Winter Wellness: Warming Foods and Rest

TCM associates winter with the Kidney system, seen as the body's deep reserve of energy and the root of warmth. Nature slows down in winter, and TCM encourages people to do the same, conserving energy rather than spending it. Overwork and too little rest in winter are seen as draining those reserves. See Low Energy and Burnout: What TCM Calls Qi Deficiency.

TCM favours warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food in winter:

• soups, stews and broths;
• root vegetables, squash and sweet potato;
• ginger, cinnamon, garlic and green onion;
• black beans, black sesame and walnuts, traditionally linked to the Kidneys;
• lamb or beef in moderation (for those who eat meat);
• warm drinks instead of iced ones.

1. Sleep earlier and rise a little later if you can.
2. Keep your lower back and feet warm. TCM sees these areas as vulnerable to cold.
3. Gentle movement: walks, tai chi, yoga, rather than draining workouts.
4. Daylight: get outside in the morning, even on grey days.
5. Slow down your schedule where possible.

• Chinese Medicine Mud Therapy: deep, sustained warmth for tight backs and stiff joints. See Chinese Medicine Mud Therapy Explained.
• TuiNa & DDS Acupressure Massage: invigorating bodywork for winter stiffness.
• Relaxation Massage and Reiki: rest and restoration.
• Winter skin: see A Skin Care Routine for Vancouver's Damp Winters.

Shorter days affect many people's mood and energy. If low mood in winter is affecting your daily life, talk to your doctor. Light therapy and other treatments can help. In a crisis, call or text 9-8-8.

Ongoing fatigue, low mood, or joint pain with swelling or redness should be checked by a doctor. See low energy and fatigue and joint pain.

Warming treatments are available at our Yaletown clinic, cozy on a rainy day and easy to reach from North Vancouver and Burnaby.