Say hi to winter!

​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 winter

The 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 element

In 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 body 

Food 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 styles

Warming 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 winter

If 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.

• Get a little extra/enough sleep.
• Have a massage with a little extra love and focus on the kidney area.
• Make sure you get enough vitamin D and zinc.
• Sauna session to warm up your body to the core.
• Slow and soft movement.
• Cook a nice meal and share it with friends or family.
• Drink less coffee. Replace it with chicory root, a warm cup of quality cacao or guayusa.
• Winter is a time for self reflection, planning and contemplating. Integrate more reflective practices like meditation, mindfulness, yoga, journaling or breath work.
• Seek activities that bring light and joy in these darker months while still preserving and nourishing your body and mind.
• Read a book.
• Learn something new, start a course.
• Maybe take some time this winter to reflect on the previous cycle, set some intentions for the cycle to come and prepare yourself. Maybe there's something you've always wanted to do or to get back to. Maybe there are things you'd like to change in your life. Whatever it is, take this time to listen to what you may need. 
• Keep your kidney area warm and protected.
• Winter can bring about heavier feelings like depression or anxiety. Adaptogenic herbs can help your body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue and improve your overall wellbeing. Here are a few to consider (but do your own research): rhodiola, schizandra, tulsi, astragalus, ashwagandha as well as medicinal mushrooms like shiitake, lion’s mane, chaga and reishi.
• Acupuncture - a seasonal acupuncture boost can be nourishing and strengthening for all the bodily systems.

What kinds of activities or practices do you turn to in the winter months? Feel free to share in the comments below.