Winter Wellness
Chinese Medicine tips for Healthy Winter
“And don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It’s quiet, but the roots are down there riotous.” Rumi
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) winter is associated with kidneys, store house of the vital essence, the root.
Kidney fire provides will power to accomplish your goal. The emotion associated with winter is fear, color is black and taste is salty.
Conserve your energy
Winter is cold and dark and it’s energy is going inward. Slow down and go to sleep early and sleep longer. Avoid late night workouts and too much activities. Listen more and plant the seed of hope and allow them to burst into life in Spring.
Nourish yourself
Bone is controlled by kidneys, winter is the best time of the year to pay attention to your bones health. Eat more root vegetables, seaweeds, beans, bone soup and grains. Seaweeds are great source of minerals, cook them with beans and serve over rice. Avoid too much raw foods and salad and eat more warm foods. The slower a vegetable grows the warmer it is. Choose vegetables with yellow, red and orange skin color.
Keep your kidneys warm
During my childhood, my father always ask us to wear a shawl around our waist and he would say “keep your Kidneys warm”. Now as a Chinese Medicine practitioner I understand the wisdom behind this practice.
Fear
Each organ is associated with certain emotion. Fear is related to kidneys. Have you heard or seen when kids get scarred they pee in their pants? Lack of will power and reserve manifest itself in fear. Fear is essential – fear of not able to accomplish your goal, fear of something may happen, will bring anxiety and insecurity.
Meditate and discover more about yourself.
Close your eyes, notice your breathing and let the ideas/thoughts flow through your mind and observe without judgement. Observe your fear and educate your mind toward what you really want. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) could be a result of kidney deficiency.
Acupuncture to strengthen kidneys
Many unbalances such such as low back pain, osteoporosis, ringing in the ear, low libido, hot flashes, night sweats, knee pain, infertility, teeth problems and urinary disorders may appear in winter time due to kidney deficiency. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs provide relief and bring balance to your mind and body.
Frequency urination at night is very common among older patients which easily can be addressed in my clinic. I have had great result even with 1 treatment.
Acupuncture is empowering and can assist you to achieve your goals. Are you thinking to have a healthier year? Try to get over any addiction? Acupuncture boost immunity and strengthen protective Qi and prevent you from getting sick in winter. Please, if you have any question or concern and would like to know if acupuncture would work for you, call me at: 831-426-5002
or email me at: hakimclinic@yahoo.com
All the best and wish you a happy and healthy rest of the winter
Katayoon Hakim DAOM, L.Ac.
