Holistic Care

‘Cold is death’

This was a saying we were taught in Chinese medicine school.  Although I take some issue with this statement, on the whole, I can’t argue too much.

We believe staying warm is essential for maintaining good health. Winter is the season of Yin, which is associated with cold, darkness, and stillness. When we are exposed to too much cold, it can damage our Yang energy, which is associated with warmth, light, and activity.

Yang energy is essential for all bodily functions, including digestion, circulation, and immune system function. When our Yang energy is weak, we are more susceptible to disease and illness.

Here are some of the benefits of staying warm from a Chinese medicine perspective: Read More

THE ORGAN OF WINTER, VITALITY, LONGEVITY, AND FERTILITY

Believe it or not, according to the Chinese solar calendar, we’ve just passed into winter, and with that, we’ve also entered into the time of the year where the water element is the strongest. In Five Element theory, every element has with it an associated emotion, taste, special type of energy, and organ. The water element has a close relationship with the Kidneys, which in Chinese medicine are the seat of long life and fertility, so let’s dive in (pun intended) and get to know this precious organ and its meridian.

The Kidney Channel

The Kidney Channel begins on the sole of the foot at a point poetically named Gushing Spring, or ‘Yong Quan’ in Chinese. From there, it travels up the inside of the calf and thigh, up through the genitals and uterus, through several other organs before finally ending on the bottom of the tongue, although its points terminate just below the collarbone.

Effectively, the kidneys are considered to be to source of all life in Chinese medicine. The Qi of every other organ system in the body depends on flourishing Kidney energy to function properly. Indeed, the Kidneys are Read More