“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
Edith Sitwell
Winter is upon us in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is advisable to pay special attention to our kidneys as Winter represents the following organs: kidney, bladder, urinary, sexual organs, ears and bones.
In December, January and February the air is colder and the quality of Chi is Yin, like the energy of the kidneys as well. The kidneys are responsible for Water metabolism in the body. They represent the Water element just like the season of Winter.
Please beware, it is not advisable to drink too much water in Winter. Especially cold water can be damaging for kidneys and bladder.
It is also very important to dress with layers for protecting your kidney area and wear warm shoes. Make sure that your feet do not get wet.
To protect your kidney, specific Qi Gong exercises are perfect for it.
The plants store the chi in the roots in the Wintertime.
Similarly in our body: the pulse chi for Winter is stored in the bladder and in our feet.
Men should be careful with their sexual energy in the Wintertime. It can be easily reduced if they have too much sexual activity during this season! It dries and lowers the levels of Qi in the whole body.
When we are young, we are strong, healthy and full of energy. There is a rich supply of Qi in young age.
As time goes by we get older and the season’s Qi will challenge our bodies to get ready for the next season.
If we do not follow the Yin energy in Winter, we may be ill. During Winter, we are preparing to produce the Wood in Spring, but if we are ill it will fail and the preparation for other seasons will also be affected.
My advice in this period are the following:
- Dress with layers
- Do Qi Gong exercises
- Go to sleep early and rise later
- Reduce your sexual activities
- Eat more dark colored foods, spicy foods, red meats, and rich foods
- Drink red wine
Enjoy wintertime!
