Five Ways to Support Your Health All Winter Long

Last week, we began to explore what it means to “eat seasonally” from a Chinese Medicine perspective. To recap, there are two main components to this idea.

First, “eating seasonally” means eating local food! and necessarily involves observing and eating what grows where you live.

Second, “eating seasonally” requires the recognition that our bodies change throughout the seasons and thus, need different things – food and otherwise.

(If you haven’t done so already, I recommend trying the immune boosting breakfast recipe I posted last week!)

As we established last week, our digestive fire – our ability to properly break down our food and assimilate our nutrition – is “damped down” during the winter months.

The Huangdi Neijing – that dear old foundational medical text of Chinese Medicine – expands on this idea by telling us*:

秋冬則陰氣盛而陽氣衰...

qiū dōng zé yīn qì shèng ér yáng qì shuāi...

in autumn and winter, the yin qi flourishes and the yang qi declines...

In our environment, the yang qi is the visible expression of the life force – it is the leaves on the trees; the activity of the animals; the warmth of the sun. It is the externally visible movement, activity, & expansion – all of which we see ramp up during the summer months.

In your body, the yang qi is the energy that moves from your core outwards to your muscles, flesh, and skin and perfuses your whole body with suppleness and warmth.

I like to equate the healthy functioning of your yang qi to the feeling you get during a perfect day skiing.

The snow is fresh; the evergreen trees tower above you; the crisp air bites at your nose but you maintain the perfect temperature as you move swiftly. You feel the warmth emanate through your entire body and even into the tips of your fingers and toes.

Yet, given that we observe and feel the yang qi decline in the winter months (both in our environment and in ourselves)...

...how do we best support our bodies during this time?

1. Rest

This is first and foremost the best way to support your body in winter. Our environment shows us that winter is a time for rest. The sun sets earlier and rises later, and we naturally sleep longer hours and stay inside more. Take advantage of these cues and turn down your activity level.

Commonly, for my patients, this means slowing down; saying no; scheduling less activities for yourself and your family; taking more time to yourself; and spending more time in the solitude of nature.

2. Dress appropriately for the weather

Remember that excessively exposing yourself to the elements of winter allows the cold, wind, and damp to leech into your body. Take care to keep your hands and feet warm even when working outside. Especially on stormy, cold, or windy days stay indoors as much as possible.

3. Exercise gently to promote the circulation of your yang qi

Just like we discussed what it means to “eat seasonally" from a Chinese Medicine perspective, this is the corresponding idea of “exercising seasonally!”

While you may enjoy long vigorous runs and bike rides during the height of summer, it is actually best to not work up a big sweat during the fall and winter months. Opening your pores in that way exposes you to the cold and windy winter weather.

Don’t open the door to let the thief in! But do exercise to such a point that you feel the warmth perfuse throughout your body -- just up to the point at which you break a sweat.

4. Eat warm and easily assimilated foods

Support your immune function with warm and easily assimilated foods all winter long.

5. And finally, take care of your body with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine!

Yes, winter is a great time to go see your acupuncturist and herbalist!

It is seasonally the time to slow down; to self-reflect; to evaluate how you felt this year; to rest when you are tired; to nurture yourself; and to receive when you are in need.

In Chinese Medicine, your health throughout the whole year is largely determined by your ability to “live seasonally”.

When you rest, replenish, and give back to yourself during the winter months, you set yourself up for better health all year long.

And in recognition of this time of year, I am offering $10 off your first appointment with me!

To start working together to transform your life, send me an e-mail at arista@gatesacupuncture.com.

Until next time!

Arista

* this passage comes from Huangdi Neijing Suwen chapter 45, section 1