The wisdom within Winter.
The gemstones of the Metal element nourish the Water element in the Five element nourishing – Sheng cycle. As the mountains draw moisture/inspiration from the heavens, snow is formed as water crystals, which in time melt taking with it the precious metals into the streams, rivers, lakes and streams. Alongside this energetic seasonal vibration, the leaves fall in the Autumn providing mulch in winter, which mimic the Large Intestine function of letting go, hence the TCM cliche’ of the Lungs breathing in and letting go, eliminating waste. These two natural processes nourish the Water element in the season of Winter, by pure virtue of adding the pearls of wisdom to the depths of Water.
Yin and yang organ relationship:
The chinese term ‘Yin’ refers to ‘substantial’ matter ie. blood, cells, organs, tissues and body fluids like mucous and phlegm. ‘Yang’ refers to ‘insubstantial’ matter ie. energy and function, likened to our spiritual energy which invariably one cannot see but can nevertheless feel.
As already discussed in previous blogs, the Fire and Earth element, how they nourish, interact and relate to the organ functions within the five element nourishing cycle leads to the nourishment of the Water element; Kidneys and Bladder function.
Recap if you haven’t read the last two blogs: the Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium and San Jiao functions, relate to the energy of the Fire element and the season of Summer (the 3 latter organs being the Heart protectors). The Spleen and Stomach relate to the energy of the Earth element and the season of Late Summer. These organs are yin and yang in nature. Are you able to guess which ones are yin and which ones are yang? I will give you a clue….the yang organs are ones where energy – Qi and body fluids pass through and have a more yang functional flow of energy. The yin organs are ones which are more substantial matter, more about the blood, cells and formation of the organs ie. substantial matter.
The water element relates to the yin organ, the Kidneys and the yang organ relates to the Bladder, due to the similar energetic nature of water transformation, purifying and cleansing actions.
How important are our Kidneys and Bladder organs and function !?
Very!…and more importantly and specifically, in Traditional Chinese Medicine – TCM it is said that our constitutional essence from our parents resides in our Kidneys. Once this is used up we pass over! So it is very important we look after our Kidneys! Also that this essence determines all maturation and growth for our life time and that when we make love, we are actually sharing our precious essence, hence it benefits us to choose wisely and share this part of ourselves with someone very special. So this may be an important gem of wisdom to impart to our teenagers and to some adults, as they may be giving away there constitutional essence perhaps to freely?
Calming the adrenals:
Another important point is that we need to keep our waters as calm as a ‘millpond’ so to speak. The emotions which drain the Kidney Qi and Bladder function are feelings of fear, fright, shock and feeling unsafe. When these emotional responses occur we go into ‘fight and flight’ mode and the hormone adrenaline is released from our central nervous system to allow us to escape, flee…. or to stand our ground and launch into warrior mode. Unless we take stock after a shock or fright, calm down and rest up, our adrenaline may stay in our bloodstream and our vibration may remain in ‘hyper-active’ mode. For people, who don’t get a chance to rest and restore to process the fear or shock, they may be left in a state of trauma where until they feel safe again, may not be able to process and resolve their emotions. Someone who experiences constant feelings of threats to their safety, multiple or repetitive shocks may not have any alternative but to ‘stash or store’ the traumatic experience at a deep cellular level in their tissues, for a later time to process when they are hopefully feeling safe again. This syndrome is called post traumatic stress.
Acupuncture treatment is very effective in safely treating the release of any of these emotions, wherever they may be stored and no matter what emotions are effecting each of the five elements and their corresponding yin and yang organs. This depends on how safe a person feels with a practitioner. Any emotions or memories whether they may be traumatic or not, may be released and each individual is ultimately in control of this process at their Heart and Soul level (not the practitioner’s).
Physiology and meridians of the Kidneys and Bladder:
The Kidney meridian starts on the underside of the foot and is the most grounding point on the body and may descend Qi from the head, which is by logic, helpful to calm one’s vibration which may have risen up to the skies! This pathway or meridian, flowing with your life force, your Qi or energy, then travels up your inner leg and through the groin and connects with the Kidneys and Bladder organs, travels up through the torso and ends just below the clavicle on the chest. The Bladder meridian starts at the inner canthus of the eye, travels over the head to the nape of the neck, down each side of the spine through the sacrum to the gluts or butt cheeks at the start of the hamstrings, down the posterior side of the thigh to the knee, down the calf to the outer ankle and foot, then ends on the little toe. This Bladder meridian is susceptible to wind and cold, especially around the ‘windgate’ around the back of the neck and shoulder region and our Kidney area (lower back) and ankles. I’m always telling people to wear socks to keep their bladder channel covered, Kidneys warm and scarves round their necks! After all we don’t want your Water element to be COLD, especially in the WINTER. There’s enough frost and snow happening! Hot baths and pools are therefore very therapeutic.
Signs, symptoms and patterns of the Kidneys and Bladder:
Cold in the gluts (butt cheeks), cold feet, cold and weak knees, bone or spine issues, frequent and or urgent urination and at night, UTI’s, low back pain, stiff and or tight neck, sacrum pain, oedema (fluid retention), growth problems, ear issues (ears are the sense organ of the Kidneys and are shaped like the kidneys), impotence, Benign prostate hypertrophy, kidney infections or stones, hair loss, teeth problems (an extension of the bones).
Emotional imbalances:
Fear, fright, terror, shock, safety issues, deep and contemplative, shutdown or suddenly storming like a tsunami.
Treatments:
TDP lamp (warmth on the lower back….bliss!) moxa-bustion (mugwort to disperse cold stagnation, obstruction and accumulation especially in the gluts and sacrum), tonifying Kidney function with acupuncture and herbs. Salt baths. EFT – emotional freedom technique. Acupuncture protocols to release emotional stress.
Nutrition:
Salt (in moderation), seaweed, red meat, black beans, tofu, white rice (anything white to feed our bones and marrow).
Back to balance:
Being still!
Quiet contemplation to draw on the wisdom within our DNA; our genetic wisdom to restore and rest! Finding the fear, FEELing the fear and resolving the fear…..drawing on the knowledge that we are okay and that we alone determine our own safety at spirit soul level. Knowing at ‘Yang level; insubstantial’ spirit/soul level that No-one may harm this aspect of self.
Winter is the season to embrace this. Keep warm.