Hello again! Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!
As we move into the month of December, we have welcomed the first solar term of the month - Greater Snow. In many areas, the amount of snow has increased and the temperature continues to drop. The winter season is all about nourishing and toning the body. By doing so, it strengthens the body’s immune system and metabolism; the energy transformed from nutrients taken is then stored in the body to help the Yang energy rise, keeping the body warm.
How to Maintain -- Taking care of the Reproductive Organs
Winter time is all about storing essence and restoring the body. By doing so, the Yang energy can be obtained, which can allow the body to be stronger when Spring comes along to start a new cycle of growth and renewal.
As mentioned in the “Beginning of Winter (Li Dong)” post, the Winter season correlates with the Kidneys in TCM (traditional chinese medicine) and the Kidneys are responsible for storing essence, which is the foundation of human life. Therefore, continue to massage the Kidney Meridian through this season. Massaging the abdomen and lower back, as well as the reflective area of the reproductive organs on the feet are recommended to add into your daily routine as well.
Keeping the body warm and not overworking is something to keep in mind, to allow the body to have good circulation for functioning and properly store all the essence obtained.
Diet
During the Winter season, it’s good to eat more soup and porridge type foods because it’s not only easier for digestion, but also warms the body to provide energy.
Please keep in mind that though we recommend nourishing the body during this season, in the modern days, the majority of the population are well-nourished, therefore try not to over do it which will burden the body.
It’s good to choose good quality proteins, oils and warm property foods. Also, to pick seasonally ingredients, eat whole foods, and have a well balanced intake of proteins, fruits and vegetables.
Recommend to avoid/eat minimally cold foods and those that are overly spicy or salty and oily.
**Simple Cooking - Herbal Bone Broth**
Ingredients:
- 600 g pork ribs
- *for vegetarians, can substitute with a variety of mushrooms
- 1 piece rehmannia
- 1 piece angelica
- 6 pieces chuan xiong (ligusticum striatum)
- 5 grams gui zhi (ramulus cinnamomi cassiae)
- 10 grams goji berry
- 3~5 dried jujube (red dates)
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of white pepper
- a few slices of ginger
Directions:
- Cut the pork ribs into sections (or you can buy those that are already in chunks) and blanch them in hot water to get rid of impurities. Then rinse them with water and set aside for later use.
- Rinse all the herbs with water and then add into a water filled pot to soak for 15 minutes. Then add the pork ribs into the pot.
- Add water to submerge all ingredients and cook with medium heat until boil. Then turn to low heat and cook for 30 minutes.
- Add some salt and white pepper for taste after turning off the heat
Lifestyle
Not wanting to leave your warm bed on cold winter mornings? Now there’s a reason to stay a little bit longer! It’s good to move the body a bit and stretch for a few minutes to allow the body to warm up before getting out of bed. This can also reduce the discomfort caused by the temperature difference as well as reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke.
If the Kidney Meridian is blocked in any way, problems in the urinary system and the reproductive system are likely to occur. If you have symptoms of discomfort, it is recommended to go for a check up with your family doctor first. With diseases being ruled out or recognized, you can then make adjustments in your diet and lifestyle. You may also consult with a Licensed Acupuncturist for herbal formulas and acupuncture treatments.
Essential Oil Blend -- Body & Mind Maintenance for Men and Women
For Men:
- Difficulty with urination
- Lemon mint (6 drops)
- European Scots Pine (3 drops)
- Bee Scented Mint (5 drops)
- Ginger (1 drop)
- Indian Tibetan Fennel (1 drop)
- Sesame oil (15ml)
- Sea buckthorn oil (1 drop)
For Women:
Abnormal Menstrualation
- Sweet fennel (5 drops)
- Coriander (5 drops)
- Ginger (3 drops)
- Clary Sage (5 drops)
- Damascus Rose (3 drops)
- Black Seed Oil (5ml)
- Sesame oil (15ml)
Menopause
- Indian Jasmine (3 drops)
- Chastity Tree (6 drops)
- Ginger (3 drops)
- Tangerine (5 drops)
- Tonka Beans (3 drops)
- Black Seed Oil (5ml)
- Sesame oil (15ml)
How to use:
In the morning and evening, you can rub the Baliao acupoints (located at the four sacral holes on the left and right sides of the sacrum, a total of eight acupoints) to make it slightly hot, and then massage the lumbar and kidney area for about 1 minute.
At night, press the Guanyuan point (REN 4) clockwise (on the centerline of the front of the body, three inches below the belly button) for about 3 minutes, then apply the formula oil to the Guanyuan point and apply heat to the skin. Slight redness until warm.
*If the skin feels irritation, please stop immediately
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Once again I would like to thank Yu Wei Huang L.Ac for designing the character for Greater Snow（Da Xue） 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. ***************************************************************************
終於進入了2021年的最後一個月，首先迎來了冬季的第三個節氣－大雪。大家感覺到天氣變得更冷了嗎？不過現在還不到最冷的時候喔。在這裡一樣要提醒大家注意保暖，尤其是頭頸部、腹部以及腳部，這三處特別容易受到寒氣的影響喔。
大雪的養生重點：避寒養腎
可以吃／喝什麼？
我們一樣選擇富含優質蛋白質、油脂以及溫性的食品。在冬天適合亦多吃湯粥類，一方面好消化，並能溫暖身體，提供能量。雖說有冬令進補這一個說法，但是現代人營養過剩，一昧的進補反而會對身體造成負擔。在飲食上，最好採買當令食材，烹煮上也盡量選擇原型食物，並均衡攝取蔬菜水果及肉類。
禁忌：辛辣、重鹹油膩以及生冷的食品
節氣食譜－藥膳排骨湯
材料：
熟地 1片
當歸 1片
川芎 6片
桂枝 5克
枸杞 10克
紅棗 3~5顆
鹽 適量
白胡椒粉 適量
薑片 適量
- 豬肋排切段後，川燙去除雜質，洗淨後備用
- 將中藥材及其他材料洗淨後，加入大鍋中泡水約15分鐘後，放入豬肋排
- 再加入清水淹過所有食材，中火煮滾後轉小火燉煮30分鐘
- 起鍋前加入適量的鹽和白胡椒粉調味即可
*素食者可用猴頭菇等菌菇類代替豬肋排
生活習慣
寒冷的早晨，是不是非常不想離開溫暖的被窩呢？建議大家先在被窩裡動一動身體、拉拉筋，使身體暖和之後再起床，可以減少溫差造成的不適感。也可以降低中風等心血管疾病的風險。中醫理論中，腎有儲藏精氣的作用，是人體生命之根本，若是腎經不通，則容易有泌尿系統及生殖系統的問題產生。大家若有不適症狀，建議先去西醫檢查是否有器質性病變，排除病變之後，再來從生活習慣以及飲食上做調整，亦可諮詢專業中醫搭配中藥及針灸來改善，會有非常好的效果。加上冬天是養腎的最佳時節，在此推薦大家三款精油配方，可根據大家的需求選擇使用。
芳療配方
男性身心保養精油配方
排尿困難
- 檸檬薄荷 (6 滴)
- 歐洲赤松 (3 滴)
- 蜂香薄荷 (5 滴)
- 薑 (1 滴)
- 印度藏茴香 (1 滴)
- 芝麻油 (15ml)
- 沙棘油 (1 滴)
女性身心保養精油配方
經期異常
- 甜茴香 (5 滴)
- 芫荽 (5 滴)
- 薑 (3 滴)
- 快樂鼠尾草 (5 滴)
- 大馬士革玫瑰 (3 滴)
- 黑種草油 (5ml)
- 芝麻油 (15ml)
更年期症候群
- 印度茉莉 (3 滴)
- 貞節樹 (6 滴)
- 薑 (3 滴)
- 紅橘 (5 滴)
- 零陵香豆 (3 滴)
- 黑種草油 (5ml)
- 芝麻油 (15ml)
使用方式：
- 早晚可搓揉八髎穴（位於骶骨上左右各四個骶孔處，一共八個穴位），使其微微發熱，再順勢按摩腰腎區約1分鐘。
- 夜晚時順時鐘揉按關元穴（將肚臍與恥骨聯合間距離分為5等分，位於3/5處）約3分鐘後，將配方經油塗抹於關元穴並加上熱敷，以皮膚微微發紅有熱感為止。
*若皮膚感覺刺激請立刻停止
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非常感謝中醫師黃昱瑋所提供有關【大雪】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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