Seasonal Depression & the Water Element
Chinese Medicine Theory, Health Coaching
December 8th, 2022
Winter is upon us! It’s that time of the year when the cold air lingers and the sun hides behind snow clouds. We pack ourselves in layers and seek warmth under blankets.
Our mood shifts in winter too. The gradual change from summer to winter parallels decreasing happiness. This effect is often referred to as seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder.
This change in season may have us feeling lethargic, unmotivated, cold, sad, and melancholy.
The shorter days and lack of sunlight can also leave us feeling depleted and defeated.
This shift in mood is natural. The winter months are the time to hibernate, slow down and shut down like the trees and animals around us. It is nature’s order.
When this natural order is met with dread and resistance only more discomfort is generated. We can not control the weather. What we can control is our response. There are a number of ways to do this, but the first is to shift your thoughts about winter.
In Chinese Medicine, we know that winter is a nourishing Yin time for introversion, introspection, and deep rest. It is a time to replenish, renew, cultivate, and create. To be who you truly are, and to commune with those who truly support you. Winter is a blessing. It gives us the time to light our internal fire and seek contentment within.
we light our Internal fire by nourishing our water element
- Move / exercise daily. Frequency and intensity very day-to-day. At least, walk a mile, enough to open the pores and work up a gentle sweat.
- Step outside for natural sunlight. The sun alone activates our happy hormones, regulates circadian rhythms, and boosts our immune system. Five minutes in the sun, especially morning helps a lot!
- Take walks in the cold. The cold air is a positive stressor on the lungs. It challenges the lungs while asking the body to create internal warmth.
- Sit in a sauna, preferably an infrared sauna.
- Read about the benefits of infrared sauna here.
- Create something, big or small. The act of creation and inspiration is the language of our heart. It brings us joy and joy creates warmth and coziness in the body.
- Give. Tis the season anyway.
- Eat warm cooked foods and spices to warm your Kidneys.
- Click here to read more about what to eat for your Kidneys.
- Eat plenty of foods that provide moisture like fruits, citrus fruits, and root vegetables. Drink plenty of water too.
- Get acupuncture. It is great for lifting your mood, decreasing stress, increasing circulation, and so much more!
- Take a vacation somewhere warm with plenty of natural water.
- Purchase a sun lamp, like the ones listed below:
- HappyLight
- Circadian Light
- Check your thyroid. Your thyroid controls your body temperature, digestion, metabolism, mood, and so much more. If you’re cold to the bone, gaining weight, sad or melancholy, get your thyroid checked.
- Order Thyroid Labs here.
- Seek counseling for thoughts, feelings, and emotions that weigh you down. Journal regularly, talk with trusted friends and colleagues.
The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine
The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine are living in all of us. We naturally embody and gravitate towards some more than others. While the remaining few may be where are challenges and lessons reside.
The Five Elements are:
- Fire (Summer)
- Earth (Late Summer)
- Metal (Autumn)
- Water (Winter)
- Wood (Spring)
Each element has associated organs, season, color, taste, cardinal direction, personality characteristics, and much more.
The Water Element is associated with the Urinary Bladder and Kidney.
Other associations include:
- Season: Winter
- Taste: Salty
- Emotion: Fear
- Color: Black / Blue
- Sensory organ: Ear
- Tissues: Bone & Bone Marrow
- Cardinal direction: North
- Time of day: Bladder between 3-5pm & Kidney between 5-7pm
- System: Urinary
WE ALSO USE ALL FIVE ELEMENTS IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.
Water imbalances can include, but are not limited to:
- Low back, hip, knee, ankle pain or weakness
- Frequent urination
- Urinary dribbling
- Night time urination
- Night sweats
- Hair loss
- Dark circles under eyes
- Ear pain and excessive wax
- Diarrhea
- Nasal discharge
- Shortness of breath
- Amenorrhea, late periods
- Vaginal discharge
- Lack of libido
- Inability to conceive
- Feeling unworthy, not enough
- Needing to prove self, worth
- Lack of confidence, purpose
- Depression, withdrawn from self and society
There are many practices for nourishing your water element and supporting yourself during the winter months. Each of them will replenish, support, and strengthen your true self.
Choose those that are most interesting to you and feel good. Whichever practice(s) you choose to do, do it several times a week, 4-6 days. Your Kidneys and Urinary Bladder are like a pond or lake. They like to be full, yet still with gentle activity, and tended to by the natural elements around it.
Before you go, check out this list of Salty foods. Salty is the flavor of the water element, Kidney’s and Urinary Bladder.
"the kidneys are responsible for the creation of powers.
skill and ability stem from them"
~ Neijing
What is yin
Acupuncture for Fertility
Disclaimer: This information is intended for general reference only. It is not a replacement for professional health advice. The content in this post intentionally does not provide dosage information or possible interactions with prescription drugs or other medications. Please contact a certified health practitioner such as a physician of Oriental Medicine or Herbalist before considering use. To schedule an appointment with Malerie, visit the services page.
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