Winter is the coldest season of the year, and also the time when nature is in hibernation and conservation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a system of medicine that originated in China, and it believes that the human body is a microcosm of nature, and should adapt to the natural changes, adjust the lifestyle, to achieve the balance of yin and yang, and maintain physical and mental health. This article will introduce the methods and principles of winter wellness with TCM from the aspects of diet, exercise, psychology, herbs and traditional festivals.
Winter wellness with diet
Winter is cold, and the body needs to increase the intake of heat to resist the cold and maintain body temperature. The principle of TCM diet is to choose warm and hot foods, increase the intake of fat and protein appropriately, avoid eating too much cold, raw, spicy foods, to avoid damaging the yang and the stomach. At the same time, it is also important to pay attention to the balance and moderation of the diet, not to be too full or too hungry, to avoid causing indigestion or malnutrition.
TCM also recommends some winter dietary therapies, which can nourish the body, enhance the resistance, prevent and treat some common winter diseases. For example, ginger soup can warm the middle and dispel the cold, suitable for winter cold, cough, stomach cold and other symptoms. The method of making ginger soup is very simple, just need to slice fresh ginger, add boiling water, boil, add some brown sugar, and drink. Red date and lotus seed soup can nourish the blood and the heart, suitable for winter palpitations, insomnia, anemia and other symptoms. The method of making red date and lotus seed soup is also very easy, just need to wash red dates, lotus seeds, longan, lily and other dried fruits, add some water, boil until soft, add some rock sugar, and eat. Other foods such as mutton, walnuts, sesame, wolfberry, longan, etc., are also common winter nourishing foods.
Winter wellness with exercise
Winter is cold, but it does not mean to stop exercising. Proper exercise can promote blood circulation, increase metabolism, improve immunity, improve mood, prevent obesity and chronic diseases. The principle of TCM exercise is to choose suitable winter sports, such as winter morning run, tai chi, qigong, etc., these sports can exercise the whole body, without excessive consumption of yang. The time, intensity and frequency of exercise should be based on personal constitution, age and health condition, and not overdo it, to avoid injuring the lung and spleen.
TCM also pays attention to the relationship between exercise and the body’s meridians, and believes that winter is the period of kidney meridian’s prosperity. The kidney governs water, stores essence, and is closely related to the vitality. Therefore, winter exercise should pay attention to protecting the kidney meridian, avoid cold, massage the waist, abdomen, feet and other parts related to the kidney meridian, to enhance the kidney qi, prolong life.
Winter wellness with psychology
Winter is short of daylight, low temperature, people’s activity range and social opportunities are reduced, easy to have psychological problems, such as low mood, winter depression, anxiety, loneliness, etc. The principle of TCM psychological wellness is to adjust the mood, keep the mind calm, cultivate optimistic, positive, peaceful mentality, avoid excessive sadness, fear, anger and other negative emotions, to avoid harming the liver, heart, kidney and other organs. At the same time, it is also important to pay attention to the quality of sleep, follow the natural circadian rhythm, go to bed early and get up early, do not stay up late, to avoid consuming the essence, qi and spirit.
TCM also provides some psychological wellness suggestions, which can help people relieve the psychological pressure in winter, and enhance the happiness. For example, listening to music, reading, writing, etc., can cultivate the sentiment, broaden the horizon, stimulate the creativity. Communicating with family, friends, colleagues, etc., can enhance the relationship, expand the social circle, reduce the loneliness. Participating in some meaningful activities, such as volunteer service, public welfare donation, etc., can increase the self-worth, satisfy the self-actualization.
Winter wellness with herbs
Winter is the most suitable season for taking Chinese herbs, because Chinese herbs can regulate the balance of yin and yang in the body, enhance the body’s ability to resist diseases, prevent and treat some common winter diseases. The principle of TCM herbal wellness is to choose suitable winter herbs, such as astragalus, codonopsis, morinda, etc., these herbs can tonify the qi and blood, warm the yang and strengthen the kidney, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, enhance the immunity. The method, dosage and time of taking Chinese herbs should be based on personal constitution, symptoms and medical advice, and not take them randomly, to avoid adverse reactions.
The effects of Chinese herbs can not only be applied in winter wellness, but also be experienced in daily life. For example, astragalus can be used to make tea, which can refresh the mind, increase the physical strength, suitable for winter work and study. Codonopsis can be used to make soup, which can nourish the lung and spleen, increase the appetite, suitable for winter loss of appetite. Morinda can be used to stew meat, which can invigorate the yang and nourish the kidney, improve the sexual function, suitable for winter impotence and premature ejaculation.
Winter wellness with traditional festivals
Winter is the concentrated period of Chinese traditional festivals, such as the winter solstice, the Laba festival, etc., these festivals not only have a deep cultural connotation, but also have some customs and foods related to wellness. The principle of TCM traditional festival wellness is to follow the natural changes of the solar terms, combine with personal physical condition, choose suitable festival activities and foods, to achieve the purpose of harmonizing yin and yang, expelling evil qi, and adding auspiciousness.
The winter solstice is the first solar term of winter, and also the day with the shortest daylight and the longest night of the year, symbolizing the extreme of yin and the birth of yang, and everything begins to revive. The customs of the winter solstice are to eat dumplings, glutinous rice balls, cakes, etc., these foods are symbols of reunion, auspiciousness, warmth, and can also supplement the body’s heat, resist the cold. The activities of the winter solstice are to worship the ancestors, worship the sun, soak in hot springs, etc., these activities are expressions of awe and gratitude to nature and ancestors, and can also relax the body and mind, and enhance the physique.
The Laba festival is the second solar term of winter, and also the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which is an important festival of Buddhism, and also a traditional day of worshiping the gods and praying for a good harvest in China. The customs of the Laba festival are to eat Laba porridge, hang cured meat, pickle vegetables, etc., these foods are methods of preserving food by using the low temperature in winter, and also preparations for the New Year. The activities of the Laba festival are to burn incense and worship Buddha, worship the gods, pray and make wishes, etc., these activities are expressions of devotion and faith to Buddhism and the gods, and also prayers for peace and auspiciousness in the New Year.
The bottom line
This article introduces the methods and principles of winter wellness with TCM, from the aspects of diet, exercise, psychology, herbs and traditional festivals, it provides some practical suggestions and references for foreign readers, hoping to help them maintain a healthy body and a pleasant mood in winter. TCM is a traditional system of medicine in China, which has a long history and rich culture, and is worth learning and studying for TCM enthusiasts.
