winter Archives - Mend Acupuncture

Our Heart’s Protector: The Pericardium
Gallery
Our Heart’s Protector: The Pericardium

acupoint, Mood, Organ

Our Heart’s Protector: The Pericardium

By JaimeRoslyn|2023-02-09T08:28:13-05:00February 9th, 2023|Categories: acupoint, Mood, Organ|Tags: emotion, fear, Heart Protector, PC 6, Pericardium, TCM, Valentine's Day, winter|

We're less than a week from Valentine's Day, with all focus it's focus on the ❤️/heart. However, an organ that deserves some major props around this time of year is the Pericardium. Physically, the Pericardium is a double-layered sac of fibrous tissue that surrounds the heart. Spaces between the layers are filled with fluid, which lubricates as well as protects the Heart from external shock or trauma. Of course, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the idea of protecting the Heart goes much deeper. A Bit About Zàng-fǔ One of the most central tenets of TCM is zàng-fǔ. Within this concept, [...]

Comments Off

Questions to Consider for Winter
Gallery
Questions to Consider for Winter

Mood, Prompts, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Questions to Consider for Winter

By JaimeRoslyn|2023-02-07T16:50:17-05:00February 7th, 2023|Categories: Mood, Prompts, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, emotion, fear, questions of the season, TCM, winter|

Photo by David Besh from Pexels In Chinese Medicine, Winter is the darkest, slowest, most inward and reflective season. Just as its opposite Summer, is the brightest, most active and energetic. This is not to be taken lightly, as truly, these seasons are polar opposites, i.e. yin (Winter) and yang (Summer). Similarly to how Summer's abundant daylight beckons us with long days and "fun in the sun," Winter pushes us to confront darkness and slowing down. This vibe can feel incongruent to our modern world. But rest assured, in Chinese Medicine, this is for our own good. Winter instructs us [...]

Comments Off

The Kidney and Root Chakra in Winter
Gallery
The Kidney and Root Chakra in Winter

Movement, Self-Care, Wellness

The Kidney and Root Chakra in Winter

By Alexandra|2023-01-24T15:26:11-05:00January 23rd, 2023|Categories: Movement, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: grounding, Root chakra, The Kidneys, winter, yoga, Yoga with Adriene|

I recently came across a Yoga With Adriene video, Grounding Into Gratitude: Root Chakra Yoga, and it ended up being a nourishing delight. Even though the chakras are a whole different system than Chinese Medicine, there is certainly some overlap, and this video got me thinking about how the first chakra is similar to The Kidney in the season of winter (and its corresponding emotion of fear) in Chinese Medicine. The chakra system originated in ancient India. Chakras are ‘discs’ or ‘wheels’ of energy that ascend the spine and relate to different parts of our emotional and physical wellbeing. The [...]

Comments Off

The Winter Experience
Gallery
The Winter Experience

Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

The Winter Experience

By JaimeRoslyn|2024-01-08T13:21:18-05:00January 4th, 2023|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: nourishing, water, winter, yin|

Photo by Daniel Frese from Pexels Winter is the most Yin time of year in Chinese medicine. Yin being an energy that is dark, cold, slow, and inward, the antithesis of Summer’s Yang energy. The way we use our energy is particularly important during the most Yin and Yang times of year. During wintertime, nurture and nourishment is a necessity, introspection and reflection come easily, and planting seeds for the future is the strategy. This is the time to nourish the body, mind, and soul with slow, quiet, reflective, and restorative Yin activities. In addition, the winter season is ruled [...]

Comments Off

Zhi: The Energy of Will, Purpose and Destiny
Gallery
Zhi: The Energy of Will, Purpose and Destiny

acupoint, Seasonal Changes, Wellness

Zhi: The Energy of Will, Purpose and Destiny

By JaimeRoslyn|2024-01-09T10:51:09-05:00January 3rd, 2023|Categories: acupoint, Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: acupoint, bladder 52, destiny, kindeys, water, will, winter, zhi|

The spirit of the Water Element is zhi (pronounced zhur). This is one’s will, ambition, purpose, and destiny – a force that moves a person towards their destiny without much conscious thought or effort. In this blog, learn more about zhi and ways in which you can cultivate this powerful energy. Additionally, zhi is thought to be the innate power of life itself – life that wants to live and survive. Zhi is housed in The Kidneys. Therefore, a person with strong Kidney strength has strong zhi, i.e. a drive to be alive; a person with less Kidney strength may [...]

Comments Off

The Winter Solstice: A Time of Self-Care & Celebration
Gallery
The Winter Solstice: A Time of Self-Care & Celebration

Seasonal Changes, Self-Care

The Winter Solstice: A Time of Self-Care & Celebration

By JaimeRoslyn|2023-12-21T11:05:23-05:00December 13th, 2022|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Self-Care|Tags: 2022, celebration, Chinese medicine, Dongzhi, rituals, winter, winter solstice, yin/yang|

Photo by Marina Leonova from Pexels What is the Winter Solstice? The winter solstice marks the perfect time for celebration, reflection, and self-care. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this is the day when the Earth’s axis tilts the furthest away from the sun, creating the shortest day and longest night of the year. While the solstice marks the start of winter, it also signals the beginning of more light ahead. The Winter Solstice in Traditional Chinese Medicine During the winter solstice, Yin will be at its peak. This is the time of year in which [...]

Comments Off

Du20: To Raise Yang in the Yin of Winter
Gallery
Du20: To Raise Yang in the Yin of Winter

acupoint, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Du20: To Raise Yang in the Yin of Winter

By Alexandra|2022-11-15T14:05:17-05:00January 11th, 2022|Categories: acupoint, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: acupoint, du20, winter|

It seems important to start out by saying that there’s definitely something to leaning into the Yin of winter. That might look like letting ourselves feel less energetic and motivated, perhaps feeling inward and wanting to spend more time alone. Chinese Medicine is all about living in harmony with the seasons. That being said, in order for balance to exist, Yin cannot exist without Yang. This acupoint is just one tool to help balance the Yin of winter with a little bit of Yang. What is Yang? It’s the opposite of Yin. It is warmth, it is light, it [...]

Comments Off

Warmth and Vitality in a Bowl
Gallery
Warmth and Vitality in a Bowl

Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Wellness

Warmth and Vitality in a Bowl

By BrianD|2022-11-15T14:05:17-05:00January 4th, 2022|Categories: Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: bone broth, Chinese medicine, congee, winter|

Photo by Louise Hagger Winter is upon us. As we withdraw to the warmth of our houses, we should keep in mind that the weather isn't the only thing that we should adjust during this season. Just as the Sun goes to bed earlier in Winter, so to speak, and gets up later, so too do we need more rest in Winter than the rest of the year. What we eat should also reflect this most inward-focused season of the year. One of the best things to eat year-round, but especially in Winter is a beef bone broth congee (porridge). [...]

Comments Off

The Kidneys: The Root of Life
Gallery
The Kidneys: The Root of Life

Organ, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Take Home TCM, Wellness

The Kidneys: The Root of Life

By aubreylewis|2023-01-25T15:43:53-05:00February 1st, 2021|Categories: Organ, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Take Home TCM, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, essence, jing, kidneys, seasonal changes, TCM, The Kidneys, winter, zhi|

Winter is the season for rest and restoration, as well as a time of expending as little energy as possible. With this focus on energy levels and vitality, it’s no wonder that the organs associated with Winter are the kidneys and bladder. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys are particularly important. They act like a rechargeable battery for Qi, or energy, in the body. This vital energy is held in reserve so that it may be used in times of stress and illness. While a balance of activity is necessary all year round, Winter is the powering down [...]

Comments Off

Feel it in Your Bones
Gallery
Feel it in Your Bones

Movement, Pain, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Take Home TCM, Wellness

Feel it in Your Bones

By Dana Iscoe|2023-01-10T09:13:28-05:00January 25th, 2021|Categories: Movement, Pain, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Take Home TCM, Wellness|Tags: bones, exercises, movement, pain, prevention, TCM, tips, winter|

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine framework that underlies acupuncture, each season of the year has correspondences to different aspects of life. As you've already learned, Winter corresponds to the water element, the emotion of fear, and the organs of the Kidney and Bladder. Winter also corresponds with the bodily tissue of the bones and the importance of structure within the body, starting with the development of the embryo. Bone strength plays a big part in quality of life, though often gets passed over unless someone is actively worried about osteoporosis. Consider these ideas as you rest your weary bones [...]

Comments Off