Seasonal Nodes : Major Snow

Major Snow started Saturday, November 7th.  It is the last Seasonal Node before Winter Solstice and represents the final stage of the most Yin time of year.  The two weeks of Major Snow are the longest nights of the year, culminating with the Solstice, after which days will slowly be getting longer again. The Material Manifestations for Major Snow are Spangled Drongos Cease to Sing, Tigers Begin to Mate, and Water Irises Grow.  The main way to support health in this period is to focus on warm supplementation, while at the same time avoiding exposure to cold. The Neijing tells us to “avoid the cold and seek warmth". We want to honor the body’s ability to store energy and regenerate its vitality. It is best to be in a state of quite, rest and solitude. Therefore, as mentioned above, during this Seasonal Node try to get more sleep, attempting to get into bed earlier. Sleep is one of the best Chinese medical prescriptions for supplementing the Qi and strengthening the Kidney!

Wines and medicated wines have a long tradition of use in Chinese medicine.  Since alcohol is warm, acrid and sweet by nature, it has the ability to warm and expel cold, and supplement the Qi and Blood while also circulating them. Thus, wine and medicated wines are appropriate for Winter. Two traditional wines are Ginseng wine and Deer Antler Wine.

This is also the time of year to eat warming, and especially Kidney supplementing foods. Although many people think of Chinese herbs as the main way to supplement Kidneys, in Chinese there is a saying, “medicinal supplementation cannot be as good as supplementing with food”.   Foods appropriate for Major Snow include lamb, beef, chicken, venison, shrimp, and mussels. In addition to these animal products, foods to emphasize this Seasonal Node are walnuts, almonds, or other nuts, and warming spices such as ginger and cinnamon. Best veggies are root veggies such as yams, turnips and parsnips.   Since this time of year can be cold and dry it is appropriate to cook soups or stews as they are both warming and moistening. Sipping warm water or gentle tea thoughout the day is an excellent recommendation.  

While warming foods are good for the season, beware of  overconsumption creating too much heat and stagnation in the digestive system. As such, if possible this time of year we should consume some foods that help gently clear heat, and open the stomach. An example of this is edible chrysanthemum greens, one of my favorite veggies.  i hope you will take time for yourself, to change it up this winter.  Work a bit less, slow it way down, and allow the soft darkness of Winter to hold you well.