An Old Take on the New Year

I spent many years struggling to keep up with the New Years hustle. I would try to jumpstart a “new me” as soon as January 1st hit, making resolutions, setting goals for the year, and trying to “cleanse” or “detox” the post-holiday sludge. It wasn’t until I went to Chinese Medicine school that I realized why it was so hard to find that surge of energy I needed to stick with the goals I had set. In January we are still in the depths of the winter season, where restoration and gestation are the name of the game, and that upward surge of energy that comes with Spring has not quite arrived. Since Yin energy is dominant we want to participate in activities that align with this energy such as resting, reflecting, visioning, and dreaming. We also want to protect our Yang qi because Yang is at its weakest point. Our river bathing, blueberry picking, barbeque attending, active and social summer selves will thank us for protecting our yang in the winter so that we can truly flourish in the height of summer. By putting aside detoxes, diets, and the pressure to be productive, and focusing instead on the ancient wisdom of Chinese Medicine, we can align ourselves with the energetics of January in a more balanced way.

Lifestyle

Make sure you are getting enough rest. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night, make sure you are practicing sleep hygiene. This means turning down bright lights and avoiding screens (tv, computer, and phone) 30-60 minutes before bed. Stretching, reading, listening to calm music, meditating, or taking a warm shower or bath during this time will help calm your nervous system and encourage better sleep. If you are still having busy brain or are unable to get comfortable while sleeping, consult an acupuncturist about how acupuncture and herbs may be able to help.

It is always important to keep your body moving, but high intensity workouts in the winter, especially when started up after a long period of inactivity, can damage the Yang Qi. If you are beginning an intense fitness program, make sure to start slow and balance with stretching and foam rolling to avoid injury and to ensure that it will be a sustainable practice for you. Gentle exercises such as tai qi, qi gong, and yoga may be more appropriate for your body this time of year.

Protect your Yang Qi by staying warm. Be sure to wear socks and/or slippers inside to keep your feet warm. Bundle up if you are going out in cold weather, and make sure to keep wind and rain off your bare neck - wear a scarf!! Avoid going out into cold weather if your hair is wet, especially if you have a uterus, as this is one way the pattern of Cold in the Uterus develops. Cold in the Uterus can cause painful menstruation, fertility issues, and undesirable perimenopausal symptoms.

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Dietary Tips

This time of year is rife with advertisements for fad diets and detox programs. I get that "cleansing" feels like a reasonable and sometimes necessary move after the indulgences of the holidays. But detoxes such as juice fasting can be more damaging than beneficial to your body in the long term. The best way to detox from the holidays is by cutting down on the foods that tend to be consumed in excess that time of year, such as alcohol, sugar, and highly processed flours. If you need a structure in which to do that, stick with a program that focuses on nutrient rich foods, such as a Whole 30, or better yet, consult a nutritionist like Ellina Gurevich, MScN, for a plan that’s personalized to your unique constitution and goals.

It's a good time of year to supplement Spleen and Kidney Yang with foods such as lamb, beef, winter squash, and rice congees. Here’s a great resource for all things congee: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-congee

Small amounts of fresh ginger, black pepper, and green onions can be added to these tonifying dishes to help warm the digestion and prevent food stagnation. Avoid cold foods and iced drinks during the winter (and always avoid them if you have Spleen Qi deficiency!)

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Acupressure Points

Kidney 25: Spirit Storehouse

Find Kidney 25 by finding the space between your 2nd and 3rd ribs, about 2 inches from the midline on your sternum (breastbone). Massage these points on each side of your body, apply Cedarwood essential oil, or place Energy Enhancer patches (white on right, tan on left). This point works on a physical level to open up breathing when someone has a hard time taking a deep breath, whether it’s due to asthma, a lingering cough, or unfinished grief. On a more spiritual level, this point can help us find an internal refuge from distractions in the outside world, where we can reconnect to our inner knowing.

Kidney 7: Returning Current

Find Kidney 7 by feeling for the peak of your inner ankle bone (medial malleous) and sliding your finger back so it rests in the space between this bone and your achilles tendon. Then move your finger up your leg about two inches, you should feel a depression (it’s often tender!) between your achilles and your shin bone. You can massage this point or apply Energy Enhancer patches to both ankles (white on right, tan on left). Kidney 7 is very appropriate for this time of year as it helps yang to rise again from the yin, encouraging a rebirth of sorts and reawakening vitality. Applying Juniper essential oil to this point further enhances its ability to activate the life force and strengthen will and resilience.

I hope the remainder of your winter is full of rest, rejuvenation and hope. Please reach out to me if you have any questions at hilary@constantbalanceacupuncture.com