Won’t You be Cold in Winter?
Winter is the season that corresponds to the Water Element in Oriental medicine. It is the season of deep yin, cold, and a time to conserve energy, as life slows down, and considered the most Kapha season in Ayurveda. Winter is the season of going within, quiet time, meditation, and observing one’s dreams during this phase of deep rest. This is the season where the kidneys and bladder are particularly vulnerable, which govern the emotions of fear, willpower as well as the bones, teeth, hair on the head, ears, knees and sexual vitality. When the weather is cold, the skin contracts to preserve heat. In winter, one is more likely to experience lowered immunity, colds, flu, sore joints, low libido, depression, poor memory and poor circulation.
Spend more time with family and friends. Get in touch with your feelings. Going to bed earlier and arising later keeps us in tune with nature's rhythm. Be sure to stretch cold tight muscles before arising rather than springing out of bed. It’s often a good idea to get outdoors for some full spectrum light daily. When this isn’t possible, at least sit near a window to take in light.
In winter, it makes sense to use more warming concentrated foods. Include more dark orange colored vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and carrots. Eat more grounding roots such as burdock, onions, rutabagas and turnips. Other warming foods include arugula, broccoli, sprouted buckwheat, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, unpasteurized miso soup, mustard greens, radishes, sea vegetables, and watercress. Red colored fruits can include cranberries, pink grapefruit, dried peaches. Nuts and seeds make excellent protein rich snacks. Consuming more nuts, nut butters and dried fruit in the winter helps one have better resistance to the cold. Getting adequate fats such as in olive oil, avocados, durian, nuts and seeds helps treat dry skin and scalp so prevalent when heat is used in the homes. Grow more sprouts in the winter so you won’t have to go out for unseasonal produce as often.
The flavor associated with winter is salty, so learn to enjoy the wonderful mineral rich seaweeds such as kelp, nori, hiziki, and dulse, which can be used to season food. Black sesame seeds make a wonderful warming winter condiment when sprinkled on food. Celtic and Himalayan salts are mineral rich salts that have not had their minerals removed like many commercial white salts.
Culinary herbs that make us feel warmer and improve circulation include:
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) warms the body, improves circulation and has antiseptic, and antioxidant properties.
Cardamom seed (Elettaria cardamomum), is warming and also an expectorant, helping one to get rid of mucus obstructing the respiratory passages.
Cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens), improves circulation, is rich in vitamin C, and helps relieve chills, coughs and congestion.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) helps dry dampness in the body and warms people that are always cold and suffering from poor circulation.
Clove bud (Syzygium aromaticum) stimulates circulation and warms the body.
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a potent vasodilator and improves circulation by helping to prevent the blood from clumping together.
Curry powder is a combination of several warming spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, pepper, and mustard seed.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) improves circulation to all parts of the body and helps move stagnation and reduces inflammation that contributes to stiff achy joints. Ginger baths are warming, muscle relaxing and cold and flu relieving and can be made by simmering eight ounces of ginger into a half gallon of water, simmering at a low boil for twenty minutes, then straining into the bathtub.
Horseradish (Armoracia lapathifolia) is high in vitamin C, and aids in the digestion of fatty foods. Horseradish is antiseptic and a strong decongestant; helping to open congested respiratory passages.
Use more of the warming culinary herbs to spice up your food and as teas to promote a healthy, warming glow throughout the body. Astragalus, fenugreek and hawthorn berry are all warming and can be used as teas. Hot herbal teas warm you in cold weather. Almond milk and honey can herb tea additions for those breaking away from coffee and black tea rituals.
Avoid drinking icy cold drinks, and if consuming food from the refrigerator, take the item out and allow it to get to room temperature before eating. Avoid overly cold foods such as melons or ice water in winter.
Dress warmer and enjoy walks taking in some of the full spectrum light during this darker time of the year. Wearing bright warm colors such as red, copper, orange, and black contribute to one's feeling warm. White is a cooling color. Protect the kidney region and back of neck from getting chills and being exposed to drafts. Mom was right. We do lose heat through the head and wearing a hat and scarf can help protect the chest, throat and ears from cold invasion that can contribute to infection. Protect the kidneys by wearing undershirts tucked into long johns for example. Baring your lower back to the elements can cause weakness in the kidneys. Sprinkling a bit of cayenne pepper or ginger powder between one's shoes and socks can help warm the feet when needing to be outdoors. Yoga, t'ai chi, chi gong, stretching, deep breathing exercises, crawling (helps prevent joint problems) and dancing can easily be practiced indoors even on days where you don't venture out for skiing, sledding or snow showing. Enjoy hot baths, saunas, and visit hot springs. Get massaged with unrefined cold pressed olive or coconut oil. Take walks outside during the sunniest part of the day. This might be a good time to learn or practice a handcraft.
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