Nature of Winter
Chinese Medicine HuangDi "Yellow Emperor": Lifestyle and Diet

Chinese Medicine Theory
  • Water
  • Kidney
  • Bladder
  • Salty
  • Supporting Knees/Back/Jing/Essence
  • North
  • Cold
  • Fear
  • Black/Blue
  • Element
  • Yin Organ
  • Yang Organ
  • Flavor of Food or Herb
  • Action
  • Direction
  • Climate
  • Emotion
  • Color

    • HuangDi NeiJing SuWen: Ancient Ecology from the Yellow Emperor

    (ref. HuangDi NeiJing, The Yellow's Emperor's Classic of Medicine, trans. MaoShing Ni)

    Winter Lifestyle

    During the winter months, all things enter a resting period, just as lakes and rivers freeze and snow falls. This is a time when     yin dominates yang . Therefore one should refrain from overusing the yang energy. Retire early and get up with the sun. Desires and mental activity are kept quiet, subdued and contained; as if keeping a happy secret. Stay warm, avoid cold and keep the pores closed to prevent loss of heat. The philosophy of Winter is one of conservation and storage; allowing for the ability to open and move with grace and fluidity once Spring comes.

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    Healthy Winter Diet

    Winter is a time of quietude and rootedness; storing energy. Baked foods of roots, winter greens and grains provide important nourishment. In the cycle of the seasons, of the elements and the organ systems: winter is the rest period nourished by summer's adundance that will awaken with spring's fresh green growth. The restful quietude and rootedness is essential.
    In winter, warmth of qi is cultivated internally; while in summer, qi is very external.
    Use caution with large meals: as metabolism is naturally slowed and condensed, large meals will only accentuate this making the awakening of spring ever more difficult. And use caution with pungent and spicy flavorings -- these are great for the warmth of summer as they open the pores for sweat.
    Days are short and nights are long; three days of winter equal the light of one summer day. Go out as much as you are able for winter's quiet daylight.

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