Mid Winter Health Tips - Keep your Kidneys strong!

Each season has it's natural inclinations. In Chinese Medicine each of the seasons relates to a different organ and each organ has a different set of strengths and weaknesses.

The Kidneys are a combination of your genetic health and the health you give yourself. Some people are prone to a variety of health problems due to various genetic issues. Some people are born with very strong constitutions and live very hard, depleting themselves of health.

That heavy feeling when you wake up in the morning of being without life before you have coffee, can often be called a Kidney Yang Deficiency. Dryness, constant thirst, and heat symptoms can stem from what we call a Kidney Yin Deficiency. It can be tricky to live in balance of these two supplements, however making choices that fit your constitution can help your health throughout the year.

Say Yes to:

• black foods: black sesame seeds, seaweed, black beans etc.
• warming spices: ginger, black pepper, cinnamon
• sea salt, the Kidneys like salt.
• rest & sleep
• keeping warm - especially your lower back
• gentle exercise and movement
• facing your fears: the Kidneys are related to fear, if you can look at things that held you back because you are fearful and work past them, now is a good time. Use the hibernation energy to give yourself space to work these things out.
• support your will to do things. The Kidneys are also closely connected to your will and motivation. Many people use the New Year to make resolutions, in Chinese Medicine we suggest making ideas now and execute them in the Chinese New Year or even in the Spring!
• acupuncture treatments! Always good to give yourself a boost, especially if you are having symptoms listed below.

Say No to:

• standing all day: if you have to, wear thick shoes and have a change so that your body has different parts that get worn out.
• working out really hard: it's winter! If your body needs movement, then move, but don't drain your resources.
• partying too hard: it will go to your Kidneys. Try to take care of them.

If you are having low energy, fatigue, low back pain, knee pain, menstrual issues, over heating / hot flashes, severe cold limbs or cold in your "bones",  immunity issues, insomnia, lack of will then I recommend getting acupuncture to help boost your Kidneys through the season.

Autumn, Season of the Lungs

The Autumn is a special time in Chinese medicine. It relates most closely to the Lungs and Metal element.

Let me translate that a bit, the Lungs work with other organs and primarily are related to:

• the nose
• the skin
• the respiratory/immune system

As the weather changes and the hours of light shorten, it's important to notice the changing season with daily habits and routines. Chinese medicine can be complex but also quite basic when you start to break it down. As the light changes it's quite important to shut down the phones, computers and TVs and get to bed a little earlier. Additionally best to rise earlier in the mornings.

The Lungs move the energy through the body, they loathe cold, they govern the voice, and are a delicate organ.

Exercise: Make sure you are activating your Lungs by vigorous exercise. Gym training is great, but walks, runs and bike rides in the cool fall air is revitalizing for the Lungs.

Diet & Nutrition: In general white foods are potent for Lung health. 

• white sesame seeds
• add some sour to your diet: sourdough bread, sauerkraut, olives, pickles, rose hip tea, vinegar, cheese, yogurt, citrus
• start braising and using the crockpot for some slow cooked meals

If you experience Dryness (skin, lips, nose, throat, thirst or thin body):

• soy
• spinach
• barley
• millet
• apples/pears/persimmon
• seaweed
• almond/pinenut/peanut
• adding small amounts of salt

Emotional Health:
The Lungs are affected by: worry / grief / sadness. It is a time when residual sorrows can rise up, seemingly out of nowhere. It's best to find the time and space to process and work through them so that the emotions can be released and no longer tax the Lungs. If there are emotional cobwebs in your closet, it's a great time to use exercise, walks on the beach and time alone to process and truly let go.

Additionally to the emotional closet, cleaning out your actual closet is the perfect project for the energy of Autumn. The Lungs pair with the Large Intestine (colon) and relate to the Metal element in Chinese medicine. Metal loves organization while simultaneously L.E.T.T.I.N.G. G.O........... Metal is orderly and gets stuff done. If you have projects that have lingered and need to be finished, it's the perfect season! The ideal projects for the Metal element are purging extra belongings, time for some deep reorganizing.

Protecting your immune and digestive health will help your body to physically filter out all waste, and letting go of emotional burdens will help keep Lungs and their function in balance. 

Immune boosting tips:
Chinese herbs: If you are prone to colds and flus, or have caught something and it's lingering, also if you are a teacher, work with kids, take public transportation or are exposed to a wide array of germs or people who are sick, Stay Well tea is a classic Chinese formula made for you.

Western herbs: Elderberry syrup. Great as preventative medicine or while you are fighting something off.

Acupuncture: Treatments are a great way to give your body the deep rest it needs to recover. Also great at boosting the immune system, getting rid of colds, flus and stomach bugs.

Fashion: 
(Yes, fashion!)
Scarves and socks and shoes. Try to keep your skin covered this fall. In Chinese medicine pathogens often get in through the nape of the neck, or exposed skin. Wearing a scarf is important to keeping yourself protected. Also putting away sandals, and starting to wear socks and shoes to keep your feet warm. 

It can be a healthy season if you pay attention to what your body needs and try to help it through all this transitional season.