This is part 1 of a seasonal look into the energetics of each season and how they affect our inner and outer worlds. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), The 5 Elements Theory, invites us to live more in flow and alignment with the seasons and offers us the opportunity to link ourselves more to the natural world and to become more aware of ourselves and the world around us. The five elements through the lens of TCM - wood, fire, earth, metal, water - represent the cyclical changes of nature. The cycles we see in nature are interconnected with those we experience as humans. The flow of the cycles manifest in many ways and are reflected in our energy, creativity, emotions, ease and dis-ease, expression, foods, tastes, and colours we seek and crave. Each season is linked to an element and a set of organs that need a little more care and nourishment in that specific season. Health conditions and/or emotions related to the specific organs may also flare up but there are many things we can do to support our body through the cyclical changes that also manifest within us. Learning about each element may enable us to create internal balance which will improve all areas of health whether physical, mental and emotional. Yin & Yang and winterThe Yin and Yang theory is the underlying principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Philosophy, the Taoist culture. Everything is composed of opposites, relative to each other, complementary and as constantly interacting forces. One cannot exist without the other. There is no night without day, no heaven without earth, no moon without sun, no up without down, no out without in, no cold without warmth, no youth without age, no opposition without unity, no stillness without noise, no passive without active. The same goes for the cycles of the seasons. Here in the Northern Hemisphere we have just entered winter and if we look at the seasons in terms of yin and yang, winter is the most yin and summer is the most yang in nature. Winter comes with darkness and colder temperatures and should naturally urge us to slow down, nourish ourselves and take a look inward. It’s a time where nature goes dormant, rests and replenishes. It’s also a time that is ideal for planning, thinking and studying rather than doing (too much). Winter invites us to conserve our energy, strength and inner resources. Good health and wellbeing is believed to come from a balance of Yin and Yang and illness and poor health is caused by an imbalance of Yin and Yang. The water elementIn TCM and according to the 5 Elements Theory, winter is associated with the Water element and the Kidneys and the Bladder. Element: Water Organs: Kidneys and Bladder Colour: Black, blue Taste: Salty. This taste is consolidating, moistening, softening, alkalising. Positive emotion, when in balance: Willpower, sense of adventure, endurance Negative emotion, when imbalanced: Fear and depression According to TCM, the kidneys are where the source of our energy (qi, pronounced "chee") is stored, also known as our Jing, foundational energy, ancestral energy or inherited life force, which naturally declines as we get older. People born with less Jing need to work harder to look after themselves in order to preserve their energy. Our kidneys are particularly vulnerable to to the energies of winter and so we must take extra care at this time to nourish and protect them. It is also a good idea to take more rest in this time as rest rebuilds qi. How to nourish your bodyFood is your medicine. Your daily food intake is the basis of your transformation. Your food becomes your blood, cells, organs, body, mind, emotions and thoughts. Food is nourishment. Your input will affect your output physically, mentally, emotionally. Connect with your food and where it is coming from, eat with the season, favour locally grown organic whole foods where possible. In winter we want want to turn to deeply nourishing meals that are warming and comforting. It often happens quite naturally as soon as the temperatures drop, we crave soups and stews and heavier foods. Seasonality and energetics when talking about food is important in the way that foods that grow in summer are lighter in nature and have cooling properties to them, such as tomatoes, cucumber, berries etc., when in turn in winter, the seasonal foods are heavier and warming in nature such as onions, leeks, root vegetables, cabbage, apples and pears. Nature is beautifully intelligent and if we look closely, we can find so much wisdom from the changes and transformations that can be witnessed within each season. Winter foods and cooking stylesWarming winter foods Dark pulses like black beans, kidney beans, brown and beluga lentils and whole grains. Root vegetables, beetroot, kale, salsify, celery root, onion, garlic, cabbage, parsnip, turnip, daikon, Jerusalem artichoke, leek, spinach, sea weed, small quantities of darker meats, apple, pear, quince, a little citrus, nuts, black sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, dried fruits. Warming spices and herbs: cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, ginger, cayenne, pepper, rosemary and thyme. Cooking styles In the cooler months we want to look towards more warming cooking styles like baking, roasting, slow cooking, stews, soups, broths and it's also important to always use fats of very high quality. Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, beet kvass and miso are great at this time to aid digestion of the heavier, more dense foods we eat in this period. It's a good idea to incorporate a small amount of fermented foods every day, your gut will love it. The winter cooking styles will help provide deeper warmth and supply greater energy from the food, which is needed in this part of the cycle. We also want to use more warming spices and herbs. Raw, cold and cooling foods should be avoided or consumed only occasionally in this period. And if you're prone to congestion, mucus, coughs and colds it is a good idea to leave out dairy products from your diet. Wellbeing practices for winterIf you're the type of person who's always on the go, stressed and wired, always doing the same things on autopilot, now is the time to actively choose something different for yourself, something that supports you. We all need to find what works best for us individually, but here are a few ideas.
What kinds of activities or practices do you turn to in the winter months? Feel free to share in the comments below.
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How stress affects usStress is completely natural and we need it to function in our daily lives. It actually boosts the immune system, keeps us alert, motivated and increases our ability to cope with difficult situations when experienced in “appropriate” doses. On the flip side, chronic stress has the opposite effect, suppressing the immune system which puts us at risk physically, psychologically and emotionally. Chronic or longterm stress however affects all our bodily systems negatively; The central nervous and endocrine systems The "fight or flight" response tells the adrenal glands to release stress hormones (adrenalin and cortisol) which increases the heartbeat and sends blood to areas where it's most needed in an emergency situation, like if you have to run for your life. The problem with chronic stress is that the nervous system doesn't return to normal after the perceived threat is over, which leaves the body in a constant "fight or flight" mode. The respiratory and cardiovascular systems Stress makes us breathe faster which makes the heart pump faster, which raises the blood pressure. Chronic stress will make the heart work too hard for too long. The digestive system Under stress the liver produces extra blood sugar to give a boost of energy. The rush of hormones, fast breathing and increased heart rate will also upset the digestive system. It affects the way food moves through the body and is (not) absorbed which can lead to diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting or stomach ache. The muscular system Stress causes the muscles to tense up. Tight muscles cause physical pain. The sexual and reproductive system Imbalance in reproductive hormones can cause dysfunctions and irregular menstrual cycle and affect sexual desire. The immune system Over time stress hormones will weaken the immune system and make us more susceptible to viral illnesses like the flu and cold and other infections. It can also affect the body's recovery time. As for the symptoms that chronic stress can cause there's everything ranging from irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches, insomnia, digestive issues, aches and pains, high blood pressure, and the list goes on. This often leads us to reaching for ways of coping that aggravate the state like alcohol or drug abuse, overeating, not eating enough, eating junk, withdrawing from everyday activities and social activities, acting out, not being able to control our emotions etc. I can relate to many of these states and behaviours and as much as I always do my best to seek some sort of balance, sometimes it can be really hard. It’s a flux, a balancing act, making decisions, prioritising, finding what works, getting curious and becoming more aware of and listening to the body and what it’s trying to tell us. A feeling, whether manifested in a physical, emotional or mental form is the body trying to communicate with us. What can be done to ease stress?So, what are some of the things we can do to bring us back to ourselves, to the present moment and channel that tension? How can we reduce the stress hormone and produce more feel good hormones? There are many small things that we can do - I personally love these practices to get out of my head and into my body: Exercise to disperse the stressed energy that is just sitting there in the body causing muscle tension, gut issues and racing thoughts. It doesn’t have to be a 2 hour workout. A brisk walk or a short jog can already clear the mind and get things moving. Mindful movement like Yoga and Qi Gong as well as breath work centres us and can help bring us back to the present moment. Like with any movement, we can move the stagnant energy. It may also install a feeling of balance and connectedness to ourselves. Healthy eating. How and what we nourish our bodies with will directly influence how we feel, it’s really that simple. Gut health is directly linked to our brains - 95% of our serotonin (the feel good hormone) is produced in the gut. Choosing whole foods, eating an abundance and a variety of plants, flavours and colours as well as healthy grains, seeds, nuts and healthy fats that truly nourish our body. Connecting with your food and its healing properties. Avoiding processed and refined foods, sugar and stimulants which all put the body under further stress. A healthy body will help us gain a clearer mind. Bodywork and other self-care practices are a great way to preserve and protect our wellbeing and health. A good massage moves bodily energies, clears blockages, eases pain and tension, creates more space in the body and has a calming effect and can facilitate restful sleep. I also love going to the sauna, especially in the colder time of year. It has a relaxing effect, can ease pain, improves blood circulation and sweating releases toxins from the body. Meditation offers us the opportunity to become the observer of our thoughts, take a step back from what’s going on in our minds and with some practice can teach us to detach from our thoughts and sink into our bodies. Starting with as little as 5 minutes is already a step taken. Connecting with nature and the seasons. Spending time in nature brings us back to the source of where we are from and what we are made of. It’s an easy way of connecting with the natural world and can be very humbling. Instead of staying in your head while out, look around, witness the changes, marvel at the colours, feel the air and the ground beneath your feet. Feel-good activities. Doing simple things you enjoy or make you feel good and that give you a break from racing thoughts. For me it’s cooking, reading, watercolour painting, taking a bath, spending time in a place with an open spaces that gives me perspective. Taking 30 minutes here and there to do something you really enjoy can make a big difference. Eventually we may also want to ask ourselves the tough questions. Is our life, our choices, our actions in alignment with our values, needs, desires and how we want to live? Is there a fundamental mismatch? Is there anything we can do now to change that? Stop, take a moment, assessWith all this said, we all have to find what works for us, what we like, how to prioritise, fitting things in our schedule. One shoe doesn’t fit all. But what we can all do is take even the smallest step in the direction that can make a difference. Making small changes, one at a time. From my own experience, the single most important thing when experiencing stress is to stop, take a moment, listen and assess what’s going on. Becoming the observer and the guardian of my body, mind and emotions. Actively choosing to and engaging in making it a more peaceful, happy, creative and healthy place to live in. What small things do you do to create more calm, space and balance in your daily busy-ness? Feel free to share in the comment section below. Photos by Mia Voss, Sarah Pitt and Isla Grossi
Sources for some of the content: healthline.com and isma.org.uk |
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August 2023
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