02/12/2025
In Chinese medicine, the Water element is linked with winter, the Kidneys, and the Bladder. It represents our deepest reserves, the source of our energy, willpower, and wisdom. Winter is the most yin time of the year, a time slow down and conserve our energy. Water teaches us the art of stillness and reflection, reminding us that rest is not weakness but renewal.
The classic texts of Chinese Medicine urge us to follow the cycle of the seasons in order to stay healthy. The Huang Di Nei Jing ("The Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor"), contains some of the oldest teachings about winter and its relationship to the Kidneys:
“During the Winter months all things in nature wither, hide, return home, and enter a resting period, just as lakes and rivers freeze and snow falls. This is a time when yin dominates yang. Therefore, one should refrain from overusing the yang energy. Retire early and get up with the sunrise, which is later in Winter. Desires and mental activity should be kept quiet and subdued, as if keeping a happy secret. Stay warm, avoid the cold, and keep the skin covered. Avoid sweating. The theory of the Winter season is one of conservation and storage. Without such practice the result will be injury to the Kidney energy. This will cause weakness, shrinking of muscles, and coldness; then the body loses its ability to open and move about in the Spring.”
Acupuncture nourishes the Water element by supporting kidney energy, easing stress, and restoring deep vitality. Treatments can help calm the mind, regulate sleep, and replenish the body’s reserves so you feel more centred and supported from within.
💙 As the seasons turn inward, take time to rest and reconnect with yourself. Winter invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and rebuild our strength.
🌿 Book your next treatment and flow back into balance https://centreforintegralhealth.com/about-us/our-practitioners/philippa-brant-1/
