Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Traditional Chinese Medicine Winter Health Tips for the New Year


Happy New Year holiday excitement is over and now we can move to a quiet winter season. This is the perfect time to be more introspective, set new goals and to feed your whole being in accordance with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is rooted in the philosophy that people should live in harmony with the environment - so during the winter, it means slowing down in the colder months, deeply nourishes itself and keeping warm and well rested in order to plant the seeds for renewed vitality of the new year. As nature slows down and hibernate in the winter, the process of new growth and regeneration of the spring has already started internally.

Meditation
Winter time is an excellent time for retrospection, meditation and explore deeper issues. To do this, we need to slow down. In fact, we are usually so busy that we did not realize how neurotic our thoughts and actions. When we slow down through meditation, relaxation, or just taking some time off, I May be overwhelmed by the recognition of how quickly and filled our lives really are. If we take the time to truly relax and slow, winter season can provide an opportunity for deep inner insight and deep introspection. This process, of course, can lead to a "thing" that is stuck below the surface of our daily activities, problems, or patterns of thought May we have avoided our current busy-ness. Easy to these questions may arise, develop, and slip away as quietly as your mind with simple meditation and breathing practices. Allowing this process to develop during the winter season may have many different qualities than the peeling process that can engage in during our spring and fall clean up. The end result may be similar, but different body systems, emotions and patterns are included. This level of mind / heart medication is an integral part of a true integrative health and winter is a great way to experience the holistic benefits of meditation.

authority
According to the principles of TCM, winter is associated with the element water and affects the health of the kidneys, urinary bladder, adrenal gland, bone (including bone marrow) and teeth. In TCM, the kidneys are the main source of vitality, energy and heat, as well as the vital essence. Energy is drawn from that source in times of stress and anxiety, or when the body requires treatment. During cold winters, it is important to maintain healthy kidneys and adrenal glands through proper nutrition and supplementation, good hydration, and energy practices such as yoga and Tai Chi, which helps maintain core warm and well fed.

Emotions
According to TCM, winter is a dormant, cold and wet in nature, related to emotions such as fear and depression, which tend to make a bigger impact during this season. In Western medicine, many people are diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression / anxiety that occurs during the darker months, primarily due to the lack of sun exposure. Women often experience this condition more than men, and results in poor mood, lack of energy, irritability, weight gain due to overeating and fatigue. In addition to taking a vitamin D-3, I recommend opening the curtains during the day to allow any sun to come and take a brisk walk (in the sun, if possible) to improve circulation and blood flow. Meditation practice helps to calm the mind and heart are also extremely valuable during the winter season.

warming, nourishing foods
In the icy winter months, people tend to exercise less, and still crave more sedentary and calorie dense foods forget. Importantly, however, pay close attention to the amount and type of food you eat during this time, to avoid unhealthy weight gain. According to TCM, it is also important to avoid too much raw food in winter, because they tend to cool the body and can deplete our digestive "fire", which is the ability to assimilate food efficiently. I recommend to eat warm food, cooking them longer at lower temperatures with less water. Emphasize soups and stews, root vegetables, plenty of dark leafy green vegetables, kidney and black beans, walnuts, black sesame seeds, whole grains, and seaweed. These are some foods that help to determine the failure to raise the emotions, nourish the body, you warm and help you save energy.

amendments
Botanicals and nutrients that promote immune health during the winter are important adjuncts to survive cold and flu season. The high quality of medicinal mushrooms are potent immune modulators, along with vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D-3. Other extras include a strong immune Modified Citrus Pectin and Tibetan herbal formula with more than 3 decades of clinical research. Purified Honokiol (magnolia bark extract) can help support mood and comprehensive digestive formula can retain strong support digestion and absorption of nutrients for optimal food. Other plants stressed TCM in winter the plants are tonifying, warming up, grounding and strengthening properties.

healing practices
People are more susceptible to colds and flu during the winter and cold weather cause the immune system. The main treatment in TCM are acupuncture and moxabustion (burning of moxa herb, mugwort, about specific acupuncture points), Qi Gong (the precise exercises to improve the flow of vital energy), specific dietary recommendations, as well as extensive Pharmacopeia herbal medicine. All these therapies are of great value during the winter, as they also help to relieve stagnation of energy caused by a lack of activities and cold weather. TCM practitioners also advise how much sleep as possible during the winter, which helps replenish the kidney and significant energy return. How to bed early and rise after the sun rose will help keep the warmth and vitality.

Traditional Chinese medicine reflects an innate connection with nature, with each season presents opportunities for transformation, healing and rast.Zimske season allows deeper introspection and food, so that the seeds of our intent to develop internally before they bloom in spring. So stay warm, hydrated and nourished, and give yourself extra time and space to slow down, rest and think in this season of deep silence.

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