The kidney governs water and has a nature that leans towards cold. In winter, pathogenic cold can easily lead to the dissipation of yang energy. Yang Li, a professor at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, points out that for winter nourishment, the priority is to tonify the kidney. Kidney yang deficiency is more common in winter, and the focus should be on tonifying kidney yang. For those with both yin and yang deficiency, kidney yin must also be addressed. According to the physical constitutions of modern people, "cold trapping fire" is more likely to occur in winter. At this time, if one blindly supplements, symptoms of "internal heat" such as toothache, sore throat, red tongue coating, chapped lips, mouth sores, and constipation can easily appear. Therefore, while tonifying the kidney, it's also important to clear internal heat. Below, I will teach you several methods to tonify the kidney according to your body type without causing internal heat.
Winter kidney tonification mainly targets kidney yang deficiency. People with this condition will experience aversion to cold, cold hands and feet, lower back and knee pain, fatigue, and a pale complexion. When kidney yang deficiency is severe, edema may appear, and the pulse will be deep and slow. At this time, it is advisable to warm and tonify kidney yang, following the principle of "the mutual root of yin and yang, and the mutual aid of water and fire." Use herbs with a sweet and warm nature to harness their effects of "warming yang, unblocking yang, and strengthening yang." Those who are naturally cold, have yang deficiency, or have been ill for a long time due to cold can eat more warming foods like lamb and ginger soup, stir-fried lamb with scallions, and scrambled eggs with chives. When cooking, pair them with cool vegetables like cabbage and winter melon to prevent internal heat. Those with a yang-deficient constitution who are especially sensitive to cold can also drink a little bit of velvet antler wine. In daily life, avoid getting cold, get more sun exposure, drink more hot tea, and soak feet in warm water at night. While soaking your feet, massage Zusanli (located four finger-widths below the outer knee) or rub your lower back and lower abdomen with your warmed hands.
Stir-fried Lamb with Cabbage
Kidney yin deficiency can also cause lower back pain and fatigue, but unlike kidney yang deficiency, those with kidney yin deficiency often experience feverish palms and soles, dry mouth, a reddish face, and a deep, thin, rapid pulse. This is usually caused by staying up late, high stress, poor sleep, and overwork. Diet-wise, eat more black-boned chicken, goji berries, black fish, Chinese yam, soft-shelled turtle shell, and sea cucumber. When supplementing, avoid overly greasy foods; you can add a bit of疏通性 (unblocking) foods like dried tangerine peel, scallions, and ginger. Recommended dishes include black-boned chicken and goji berry soup, and the "Three-Black Kidney-Nourishing Congee" (the "Three Blacks" mainly refer to black beans, black rice, and black sesame). In daily life, frequently lightly tap the Shenshu acupoint (located at the level of the navel, circling the waist, two finger-widths to the left and right of the center of the lower back) in a four-beat rhythm, tapping more than ten times each time. When soaking your feet, focus on massaging Sanyinjiao (located four finger-widths above the inner ankle tip), Taixi (in the depression between the inner ankle and the Achilles tendon), and Yongquan acupoint (in the depression at the junction of the front 1/3 and back 2/3 of the sole's midline).
For healthy individuals, they can consume kidney-tonifying recipes that tonify both yin and yang, such as goji berry and pork kidney porridge, beef and Chinese yam soup, and beef stewed with chestnuts. "The waist is the mansion of the kidney." In daily life, you can often massage the acupoints in the waist area, such as Shenshu, Yaoyan, and Yaoyangguan. There's no need to be precise about the location; massaging the entire lower back is sufficient.
The "Huangdi Neijing" (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states, for women, "at the age of 35, the Yangming meridian begins to decline," and for men, "at the age of 40, kidney qi begins to decline." From an age perspective, women begin to experience kidney aging from 35, and men from 40, indicating that people should start paying attention to kidney maintenance at these ages. Yang Li points out that good lifestyle habits are very beneficial for kidney nourishment, such as adequate sleep, more sun exposure, avoiding cold and seeking warmth, regular diet, and not over-dieting. It's also important to exercise appropriately and avoid excessive sweating. "If you can do all of the above, you can protect your kidneys well, preserve your yang energy, and spend the winter happily and healthily," says Yang Li.
Finally, it should be reminded that "all medicines have some toxicity." If medication is needed, it's best to follow a doctor's advice and never take supplements indiscriminately. The "Huangdi Neijing" warns us: "When using potent medicines to treat a disease, stop when six-tenths of the illness is cured; when using non-toxic medicines, stop when nine-tenths of the illness is cured." If you are not ill, drug supplementation is not recommended. Dietary therapy for health preservation is the best healthcare approach and can fully meet the needs of kidney tonification in winter.
Crab with cucumber