Dong-Ye Acupuncture

      The ancients lived within nature.  When we think of Native Americans we think of people who lived their lives in harmony with the natural world around them.  Instead of bending the environment to suit them, they blended with their surroundings.  They lived with nature.  Nowadays it is difficult to find people who still live within their own environment, even in third world nations, we find internet, air conditioning, cars --all signs of people moving away from their connection to the world around them.  There isn’t anything inherently wrong with progress and improved living conditions, but the tendency to move farther and farther from our connection with the natural world increases as we become more involved with the material side of life.

      Even though our outward lives may be out of balance with the seasons of the year, our inward environment still remains in tune with the seasons.   We break our year into four seasons based on a number of factors.  The most obvious factor is the position of the sun and the moon.  The length of the day tells us that we are moving into Winter and the shortest day of the year.  The plants and animals tell us when the seasons are changing.  Leaves turn color and fall off our deciduous trees.  Animals start collecting seeds for storage.  Birds may leave one area and start arriving in others.  Even in Florida we can tell when the seasons are changing.  The mornings start to get a little cooler as we approach Winter Solstice.  It is more difficult here in Florida to become aware of the subtle changes compared to up North where frost starts to appear in the mornings, temperatures remain cool all day and trees have lost their leaves.  So it is easy here in Florida to live all year round like there is only one season.   Most of the seasons are more forgiving of this tendency to live out of harmony with our environment, except for Winter. 

     As ancients noticed the seasons and the changes that occurred both in the external environment and the internal environment of our bodies, they realized that each season was linked to a particular organ and carried the characteristics associated with that organ.  I will give a brief overview of those seasons and their characteristics.

Spring - Liver

Spring is the time when the wind kicks up and uncovers the new buds of life that have lain dormant over winter.  This season is related to the Liver.  The Liver is associated with wind, the color green, germination of new life.   New beginnings are possible.

The emotion related to the Liver is anger.

Summer - Heart

Summer is the time when the germinating plants now grow and blossom.  Plans laid in the Spring are now being fulfilled.

Summer is related to Fire, growth and the color red. The emotion related to the heart is joy.

Fall - Lung

Fall is the time of harvest, reaping what you have sown.   The Lung is associated with the color White, dryness and the emotion is grief and worry.  The Lung is associated with metal but a few texts change metal to air.

Spleen - Long Summer

Winter - Kidney

     This is the season that we are currently starting.  This year it runs from the week of the 15^th of November to the last week of January.  Winter is associated with the color black, cold, storage and the emotion of fear. 

     In ancient times when the crops were all gathered, the cold winter was a time for slowing down, conserving your strength and eating from the food stuff that had been stored from summer harvest.   People would sit around fires and deal with items that needed mending.  People and animals were saving their energy and making use of the limited daylight hours.  This is the time of the year where the ancients advised people to wake with the sun and go to bed when the sun set.  So you were expected to do less physical activity during the winter time.  The key message is one of storage.  The foods that were eaten were meats that had been prepared in the fall (dried, smoked, frozen, salted) and vegetables that were easily stored (squashes, potatoes, dried beans, rice).  Any fruits were dried or later canned (likewise canned vegetables, potted meats).  The Koreans discovered a prefect way to preserve their bountiful summer harvest; they pickled every thing and made kim-chi.  Every culture found ways of preserving the foods that were not immediately consumed during the summer and fall.   

     In our modern times, Winter becomes not a time of storage and down time allowing our bodies to rest, but of frenetic activity in preparation for seasonal holidays.   Instead of eating lightly in keeping with reduced of activity, we over eat rich holiday foods and increase our physical activity and stress level when we should be doing the exact opposite.   One of the reasons increased stress, inappropriate activity and indulging ourselves with a rich diet can cause more than indigestion is that the Kidney becomes overtaxed.  When the Kidney is overworked, the Kidney is not able to use water to balance Heart Fire.   If Heart Fire flares, people can experience chest pains, heart palpitations, insomnia and lack of joy.    The Kidney is controlled by the Spleen.  In Chinese Medical theory, the Spleen is responsible for digestion which contributes to our Immune System.  If the Immune system is weakened by over eating or eating the wrong foods, the Spleen will not be able to keep a strong Immune system leading to colds and flu.   A weakened Spleen will also not be able to do another important job which is to transform and transport fluids in the body, so it will not be able to provide the Kidney with the water it needs to function.  Kidney stones can occur further weakening the Kidney.  So the Kidney is not strong enough nor does it have the needed water to balance Heart Fire.    This could be a reason as to why a person with no history of heart problems experiences a heart attack during the Winter.

     So how do you keep your Kidney strong during the Winter?  Here are some tips on proper diet and exercise for the Winter months.

Diet

     Even though Florida still feels like summer, you need to treat your body as if there was snow on the ground.   Limit any cold raw foods.   The exception is seasonal fruits.  Citrus is ripening now and is a good fruit to eat in moderation.  The natural Vitamin C will strengthen your blood vessels and support your Kidney and Spleen.   Instead of raw salads, eat your vegetables in hearty soups and stews.  Eat squashes, potatoes, beans and meats.  Eat in moderation however.  You especially don’t want to overeat during the Winter.   Overeating places a burden on your digestive system.   Sugar products will produce dampness and damage the Spleen.  So it is very important to limit or curtail sweets during the Winter.    Black is the color of the Kidney, so black beans, seaweed, black rice, dark meat, mushrooms, black olives are all good at this time of year as well.

Exercise

     Proper exercise during the winter season involves more breathing, stretching and gentle movements than aerobic or strength training.  Exercises like Yoga, TaiChi and Qi gong are prefect ways to stimulate qi movement without overtaxing the Kidney.  Walks before mealtimes can help stimulate appetite while walks after dinner can help move qi and decrease the stuffed overfed feeling.    These walks should be at a gentle pace to help you relax.

     Remember you don’t want to overdo either in eating or exercising.  For more information contact us at the clinic.    Be in balance with the seasons and you will be in balance with your body.