Illuminate Your Life: a chinese medicine blog
Golden Broth
This turmeric-infused beverage warms up your digestive system, increases circulation and decreases inflammation!
Chinese Chicken Burgers (or collard wraps!)
These burgers are an excellent option when you’re wanting a healthy version of comfort food. Pair the burgers with sweet potato fries (or our Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes).
The fresh greens in the slaw and the zest of lime make your Wood element (Liver and Gallbladder) happy, while the sesame, soy and sweet potatoes give a nod to the Water element (Kidneys, adrenals and Bladder), associated with Winter.
Winter Foods to Support Your Kidneys
Winter is associated with the Water element, incorporating the Kidneys and Bladder. In Chinese Medicine (TCM) dietary therapy, Kidney Qi is strengthened with foods that are warming, nourishing, slightly salty, and that support essence (Jing) and vitality. These foods are especially helpful for fatigue, low back or knee weakness, cold intolerance, frequent urination, fertility, adrenal support and healthy aging. Click to read the list of foods and check out our Recipes page for more ideas!
Replenish Your Jing
Now that we’re more than half way through winter, how are you? Winter is the most yin time of the year with its darker, colder and shorter days, and it is the most ideal time to lay low and nourish yourself.
Yin Energy of Winter
The Yin energy of winter is a great time to pause, self reflect, and slow down. Yin energy represents rest and more inward energy. It’s important to take some time to rest and look inward during this time.
Winter Self-Care
Right now, we are in the best season to reflect on our health, conserve our energy, and build our strength. Support your mind, body and spirit with these ideas for self-care this season.
Principles of a Winter Diet
Right now, we are in the best season to reflect on our health, conserve our energy, and build our strength. Check out the principles of a winter diet and some of our favorite foods to include this season.
How to Reset After the Holidays
Returning to normalcy after the holidays can seem almost impossible. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s totally normal! Check out these 6 simple tips to help you reset and feel your best after the holidays
Happy Winter Solstice
Chinese Medicine is rooted in nature. Winter, the most yin time of year, gives us the chance to slow down, turn inwards, be introspective, and heal ourselves by nourishing with deep rest, food and meditation.
Winter Skincare
Fall and Winter are the perfect time of year to give your skin some extra love! Microneedling stimulates the production of collagen and addresses skin conditions such as wrinkles and fine lines, acne, enlarged pores, and dark spots. It can even help with hair restoration!
Detox Miso Soup
Seaweed is the detoxifier of the ocean while mushrooms are detoxifiers of land. Both combine well in this tasty soup to help boost your immune system and ease the workload on your Kidneys and Liver as you get ready to move into Spring and Summer.
Winter Self-Care
Right now, we are in the best season to reflect on our health, conserve our energy, and build our strength. The stillness of nature calls us to bring our energy inward, be patient and introspective.
Water Essential Oil
Our Water oil blend supports your kidney and bladder, and encourages wisdom, motivation, willpower and meditation.
Wintertime Nourishment
Winter is a yin time of the year. A time to nourish our bodies, minds, and spirit. A time for storage and repair.
Winter Rest + JOMO
Chinese Medicine is rooted in nature. In the winter, nature slows down, and hibernates. We must take the hint from nature and realize that we, too, must slow down.
Emotional Self-Care for Fall + Winter
Check out this lovely, short video from Lisa Abernathy for some Chinese medicine tips for emotional wellness during Fall and Winter.
Winter In Chinese Medicine
In Chinese Medicine, winter is a time of reflection and rejuvenation, to slow down and conserve energy. Winter is an opportunity to focus on the health and spirit of the kidneys, which are the center of energy in the Chinese Medicine system. It is a time to nourish your body and boost the kidney energy with self-care.