By Jessica Carlton, LAc “Jae”

Moving Through the Season of Winter

The transformation of Yin and Yang throughout the four seasons, is the foundation of both life and of death in our natural world. Ancient sages believed that if you respected and naturally flowed with the correct nature of these seasons, it was possible to remain free from illness. Our culture, our industry and pace of life doesn't allow for this, and so imbalance occurs and sickness and decline result. We see this both in nature and reflected within ourselves. It is possible though, with knowledge, intention and care for the natural world and for own health and wellness, for us to make a conscious effort to prevent this imbalance from occurring, by stepping into flow with the natural energetics of the season, as well as allowing room for our own natural rhythm and flow to unfold.

There is a reason Winter is associated with Water… "flow" should be naturally available to us during this time, if we are aligned to both receive and to allow.

Winter often conceals itself behind the guise of death. In nature though, while life seems to whither and dwindle away as Winter returns and nestles in, it's really only just hiding…

Winter should be a time for rest. A time to retreat, to move slowly, to contract, and to consolidate. It's a time to conserve your energy and preserve your resources. A time to nourish. A time to turn within… to tune in and cultivate an inner stillness, and to tend to this inner world like it's something precious. Because well… it is.

Winter Associations

Location: Low Back/ Hips/ Limbs

Spirit: Zhi/ Will

Element: Water

Planet: Chen/ Mercury

Color: Black

Flavor: Salty

Smell: Rotten

Animal: Pig

Numerology: 1+5=6

Cereal/Grain: Bean

Musical Note: Yu/ Stringed

Direction: North

Season: Winter

Weather: Cold

Yin Organ: Kidneys

Yang Organ: Bladder

Orifice: Anus/Urethra

Body Part: Bones/Marrow

Sound: Moaning/ Groaning

Emotion: Fear

Pathological Actions: Shivering

Cold is the Predominant Qi of Winter

In Chinese medicine theory, Winter is associated with the direction of the North and the predominant weather pattern of Cold. Cold patterns result from either a deficiency of the body's Yang (Yang Deficiency, Deficiency Cold) or from the invasion, or contraction, of pathogenic Cold (Yin-Excess; Excess Cold).

In Chinese medicine pattern differentiation, Cold patterns, tend to manifest symptomatically as an:

Aversion to cold and preference for warmth
Chills
Little to no thirst or preference for warm drinks
Pallor or pale white complexion
Cold Limbs
Lying with the body curled up
Contraction
Stagnation
Pain
Restricted movement
Impaired circulation
Lethargy, desire to lie still
Loose Stool
Clear Urine with increased volume
Pale Tongue with moist, and potentially thick white coat
Slow or tight pulse.

It is crucial during the Winter months that we seek out the warmth, to prevent the imbalance of Cold, either from Excess, by the invasion of pathogenic cold, or from Deficiency.

Pathogenic cold is the predominant Qi of Winter, but can really occur in any season. Some things that could make you susceptible to pathogenic Cold are minimal or thin clothing, exposing your neck and upper back or low back and abdomen, not wearing gloves or socks, exposure to cold after sweating, being caught in the rain, wading in water in the winter, or wearing damp clothes in cold weather. In general, deficiencies will arise from aging, excessive or traumatic childbirth, major illness, chronic illness, improper or inadequate medical treatment, improper diet leading to malnourishment, stress, overwork and excessive sexual activity.

Winter Belongs to the Kidney & Bladder Organ Networks

In Chinese medicine, Winter is associated with the Kidney and Bladder Organ networks. Each of these organs has an Physical, Mental/Emotional, and Spiritual component, as well as a time on the clock in which that organ performs its peak physiological and also energetic states.

The Kidneys Belong to Yin

The Kidneys control many functions in Chinese medicine. They store the body's Essence or Jing, which is the precious substance we inherit from our parents (Pre-Heaven Essence) and the essence we receive from nourishing our bodies nutritionally and supporting our bodies Qi (Post-Heaven Essence). It is this Essence that also provides the material basis for Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang.

Kidney Yin is the foundation of yin fluid for the entire body, where it moistens and nourishes the organs and tissues, as to where Kidney Yang warms and promotes the functions of those organs and tissues. Overall, the Kidneys support our body's growth, development and reproduction, and the health of our Kidneys is reflected in the health of our bones, joints, teeth, hair, hearing, energy levels and cognitive function. The Kidneys also govern water and play a principal role in the transformation and transportation, or metabolism, of body fluids, which is another reason the Kidney is assigned to the Water element, and Kidney Yin and Yang absolutely must be in balance for normal, healthy fluid metabolism in the body. Some common general signs of a Kidney imbalance include chronic fatigue, back pain, hair loss, urinary issues, infertility and premature aging. More specifically, here are some signs and symptoms to look out for with the imbalance of Kidney Yin and Yang energy in the body:

KIDNEY YIN DEFICIENCY:

Red Cheeks
Five Palm Heat (Flushing Heat in Palms, Chest and Face)
Dry Mouth and throat
Night sweats
Copious Dreams
Nocturnal Emission
Red Tongue with Scant or No Coat
Pulse: Thin and Rapid

SIGNS OF KIDNEY YANG DEFICIENCY:

Cold body
Aversion to Cold
Cold Extremities
Pale and dark complexion
Edema
Low back pain or knee pain
Impotence
Watery Stool
Clear and Copious Urine
Waking at night to pee
Daybreak diarrhea
Tongue: pale, puffy and wet coat
Pulse: slow

The Spirit & Emotion Associated with the Kidneys

In Chinese medicine, the Kidney Houses the Zhi, or the Spirit of Will and willpower, which gives us the ability to focus and pursue goals with determination and tenacity. The Zhi is also responsible for our memory.

The emotion associated with the Kidneys is Fear. Fear makes the body's Qi descend and it can be both excessive or even inadequate fear that could reflect a Kidney imbalance.

When Kidney Yin is imbalanced, a person may be fearful of life, lacking drive or ambition, become easily discouraged by difficulty or danger and may even give up on life. If Kidney Yang is imbalanced, a person may be fearful of losing control, overambitious, a workaholic, ruthless, power hungry, and will need to obtain power or control over others in order to feel secure within themselves. When fear is the predominant emotion, our nervous systems become dysregulated and our bodies are flooded with cortisol and adrenaline. We can become hypervigilant, constantly scanning the room for potential threats of danger, prompting us to gather resources we may need for survival. When imbalanced, we may feel like we will never have enough resources, even when we do, resulting in overwork and in inability to rest, while we chronically push ourselves and deplete our resources. It is said that, "The Kidney holds the office of labor, from where agility emanates." (Su Wen, Ch. 8)

Essentially this means the Kidneys control strength, labor and hard work, and they are also associated with skill, agility, and fine and delicate activities. While the Zhi may give us the will power to see this hard work through, it hardly means we are intended to overwork, and in fact "burning the candle at both ends," will only lead to further depletion of our Kidney energy. This is why honoring our bodies' need for rest becomes so crucial, especially during the Winter months. Winter should be less about doing, and more about being.

When our Kidneys are in balance, on a spiritual level, they provide us with deep wisdom and self-understanding. They teach us about storing and using our resources wisely and efficiently, and they guide us on when it is time to work hard and when it is time to honor our body's need for rest, harnessing our life force with balance and ease.

The Bladder Belongs to Yang

The Bladder is the Yang Organ Pair of the Kidneys, in Chinese medicine. It's main function is to receive fluid (urine) from the Kidneys and to further filter the clear from the turbid, and store that fluid until it is time to be excreted by the body.

Some common signs of imbalance in the Bladder network include:

Frequent urination
Urgent urination
Incontinence
Inability to fully empty bladder
Chronic UTI's
Bloating in the lower abdomen
Pain in the Bladder or Urethra

Physically, the Primary Bladder meridian runs from the inner canthus of the eye, up the forehead, along the top and back of the head and neck, down the sides of the spine, the backs of the legs and the lateral aspect of the foot, all the way to the pinky toe.

Energetically and spiritually, I think about how this channel impacts the way we move through the world… Do you walk hunched over, lacking in confidence or direction, or do you move through the world upright, with confidence and clarity? Can you see things clearly and for what they truly are? Do you plow through projects, rush or move through the world with a sense of urgency or scarcity? Or do you feel resourced, protected, secure and safe to move at a pace that feels comfortable for you? Can you go with the flow? And do you know when it's time to hold on to something that serves you, or let go, when it does not?

The Organ Clock

3 PM - 5 PM: BELONGS TO THE BLADDER

The time of the Bladder follows the time of the Small Intestine. Physically the Small Intestine is responsible for separating the clear from the turbid, ultimately absorbing our bodies key nutrients and discarding what is not useful to be expressed by the Large Intestine. Energetically the Small Intestine is all about assimilation. Ultimately during the time of the Small Intestine, from 1-3 pm, our bodies are digesting, not only food but information. Ideally, we use this time of the Small Intestine to rest and digest, by taking a nap. Then, when we move on to the time of the Bladder, from 3-5 pm, we wake feeling rested and restored, and we have the clarity we need to move forward in work and study for the day.

5 PM - 7 PM: BELONGS TO THE KIDNEY

The Kidney then follows the Bladder, from 5-7 pm, when it is our body's ideal time to consume dinner, gaining and storing the nutrients we need to grow, develop and thrive.

Foods to Support the Kidney & Bladder Network

WARMING MEATS: Beef Kidney, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Duck, Goat, Lamb Kidney, Mutton, Pigeon, Pork, Pork Kidney, and Venison

FISH: Abalone, Carp, Clam (Freshwater), Crayfish, Cuttlefish, Eel, Loach, Lobster, Mussel, Oyster, Perch, Scallop, Shark, Shrimp & Prawn, and Squid

BEANS: Aduki Bean, Black Bean, Fava Bean, Kidney Bean, Lentil, and Black Soybean

NUTS AND SEEDS: Chestnut, Gingko, Pistachio, Poppy Seed, Sesame Seed, Walnut

FUNGUS: Boletus Species

SEAWEEDS: Kelp/ Kombu, Laver

VEGETABLES: Alfalfa Sprout, Asparagus, Broccoli, Burdock Root, Celery, Cucumber, Fennel Bulb, Bell Pepper, Potato, String Bean, Sweet Potato, Water Chestnut, Watercress, and Yam

FRUITS: Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Cherry, Cranberry, Grape, Grapefruit Peel, Kiwi, Lemon, Lime, Mulberry, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Rhubarb, Strawberry, Watermelon

DAIRY: Chicken Egg, Pigeon Egg, Quail Egg, Egg Yolk, and Goat or Sheep Milk

OILS AND CONDIMENTS: Miso, Molasses, Salt, and Soy Sauce

BEVERAGES: Coffee, Dandelion Root, Elderflower, Jasmine, Lemon Balm, Star Anise, Black Tea, Green Tea

CULINARY HERBS AND SPICES: Aniseed, Basil, Caraway, Chive Leaf, Chive Seed, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Dill Seed, Fennel Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Horseradish, Juniper, Licorice, Nettle, Oregano, Parsley, Black Pepper, Purslane, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Thyme, and Winter Savory

MEDICINAL HERBS AND SPICES: Aconite, Anemone, Barberry, Bearberry Leaf, Blackberry Leaf, Blackcurrant Leaf, Borage, Buchu, Burdock Root, Butterbur, Chaparral Leaf, Cinnamon Twig, Cleavers, Comfrey Leaf, Cornsilk, Couch Grass, Cowslip Root, Cramp Bark, Damiana, Dandelion Root, Echinacea, Elderflower, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Ginko Leaf, Ginseng (American), Goldenrod, Goldenseal, Heartsease, Hibiscus, Horney Goat Weed, Jasmine Flower, Juniper, Kava kava, Lady's Mantle, Licorice, Lily of the Valley, Lovage Root, Marshmallow Root, Meadowsweet, Mugwort, Mullein, Parsley Seed, Passionflower, Pine Needle, Plantain, Poke Root, Purslane, Red Clover, Rue, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Saw Palmetto, Skullcap, Slippery Elm, Squawvine, St. John's Wort, Tansy, Tea Tree, Vervain, White Deadnettle, Wintergreen, Yellow Dock Root and Wood Sorrel

ESSENTIAL OILS: Basil, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Jasmine, Juniper, Rose, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Thyme, Wintergreen

COMMON SUPPLEMENTS: Algae, Calcium, Ginseng (American), Pollen, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Zinc

Promoting Health & Relaxation During the Water Season: Winter

By the Poet and Medical Scholar Gao Lin, fl. 1575

"During the three months of winter, heaven and earth shut down and go into a state of storage. Water turns to ice and earth splits open, and the yang qi of nature stays unperturbed. Go to bed early, therefore, and get up only after the warming rays of the sun have appeared in the morning. Avoid cold and seek out warmth, and be careful not to purge the body's skin layer [with extreme diaphoretic measures]. Otherwise harm to the kidney network will occur, and consequently the germinating forces of spring will be impaired. During the following season of spring, then, offenders may suffer from diseases like muscular atrophy, paralysis, or stroke.

In winter, the yang is submerged within. If somebody suffers from an ailment, therefore, it is advisable to dispel existing pathogens from the body with emetic methods. Diaphoretics should not be used excessively during this time, since they easily drain out precious yang qi; the heart and diaphragm region, moreover, tend to easily accumulate heat in winter. This is the season to take a combination of tonic materials steeped in wine, or to drink 1-2 cups of shanyao (Dioscorea) wine every day to foster yang qi. At night, do not immediately collapse into bed, but settle down with leisure. Wear padded winter clothes during the coldest time, but add them gradually and not all at once; stop increasing the layers just when you have added enough to not feel cold anymore. Do not warm yourself in front of a roaring fire, since this winter habit may bring about particularly harmful consequences. The hands and feet, namely, have an affinity to the heart network, and should therefore never be toasted over a fire. The fire may otherwise be enticed into the heart and create symptoms of restlessness. For the same reasons, avoid grilling food over an open fire. Keep in mind that just as cooling medicines are not effective against extremely hot disorders, warming medicines do not work for extremely cold diseases -- the nature of water is damp, while fire is dry.

One should nourish heart qi by decreasing salty foods and increasing bitter ones. This is because the winter months are associated with kidney water which in turn is affected by salty flavors. To prevent water from developing an overbearing influence on fire and thereby plunging the heart into a state of disharmony, it is best to nourish heart qi in a preventative manner. Also, it is best to withdraw to a tightly sealed dwelling in winter, and to make sure that one's food intake is regulated and the clothing adjusted to changes in temperature. Do not try to be daring and expose yourself to cold wind, especially if you are old, because winter poses an increased risk of catching wind cold, which will result in symptoms such as coughing, numbness of the extremities, dizziness, etc.

In winter, the earth's yang qi resides within, while the yin qi is at the surface. Old people who often tend to exhibit heat symptoms above and cold symptoms below should therefore not take hot baths during this time. At a time when the yang smolders inside, extreme sweating may occur when one is exposed to scorching heat. At an advanced age the bones are brittle and the flesh is frail, and the body is easily influenced by stimuli of this sort.

Since winter is the time when external disorders are easily contracted, do not go outside at an early hour, or you will be in danger of being assaulted by frost. Drink a small cup of wine in the morning to expel the cold; in the evening take some herbs that eliminate internal heat. In this fashion, you will harmonize your heart qi and prevent pathological heat qi from flushing up. In winter, avoid the following: sex, excessive consumption of baked goods, meat, flour products, won-ton dumplings, etc."