Welcome, Winter
November 7th marks the beginning of winter in the Chinese calendar. Winter is the season of Yin, which is inward energy representing slow, dark, and cold. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches us to live in harmony with the seasons by living in sync with nature. As the sunsets earlier and rises later, we should follow the example by resting longer. The Nei Ching is an ancient Chinese classic that advises people to go to sleep early and rise late.
Spring and summer are the seasons of energy. Winter is the time to recover from the energy depletion at the end of the year and to replenish for the next year. The kidneys are the organ most associated with winter, and kidneys are the source of the body’s energy (or Qi). Rest is important for strengthening the kidneys.
Water is the element of winter, and one can use water as an indication of what foods to eat. Eating miso soup during the winter to support kidney Qi and the immune system dates back centuries. Miso is high in sodium, like the oceans, and adding seaweed gives your body an extra boost to get through the cold winter season. Shiitake mushrooms in miso soup are also great to help boost your immune system. When you feel the onset of a cold miso soup can help relieve headaches, congestion, and fevers.
Miso Soup
Washing and sanitizing hands is the first line of defense against Covid. However, washing hands subjects skin to dryness that can allow external pathogens into the body. Skin is the body’s largest organ, and in turns needs to be looked after. As we move into winter and colder weather, our skin becomes drier. In order to hydrate dry skin, it must be exfoliated first. I’m sharing the recipe for a great scrub you can make at home. And I’m also including one of my favorite recipes for this time of year that I call “Penicillin for Jewish Mothers.” It is a chicken soup packed full of nutrients that encourage the growth of yin and nourishes your skin from the inside out.
Penicillin for Jewish Mothers