy scarf to keep handy.
Other ways to directly influence heat into these channels are to: take a hot water Epsom salt bath (salt is considered beneficial to the Kidneys in Traditional Chinese Medicine), head out to Hot Springs Spa for a soak (the only natural hot springs in the area- they have a nice mineral content!), do a hot water Epsom salt or herbal foot soak (the Kidney channels starts at the bottom of each foot, this is a fast way to drive heat into and up the channel), or indirect moxabustion therapy (application of mugwort that is smoldering above the channels, near to the skin- ONLY do this if you have been properly instructed to by one of our practitioners!) to the bottom of the feet or the low back. There are a few great herbal formulas that can help keep the yang fired up, as well as some single herb medicinals that you can incorporate into your day. One tasty herb that you can use in tea or for cooking is cinnamon!
Other ways to strengthen & nourish the Kidneys are to stay hydrated, include a small amount of high-quality salt into your diet, and eat blue-black foods (the color of the Water element) such as black sesame seeds, black beans, wood ear mushrooms, plums and seaweed. Other non-blue-black foods that are also good for the Kidneys are walnuts, figs, raisins, brown rice (and other whole grains), plus hearty broths (particularly bone broth, which you can purchase through EAWB), soups, and other crockpot, slow cooker, and instant pot recipes. For a great Winter congee (traditional Chinese rice porridge) check out our January newsletter.
You can also schedule an appointment for acupuncture to get a treatment to help fortify your Water element!
Stay Warm & Be Well.
