The north wind quietly infiltrates.
Before experiencing the rich autumn, winter has already arrived.
Beginning of
Winter
This week, we welcome the solar term of the Beginning of Winter. After the Beginning of Winter, it signifies the official arrival of winter. Recently, with the sudden drop in temperature, do you often feel cold in your hands and feet? Besides not wearing enough clothes, it may also be due to Kidney Yang Deficiency.
The kidneys store the “pre-natal essence” and are the foundation of the yin and yang of the organs, the source of life, thus also known as the “pre-natal root.” If Kidney Yang is insufficient, Yang deficiency leads to cold, often presenting with symptoms of cold intolerance, cold limbs, pale tongue, and weak pulse, along with possible symptoms related to the kidneys such as lower back and knee soreness and reproductive dysfunction.
In winter, due to the predominance of yin and the decline of yang in nature, the cold air can easily damage the body’s Yang Qi. Therefore, winter health preservation should focus on conserving yin and protecting yang. The kidneys are connected to the winter qi; if one has a constitution of Yang deficiency or has been ill for a long time, it is common for symptoms to manifest in winter, as stated in the “Su Wen: Treatise on the Correspondence of Yin and Yang” that “can thrive in summer but not in winter,” thus treatment should support Yang and consolidate essence. Therefore, learning to warm and tonify Yang Qi in the cold winter is crucial for maintaining health. Now, let’s learn from the legendary master how to warm Yang and tonify the kidneys.
1
First, regarding daily routines, aim to sleep early and rise late in winter. The “Huangdi Neijing” states: “In the three months of winter, this is called closing and storing. Sleep early and rise late, waiting for sunlight.” In winter, going to bed early and getting up late, while maintaining a longer rest period, can help calm the mind and allow the latent Yang Qi in the body to remain undisturbed. With shorter daylight hours in winter, it is suitable to go to bed around 11 PM and wake up around 7 AM.
Additionally, avoid staying up late. The natural law is to work at sunrise and rest at sunset. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the alternation of yin and yang, the transition of black and white, daytime belongs to Yang, and activity can nourish Yang; nighttime belongs to Yin, and sleep can nourish Yin. Not resting when one should will damage the essence, Qi, and spirit of a person, and long-term staying up late can lead to an imbalance of yin and yang, resulting in a series of health issues.
2
Secondly, pay special attention to warmth. Cold can cause stagnation, and being exposed to cold can easily lead to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. The best way to care for oneself during this time is to prevent cold and keep warm. Adjust clothing and indoor temperatures according to weather changes, wear cotton jackets, and use gloves, scarves, and hats to keep warm. If dressed too lightly or thinly, or if the indoor temperature is too low, it can lead to colds and deplete Yang Qi; conversely, if dressed too heavily or thickly, or if the indoor temperature is too high, excessive activity can open the pores, preventing Yang Qi from being stored, making it easy for cold pathogens to invade.
Individuals with osteoporosis, especially the elderly, should pay particular attention to keeping their backs warm. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the back is the “Yang among Yangs,” and both the Bladder Meridian of the Foot Taiyang and the Governing Vessel pass through here. The Governing Vessel governs all Yang Qi in the body; if the back is exposed to cold wind, it can easily damage the Yang Qi, leading to disharmony of the nutritive and defensive Qi, and susceptibility to wind and cold. The Bladder Meridian of the Foot Taiyang primarily governs the body’s exterior; when wind and cold invade the body, the Taiyang Meridian is the first to be affected, leading to wind-cold obstruction, resulting in pain in the bones and joints. It is advisable to wear a vest and frequently expose the back to sunlight to warm and open the back meridians.
3
In terms of diet, pay attention to moderate supplementation. In popular belief, the cold winter is a good time for supplementation. According to the TCM principle of “deficiency should be supplemented, and cold should be warmed,” winter diets should include more warming and hot foods, especially those that tonify Kidney Yang to enhance the body’s ability to withstand the cold. For example, consuming lamb and other warming foods that tonify the kidneys and generate heat is particularly beneficial for those with cold deficiency; walnuts, chestnuts, longan, and most black foods can nourish the kidneys. These foods can also be cooked in porridge, which can dispel cold and nourish the body. Here, the legendary master has compiled the recipes for “Three Bowls of Kidney Nourishing Porridge” to help everyone adjust their bodies during winter.
Porridge
1. Sesame Walnut Porridge: 20 grams of sesame, 30 grams of walnut kernels, and 100 grams of glutinous rice, all placed in a pot with water to cook into porridge. Sesame nourishes the kidneys and consolidates essence, while walnuts have kidney-nourishing and lung-moistening functions. Regular consumption is greatly beneficial for the kidneys.
2. Lamb Porridge: Chop 10 grams of lock yang (Cynomorium songaricum) finely and wash it, then add water to the pot to decoct and remove the dregs. After letting the water cool for 10 minutes, add 100 grams of lamb and 120 grams of rice to cook into porridge. This porridge warms Yang and tonifies the kidneys, suitable for those with symptoms of lower back and knee soreness, cold intolerance, and Kidney Yang deficiency.
3. Chestnut Laba Porridge: Soak red beans, coix seeds, lotus seeds, and red dates in water for 4 hours, then cook in a pressure cooker for 10 minutes. Add chestnuts, walnut kernels, and rice to cook together into porridge. Consuming chestnut-based Laba porridge is an excellent dietary therapy for tonifying the kidneys, improving symptoms such as lower back soreness and weakness caused by kidney deficiency.
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For individuals with obvious symptoms of Kidney deficiency, in addition to daily life attention to kidney tonification, it is also necessary to choose suitable Chinese patent medicines for supplementation. When selecting kidney tonifying medications, it is essential to correctly differentiate the syndrome. Common types of Kidney deficiency include Kidney Yang deficiency, Kidney Yin deficiency, Kidney Qi deficiency, and Kidney essence deficiency, each requiring different treatment methods, and must not be confused. For example, although both are classic formulas, Liangwei Di Huang Wan is for Kidney Yin deficiency, while Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is for Kidney Yang deficiency. If a patient with Kidney Yin deficiency takes Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, it will have the opposite effect, and vice versa. Therefore, tonifying the kidneys without differentiation may worsen the condition.
Patients with Kidney Yang deficiency primarily present with symptoms of cold intolerance, fatigue, lower back and knee soreness and pain, chronic diarrhea, undigested food, nocturnal diarrhea, frequent clear urination, dark and dull complexion, pale tongue with a thick white coating, and weak pulse. Patients with symptoms of Kidney Yang deficiency can use Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan to warm and tonify Kidney Yang.
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is developed based on the “Jin Gui Yao Lue” Kidney Qi Pill and the “Ji Sheng Fang” modified Kidney Qi Pill, which has the function of warming and tonifying Kidney Yang, transforming Qi, and promoting water metabolism. Clinically, it is mainly used for Kidney deficiency with edema, lower back and knee soreness, difficulty urinating, and cold intolerance.
This formula has three characteristics: first, it combines Yang tonifying herbs with Yin nourishing ingredients, seeking Yang within Yin to allow Yang to transform; second, a small amount of Yang tonifying herbs is combined with a large amount of Yin nourishing herbs, aiming to generate a little fire to produce Qi; third, it combines Yang warming and Qi transforming herbs with blood activating and water promoting herbs, allowing blood to promote water metabolism, thus facilitating the flow of Yang Qi. In modern medicine, chronic bronchial asthma, chronic nephritis, chronic prostatitis, diabetic nephropathy, and elderly urethral syndrome can be treated with this formula for those diagnosed with Kidney Yang deficiency.
All of the above is hoped to guide everyone in better self-care during winter. Winter has already arrived, and I hope everyone can stay healthy through the season, looking forward to the vibrant spring with flourishing grass and bright sunshine!