Recently we have had some warm, beautiful November days in Baltimore. But the Indian summer only highlights the underlying movement towards darkness and cold. We will now continue our tour through the seasons and consider how this current shift affects our energy and our bodies. Around us we see trees shedding leaves and grass turning brown.

As humans we are not prone to such extreme adjustments, but we are not exempt from the cycles of nature. This is the time of increasing Yin energy, which is an inward, directed energy of storing and processing. Ironically when we should be preparing to hibernate, the holiday season rushes upon us, propelling us into a frenzy of activity.

It is perhaps this tug of war between nature and culture that explains a lot of holiday stress. The Kidney in Chinese medicine is the basic source of all energy in the body. They can be thought of as the batteries of the body. They are dominated by the Water element in Chinese medicine, whose nature is cold and contracting.

In Chinese folk medicine, eating kidney beans tonifies the kidneys as they have the same dense shape as this Yin organ. In general avoid cold and raw foods especially in the colder months. It is advisable even in good health to receive an acupuncture treatment at the change of season to balance the body’s energy. This will result in fewer illnesses during the winter months.

So as the busy month of December looms, reserve a time to take care of yourself. Give the gift of healing to yourself and you will have more to give to others in this busy holiday season.