2025年6月11日
Winter Wellness in an Unseasonable Year: TCM Tips to Restore Balance
This year, winter arrived late—1-2 months behind schedule—leaving nature in a state of confusion. Trees sprouted new flowers and shoots while simultaneously shedding yellowing leaves, a sign of disrupted seasonal rhythms.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), such environmental irregularities can deeply affect human health, particularly the Kidney Yang energy, which governs warmth, vitality, and adaptability to cold.
Recently, many patients have shown pulses indicating suppressed Kidney Yang —fatigue, cold limbs, low back pain, weakened immunity, and even emotional heaviness. When winter is delayed, the body’s natural Yang energy fails to consolidate properly, leaving us more vulnerable to illness and depletion.
Here’s how to realign with the season and strengthen Kidney Yang for optimal winter wellness.
1. Reinforce Kidney Yang with Warming Foods
Since the body is struggling to adjust to the delayed cold, we must actively support Kidney Yang with nourishing, warm foods:
- Black Foods (Kidney-Nourishing):
- Black beans
- Black sesame seeds
- Walnuts
- Dark leafy greens (kale, seaweed)
- Yang-Boosting Proteins & Herbs:
- Bone broth (with astragalus or goji berries)
- Lamb (moderately, if digestion allows)
- Ginger, cinnamon, and cloves (add to teas or soups)
- Avoid: Excessive raw, cold, or icy foods (they further weaken Yang).
2. Herbal Support for Kidney Yang
If pulses show Yang deficiency, consider:
- Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong) – Strengthens lower back and Kidney Yang.
- Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) – Warms the Kidneys and circulation.
- Morinda Root (Ba Ji Tian) – Tonifies Yang and supports vitality.
- Cordyceps (Dong Chong Xia Cao) – Enhances lung-kidney resilience (great for weak immunity).
(Consult a TCM practitioner for personalized formulas.)
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3. Acupressure & Moxibustion to Ignite Yang Energy
- KD3 (Tai Xi) – On the inner ankle, strengthens Kidney essence.
- GV4 (Ming Men) – On the lower back, the "Gate of Life" – moxa here warms Kidney Yang.
- ST36 (Zu San Li) – Boosts overall Qi and immunity.
Moxibustion (burning mugwort near these points) is especially powerful in winter to drive out cold and restore warmth.
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4. Adaptogenic Movement: Qi Gong & Gentle Exercise
Since Yang is suppressed, overexertion worsens depletion. Instead:
- Ba Duan Jin (Eight Brocades) – Especially "Holding the Hands to Support Heaven" to regulate Qi.
- Walking in Sunlight – Absorb natural Yang energy in the morning.
- Warm Foot Soaks (with ginger or cinnamon) – Draws warmth downward, grounding energy.
5. Emotional & Seasonal Alignment
The Kidneys house willpower (Zhi) —when Yang is weak, fear and indecision arise. Counter this by:
- Resting More – Winter is for conservation; honor deep sleep (bed by 10-11 PM).
- Meditation & Breathwork – Slow, deep breaths into the lower abdomen (Dan Tian) to stabilize energy.
- Letting Go of Stress – The late winter arrival may have subconsciously delayed our "hibernation mode."