The Season of Yin: Winter in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In these early days of January, we have passed the Winter Solstice and are creeping a bit closer to the longer, warmer season with each passing day. Despite this truth, January still contains some of the darkest, coldest, and snowiest days, and is the time of year us chillier Mainers can start to feel as though winter may never end. A valuable tool during this time is the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, reminding us that even the deepest darkness has a purpose. 

The Meaning of Winter in Traditional Chinese Medicine
As we discussed in our previous blog post on Autumn, In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yin and Yang are a fundamental concept of two dynamic energetic forces. When discussing the seasons, Yang is most commonly associated with the summer - bright, active, and warm - whereas Yin is tied to winter. Yin is associated with the cold and darkness (which we have in abundance at the moment!), as well as stillness, and introspection. When we feel slower and sleepier in these colder months, we are feeling the Yin of the season, within us, beckoning us to slow down.

Winter is associated with the water element in TCM, as well as the systems in our body associated with fluid regulation, the kidneys and bladder. Water signifies wisdom, harmony, and flow, and is vital to our energy and health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi is the manifestation of the energy flowing through all living things, sustaining and vitalizing. Jing is the condensed version of Qi – our bodies' reserves of energy, stored in the kidney. When the vibrant energy of the natural world around us slows and stills, we are to turn inwards towards fostering that energy within us. When we rest and find the time to slow down as winter suggests, we can nourish that reserve of life force.

Steps to Embrace the Season

Have plenty of fluids!

Winter is quite the drying season! Staying extra attentive of your water consumption, ensuring you are keeping your body hydrated, is very important to keeping your kidneys and bladder flowing and your body balanced. In the winter, it’s better to swap your summertime ice cubes for some tepid water, or even a hot herbal tea! Which leads us to our next point…

Keep yourself warm

Keeping the body warm during the winter is an essential part of maintaining winter wellness in TCM. You can do this by wrapping yourself with extra layers (especially your head, hands and feet), consuming warming drinks and food, and protecting yourself from the chillier winds of the season. This isn’t to say you should avoid the outdoors altogether - finding the time to gently exercise, and feel the sun on your face can balance your mood and replenish your yang, even in these January days.

Embrace rest

Yin and yang cannot exist without each other, and strive to remain in some kind of balance, ever in flux. The rush of outdoor activities, engagements, and adventures naturally slow down during the snowy season. During the winter, we are meant to recover from the busy nature of the previous seasons, as well as store energy for the springtime to come. Especially after the hectic holiday seasons, your body may be craving more rest and recovery, though it can be easy to ignore those signals in an effort to continue to be productive in your work and home life.

Rather than pushing against that instinct altogether, when you can, allow yourself to embrace the urge to slow down. Get a little extra sleep. Spend that free evening in your pajamas. Find those moments of rest you innately need and deserve. You won’t be doing so alone -  you’ll be resting alongside the wintery world around us, with the slumbering trees, the hibernating critters, and the frozen, silent earth.