Using Traditional Chinese Medicine as a guide to keep you healthy this winter.

Winter is the season to take things slow, rest, recover, rejuvenate, and nourish our bodies. Nature understands this, as flowers, trees, and animals hibernate during winter, preparing to burst into life in the spring.

It is the season when your body goes into rest mode and focuses on repairing and building your health for the coming spring.

Your Kidneys are in charge of your Essence, they store the true Yin and are the source of your Yang. They are the main organs related to fertility, bone health, hearing, and the overall state of your Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems.

The Kidneys and not the brain are the most important organs in Chinese Medicine. The Brain is the Sea of Essence and the kidneys govern and are in charge of the Essence.

TCM advises against unnecessary exposure to cold temperatures, especially without proper clothes, to prevent the invasion of Pathogenic Cold into your body.

Yes, this also includes cold plunges/ice baths!

In this season, replenishing your Qi and Essence are essential practices as they lay the foundation of your health for the next year. Did you make your Elderberry in August? Now is the time to use it! In Winter, focus on attaining the highest levels of health and nutrition.

So Top tips:

1) Keep your kidneys, your neck and your feet covered in winter.

Keeping wrapped up - scarfs are imperative from November to March!

2) Eat warming, cooked, nourishing foods. Porridge, soups, stews etc.

Especially Kidney nourishing foods:

• Lamb, beef, pork, fish, turkey, chicken.

• Aubergine, black beans, Goji berries.

• Turmeric, and black pepper as spices.

3) Drink warm fluids, lemon water, herbals teas, Warm Elderberry, hot chocoalte!

Ginger is a metabolism booster and one of the most important ingredients you can have nearby to protect your lungs as well as your Kidneys. From a TCM perspective, Ginger energizes the Spleen and Stomach which means it improves digestion and intestinal movement, its spicy flavor energizes the Lungs making it vital for treating asthma holistically, and also heats the system. Take one to two cups daily, especially before going outdoors.

4) Enjoy and prioritse early nights and lazy days.

cozy winter socks, warms drinks and a fire for those lazy days.