winter Archives - Page 2 of 3

Jammed Yams
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Jammed Yams

Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Jammed Yams

By maryshock|2022-11-15T14:06:18-05:00January 22nd, 2021|Categories: Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, jammed yam, nourish, nutrition, recipe, sweet potato, TCM, winter, yin|

Jammed Yam is a staple in my cooking rotation. One of my housemates said “I would eat this as often as every other week.” High praise. The recipe is below, but basically Jammed Yam is a baked sweet potato served with warm black beans and pineapple salsa. It’s a rip off of Mom’s Organic Market’s Jammed Yam, which they serve in their Naked Lunch cafe. I love this dish because it is: Delicious Inexpensive Easy Vegan A good vehicle for toppings - avocado, cilantro, and more! Eating this meal just feels warm and nourishing. April Crowell, a Holistic Nutritionist, [...]

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Themes of Winter: Rest & Nourish
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Themes of Winter: Rest & Nourish

coronavirus, Mood, Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Themes of Winter: Rest & Nourish

By allysonschurtz|2022-11-15T14:06:18-05:00January 22nd, 2021|Categories: coronavirus, Mood, Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: bladder, Chinese medicine, emotion, fear, kidney, nourish, nutrition, rest, TCM, water, winter, yin|

Photo by Annie Spratt Lately in the treatment room, patients are reporting feeling extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, and depression. This admission is typically followed by the question, “what’s wrong with me?” Nothing is wrong! For many of us, our nervous systems have been under stress for a long period of time and this can have a significant impact on our health. The remedy is to lean into the wisdom of the season and allow ourselves the space to rest. This year, it’s more important than ever. Rest According to TCM, much like many animals in nature, Winter is [...]

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Kidney 3 – Tai Xi – 太谿 – Great Ravine
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Kidney 3 – Tai Xi – 太谿 – Great Ravine

Acupressure, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Kidney 3 – Tai Xi – 太谿 – Great Ravine

By mca_sarah|2022-11-15T14:06:18-05:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Acupressure, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, kidney 3, organs, TCM, winter|

Photo by Francesco Ungaro Named for its ravine-like location on the body, Kidney 3 lives in the inner ankle, in a depression between the medial malleolus (your ankle bone on the inside) and your achilles tendon. This is a critical point for accessing the power of the Kidney organs, addressing issues of energy levels and destiny. As you may already know, the Kidney is responsible for detoxification and maintaining fluid balance. However, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Kidney is kind of like your battery pack. It also contains your genetic material (not referring to DNA – this is TCM [...]

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3 Easy Winter Tips
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3 Easy Winter Tips

Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

3 Easy Winter Tips

By aubreylewis|2022-11-15T14:06:19-05:00January 11th, 2021|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, foot soak, nature, seasonal changes, soup, TCM, winter|

The theme for Winter is STAY WARM and here’s why: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we know that cold and dampness (hello, Maryland!) can enter the body suddenly or seep in slowly over a long period of time through the wei qi (protective qi) layer, specifically via the skin and lungs. It can also enter after eating cold, raw foods or adding ice to drinks. The kidneys (the organ of winter) are the source of warmth (Ming Men fire) in the body, kind of like a furnace. This “fire” diminishes as we age and can be damaged by improper diet, [...]

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Leaning into Winter (For Once)
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Leaning into Winter (For Once)

coronavirus, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Leaning into Winter (For Once)

By Jaime Kauffman|2022-11-15T14:06:20-05:00December 29th, 2020|Categories: coronavirus, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, coronavirus, covid-19, death, fear, nature, seasonal changes, TCM, winter, zhi|

Winter is commonly known as a time to slow down, rest, and restore. At a young age we learn about animals that hibernate during this season. And each year we watch the flora and fauna diminish to just their bare essentials. These are our cues, to tuck in and rest, as we too are part of the natural order of things. Often, this time of year can be challenging. There’s an inner knowing of slowing down contrasted by the frenzy that occurs during these darker days. Starting with Thanksgiving, we have a slew of holidays and subsequent gatherings that [...]

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Winter Walks, What?
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Winter Walks, What?

coronavirus, Immunity, Organ, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Winter Walks, What?

By Jaime Kauffman|2024-01-08T13:56:20-05:00December 15th, 2020|Categories: coronavirus, Immunity, Organ, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: acupuncturists, Baltimore, Chinese medicine, coronavirus, covid, covid-19, fall, nature, seasonal changes, TCM, trails, walking, winter|

Many Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners consider Fall to be the premiere season for taking walks outside. Afterall, Fall is the season of the Lungs and Large Intestines, and the act of releasing and letting go seems to go hand-in-hand with walking. However, outdoor walks are monumentally beneficial every season, every day. Walking outside is a great way to circulate qi, strengthen the lungs, aid digestion, promote circulation, and clear the mind. In fact, during times of “brooding,” stress or anxiety, it’s been shown that taking a tree-lined walk changes blood flow in the brain to improve and enhance mood. However, [...]

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Your First Line of Defense: Wei Qi
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Your First Line of Defense: Wei Qi

coronavirus, History of Acupuncture, Immunity, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Your First Line of Defense: Wei Qi

By mca_sarah|2022-11-15T14:06:20-05:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: coronavirus, History of Acupuncture, Immunity, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, fall, immunity, organs, TCM, wei qi, winter|

Immune function and strength from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective is historically fascinating as well as relatable, even after 2,500 years of medical advancement. Immunity in TCM is influenced by several factors, one of which is by our defensive Wei Qi (distinguished from other types of qi or energy thought to circulate in our system, such as nutritional qi or ancestral qi). In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body is thought of as its own microsystem, or more specifically its own “kingdom.” In the kingdom, every organ has a role and an assigned function. The Heart as the Ruler, [...]

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Tending the Heart’s Fire in the Wintertime
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Tending the Heart’s Fire in the Wintertime

Holidays, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

Tending the Heart’s Fire in the Wintertime

By anjuligeorge|2022-11-15T14:07:00-05:00February 12th, 2020|Categories: Holidays, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: heart, Valentine's Day, winter|

As you study Chinese Medicine, you will quickly learn that it is a medicine based in paradox. That is why, when asked to write a blog post about the Heart for Valentine’s Day mid-February, I smiled, knowing that yet again I would have the opportunity to reflect upon some righteous paradox. If you’ve read the last few entries from our blog, or any writing that has to do with seasonal medicine, you’ve learned that in the season of winter we are met with the invitation to go within and to cultivate our rooting system before we arrive in the emergence [...]

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The Winter Blues
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The Winter Blues

Mood, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

The Winter Blues

By JaimeRoslyn|2024-01-09T11:09:20-05:00January 30th, 2020|Categories: Mood, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: depression, mood, tips, winter, yin|

For many people, mid- to late winter can be difficult. We’ve shaken off the holidays, have slid back into our routine, and any sentimental feelings we may have about winter are starting to dissipate. We may be noticing more sunlight in the morning and evening. But it’s cold and dry, creating the potential for snow. “When will this end?” is an ever-looming question. Sound familiar? A Shared Experience In 2014, Christopher Ingraham, a former researcher at the Brookings Institution and Pew Research Center correlated Google search data to determine the general population’s mood throughout the year. Known as the Google [...]

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Winter Nourishment
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Winter Nourishment

Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Wellness

Winter Nourishment

By aubreylewis|2024-01-24T13:34:03-05:00January 8th, 2020|Categories: Nutrition, Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: kidneys, recipe, tips, water, winter, winter squash soup|

January is a reflective and exciting month. We make resolutions to improve our lives in some way each year, and while our energy remains in the yin and quiet state of winter, we are also brimming with potential. Much like the wise roots of ancient trees, we are deeply nourishing ourselves for the burst of life about to come forth. Winter nourishment is warm, slow, and deliberate. This same energy can be translated into the kitchen – cook times are longer, using low heat and less water. Think of the longer cook time as “infusing” food with heat. This helps [...]

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