Now in the month of November, the holiday season has officially started! Besides from having an extra hour of sleep (in the States, the Daylight Savings Time has ended), the first solar term for Winter has arrived. Even though in some areas it may still seem really hot at times, the temperature has significantly dropped overall so it’s even more important to keep the body warm.
How to Maintain -- Warming the Kidney Meridian
The Kidney Meridian stores the body’s essence, which is our vitality, the root of life. It is imperative to nourish and replenish the essence of the Kidney Meridian during this solar term as well as throughout the entire winter. By doing so, not only will a strong Kidney bring us more energy, but it will also delay aging.
[TCM Facts]
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| http://ancientartsacupuncture.com/kidney-meridian-massage/ |
The Kidney Meridian begins at the inferior side of the small toe, crossing the center of the sole. It then circles behind the inner ankle and travels along the innermost side of the calf and thigh, until it passes through the base of the backbone and connects with the kidney. A branch goes from the kidney up towards the liver, diaphragm, lung, along the throat and ends at the root of the tongue. Another branch comes out from the lung, into the chest, and connects to the heart and the Pericardium Meridian.
The Kidney Meridian takes control from 5 ~7 pm, therefore, can massage during this time frame.
Diet
With the beginning of Winter here, it is the perfect time to nourish the body. However, keep in mind that when it comes to nourishment, it’s best to base it on your body’s own constitution. In general, it is good to consume warm property foods such as beef, lamb, ginger, etc. Fresh fruits and vegetables are important too - corn, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, taro, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, persimmons, chestnuts, etc. Overall, choose foods that are easy to digest to avoid causing excess gastrointestinal burden.
For beverages, you can choose drinks such as black bean tea (use dry cooked black beans and add hot water), huang qi ginseng tea, or Four-Herbal Soup (poria, Chinese yam, gorgon, and lotus seeds).
It’s also recommended to avoid spicy, overly salty, greasy, and cold foods.
**Simple Cooking - Black Sesame Oil Chicken**
4 servings
Ingredients:
4 chicken drumsticks
*for vegetarians, chicken can be replaced with a variety of mushrooms, especially king oyster mushrooms (pleurotus eryngii)1 whole old ginger
¼ cup dried/fresh goji berries
1 Tbsp cooking oil
2 Tbsp black sesame oil
1 tsp salt
400ml rice wine
400ml water
*If you prefer a stronger alcohol taste, 800ml of the rice wine can be added instead and no water.
Directions:
Wash and dry the chicken drumsticks before cutting each into 3 chunks
Cut the ginger into slices (thickness of the slices can be left to your preference. If you want to eat the ginger, it is recommended they are cut slightly thinner)
Heat the pot and pour in the cooking oil. When the oil is heated, add the ginger slices and cook until the aroma comes out and it’s slightly golden.
Add the chicken and the black sesame oil.
Cook until the chicken is slightly golden. *don’t cook them for too long and on too high a temperature because it can cause the black sesame oil to turn bitter or burn
Add the rice wine and water.
Cook until boil then turn to small heat to simmer. *it’s best to not put the lid on when the soup is boiling to allow the alcohol to evaporate.
Before turning off the heat, add the goji berry and salt for taste.
Lifestyle
The daytime has shortened, so definitely treasure the day by going out for some sunlight. Like other animals who hibernate during the winter, it is important for us to go to bed early to allow the body to rest and store all the essence obtained from the food you ate and other healthy habits like exercise and massage practiced throughout the day. While exercising, make sure to stretch and warm up the body properly beforehand. Remember to wear proper clothing to prevent any injuries or catching a cold. Staying hydrated is essential, especially as the weather becomes more dry.
For those who may suffer from any cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or respiratory diseases, be cautious of the temperature difference as well as avoid intense exercises.
Before sleep and the first thing to do when you wake up, it is good to rub your hands and place them on BL 23 (shenshu - located on the back, 1.5cm lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra) for 1~2 minutes. This can help improve back aches as well as frequent urination at night.
Having enough sleep is very important during this season. As mentioned, many animals hibernate during this season. Though we can't just hibernate, but we can get in the habit of sleeping early in order to allow the body to get enough rest and can restore throughout the night.
Essential Oil Blend -- Foot Shao Yin Kidney Meridian Blend
Gingergrass (12 drops)
Sugangda Kokila (3 drops)
Clary sage (6 drops)
Lovage (3 drops)
Chinese cinnamon 2 drops
Ylang Ylang (2 drops)
Vetiver (3 drops)
Cold pressed sesame oil (20ml)
Sea buckthorn oil (1 drop)
Apply the blend along the Kidney Meridian and massage. Can also apply some on the back area to massage.
As the weather gets colder, remember to stay warm by wearing enough clothing as well as eating warm foods. Massaging and doing foot or whole body baths are great ways to stimulate the body and keeping it warm by promoting good Qi and Blood circulations. Getting enough sleep is definitely the easiest and best way to allow the body to recharge and restore, so with the daylight being shorter, try to hop onto bed a bit earlier than usual this Winter season~ 😊
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Once again I would like to thank Yu Wei Huang L.Ac for designing the character for Beginning of Winter ( Li Dong) and providing all of the great suggestions for this time period.
The essential oil blends are based off of the book "Four Seasons of Aromatherapy" by Elizabeth S. ***************************************************************************
十一月， 2021年倒數第二個月了。 在美國， 除了節約時間結束了以外（可以多一個小時睡眠哦！）， 也正式進入了佳節的時期。 還有就是新的一個節氣的開始 -- 立冬。立冬的來臨代表季節正式進入冬天，大家做好過冬的準備了嗎？由於氣溫降低，人體需要補充足夠的營養來抵禦寒冷，因此在中華文化中，有＂立冬補冬＂的一個說法。在立冬這個節氣，建議大家多吃一些溫補的食物，並做好保暖。
立冬的養生重點：健脾補腎
可以吃／喝什麼？
立冬是進補的好時機，但是要怎麼補、補什麼，則要依照每個人的體質來調整，不可盲目進補。一般來說，可以適當食用一些溫熱性食物，例如牛肉、羊肉、生薑等、也需要補充新鮮蔬果，像是玉米、胡蘿蔔、馬鈴薯、地瓜、芋頭、高麗菜、大白菜、柿子、栗子等，以容易消化為主，避免造成腸胃負擔。茶飲可服用黑豆茶（用炒過的黑豆加上熱水）、黃耆人參茶或是四神湯（茯苓、山藥、芡實、蓮子）。
禁忌：辛辣、重鹹油膩以及生冷的食品
【簡單食譜】麻油雞（4人份）
材料：
雞腿 4隻
老薑 1塊
枸杞 約 20粒
食用油 1匙
黑麻油 1大匙
鹽 1/2匙
米酒 約 400ml
水 約 400ml
雞腿洗淨切成塊狀、老薑切片備用
將薑片用少許食用油爆香後，放入切好的雞腿肉塊，加入黑麻油拌炒（注意黑麻油若溫度太高會變苦，所以不要炒太久）
然後加入米酒和水燉煮，燉煮時不要蓋鍋蓋，酒精才能揮發（喜歡酒多一點的話，可以選擇用全米酒，不加水）
起鍋前加入依照個人喜好適量枸杞和鹽調味
素食者可以使用杏鮑菇替代雞腿肉
生活習慣
入冬後，我們更需要多注意保暖，尤其是長者以及兒童，白天時可以多曬曬太陽，還有維持規律的作息以及運動。運動前需要做好熱身，運動後要及時穿上衣物，避免著涼，還要注意水分的補充。若有心腦血管疾病或呼吸道疾病，則更需注意避免激烈運動，或是忽然之間的溫差。另外，在睡前及起床後將雙手掌搓熱，在腎俞穴（此穴位於第2腰椎棘突下旁開1.5寸，簡易取穴可以肚臍為基準點環繞腰部劃延長線）敷按1至2分鐘，可改善腰酸背痛或是夜間頻尿的情形。
中醫小知識－腎經
腎經起於腳小趾下邊，斜向腳底心，出于舟骨粗隆下，繞過內踝，沿著小腿及大腿的最內側，通過脊柱，與腎聯繫，絡膀胱。另一支脈則在體內從腎上行至肝、橫膈膜、肺，沿喉嚨直至舌根。另一小支脈從肺部分出，入胸中，絡心並與心包經相連接。中醫理論認為腎為先天之本，腎精也代表著我們的生命活力，因此保養腎經可延緩衰老。腎經的循行時間為下午5點至7點，可以這段時間多多按摩腎經喔。
芳療
足少陰腎經精油配方
蘇菲亞玫瑰草 (12 滴)
蘇剛達果實 (3 滴)
快樂鼠尾草 (6 滴)
圓葉當歸 (3 滴)
中國肉桂 2 滴
完全依蘭 (2 滴)
岩蘭草 (3 滴)
冷壓芝麻油 (20ml)
沙棘油 (1 滴)
順著腎經按摩， 一天至少一次。 可以重點按壓湧泉， 三陰交， 和腰部。
這個冬天， 讓我們接著按摩，吃得對， 和養成好的生活習慣來延年益壽吧！
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非常感謝中醫師黃昱瑋所提供有關【立冬】時期的養生方法還有可愛的插畫。
精油配方是來自沈莉莎的24節氣經絡芳療自療全書
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