Winter Self-Care Tips for the Kidney Meridian

Winter is the season of the Kidney. The Kidney energy is the most essential root of your life force. Maybe the hibernating bears are smart to put the wisdom of the ages into practice, and humans should do the same. Wintertime for bears is time to snuggle together to conserve your JING life force. Be quiet, sleep more, eat warming foods, wrap yourself in full insulation of natural fabrics, stimulate the Kidney meridian with accu-tapping points and use warming breathing exercises.

When your kidneys are overworked, you risk fatigue, adrenal failure, and lower back pain. Kidney stress is even worse when it is triggered by chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and STRESS!

TAKEAWAY:

1. Kidneys in Chinese Medicine are the Root of Original Life force, or JING from your DNA family lineage.
2. Wintertime: Stock up on These Warming Foods & Drinks
3. Kidney’s Worst Enemies: Avoid these foods that cause Adrenal Stress: Avoid Caffeine, Coffee, Energy Drinks, Sugar, Addictive foods, Cold foods, Iced drinks.
4. Tummo Meditation can Keep you Warm.
5. Warmest Fabrics are Wool, Cashmere, and Silk, which have superior insulation due to natural hollow fibers. Stay away from Polyester, fleece, and synthetics.
6. Tapping points for The Kidney Meridian: KD-1, KD-3, and KD-27

1. Kidneys are the Root of Original Life force, or JING from your DNA birth lineage.

Many people today have lost the ability of the kidneys to properly filter their lymphatic system. When body fluids and lymph become stagnant, cellular waste and acidity can build up in the body. This can lead to ‘lymphoma’, a cancer in blood and lymph tissues.

Kidney Emotions and Consciousness Issues You May Experience:
Willpower, Fear, Anxiety, Wisdom, Caution, Energy, Vitality, Clarity, Memory, Self Worth, Belonging, Trust, Paranoia, Sensuality, Sexuality, Courage, Drive.

The Kidney System Rules Much More than the Kidney.
It also regulates the Bladder, Adrenals, Ears, Teeth, Brain & Nervous System, Hair & Graying hair,  Bones, Spine, Bone Marrow, Knees, Sexuality, Procreative organs, and ancestral Qi, and Wei Qi.

2. Wintertime: Stock up on These Warming Foods & Drinks

• Pork,
• Sprouts,
• Eggs,
• Beans,
• Barley,
• Sardines,
• Cheese,
• Blueberries.
• Kidney Beans,
• Black Sesame Seeds,
• Walnuts,
• Asparagus,
• Sweet Potato,
• String Beans,
• Celery,
• Parsley,
• Grapes And
• Plums.
• Turmeric Milk
• Ginger Tea

Diet changes can help avoid what we often call “adrenal fatigue”.
Especially changing mealtimes and meal quantity makes a big difference on your metabolism and energy level. Instead of 3 meals per day, try spacing small meals more frequently. Never eat before bed. And always finish you last meal of the day 3-4 hours before bedtime, for better sleep. Check out my article on “Time Restricted Eating”.

3. Kidney’s Worst Enemies: Avoid these foods and habits that cause Adrenal Stress:

• Caffeine,
• Sugar,
• Sweets,
• Addictive foods
• Sodas,
• Alcohol,
• Very salty foods.
• Cold foods, Iced drinks.
• Energy Drinks,
• Stop smoking.
• Reduce all stressful habits

You know the pattern.
Your “Go, go, go!” mentality is the mortal enemy of the Kidneys and Adrenals.
We love to “Work hard, play hard!”. We “Push” through with caffeine, sugar, adrenaline events. We tolerate a longstanding fearful environment. Sadly Coffee and sugar don’t give energy by themselves, instead they squeeze the stored Qi reserves in the Kidneys to fuel your body’s activities. Those energy reserves could be used today or tomorrow, or they could be saved for the future, sort of like a savings account in the bank. When we use caffeine and sugar for energy, we’re effectively squeezing from our future reserves in the Kidneys, depleting the stores that we may need for a long and balanced life.

4. Tummo Meditation can Keep you Warm.

With winter freezing temperatures here in the Northern Hemisphere, and especially here in Bhutan, it’s time to raise our inner fire for health and spiritual wellness. TUMMO is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist meditation that generates heat inside of the body. Think of Tibetan monks drying those wet sheets in freezing weather! The practice of simply learning how to control your body temperature, will benefit you in countless important ways. It can help calm the nerves, control the breath, reduce anxiety, improve digestion, and strengthen the immune system. Make TUMMO part of your daily practice so you’ll never be sick, and you’ll never suffer depression of emotional overwhelm. And it’s free! The practice of TUMMO aka Inner-fire breathing takes a little time to develop, and is well worth the effort for your health and longevity! Enjoy!

5. Warmest Fabrics are Wool, Cashmere, and Silk, which have superior insulation due to natural hollow fibers. Stay away from Polyester, Fleece, and other Synthetics.

• It turns out the 3 warmest fabrics are Wool, Cashmere, and Silk. That’s because the fibers are hollow. Natural hollow fibers like wool, Cashmere, and Silk and wool contain microscopic air channels that create superior temperature insulation and moisture management compared to solid fibers like cotton and polyester.
• Hollow fibers can absorb significant moisture while still feeling dry. Wool can absorb 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet, unlike cotton, which becomes heavy and cold when damp
• These natural, hollow fabrics like silk and wool are more expensive upfront. However they often prove more economical over time due to superior longevity. For example, a wool jacket can last five years compared to a cotton or polyester one lasting less than a year

6.Tapping points for The Kidney Meridian are KD-1, KD-3, and KD-27

Your new daily routine for health all year long. Accu-pressure points can relieve common symptoms of Kidney-Adrenal Stress. Press firmly with one finger and stimulate gently for 10 seconds each.

Thanks for watching!

In summary, Take care of your Kidneys with warming foods, warm clothes, sleeping more. Avoid stimulants and sugar. Do the Tummo Meditation, wear sool and silk. And tap every day on KD-1, KD-3, and KD-27 points.