Element: Water
Direction: North
Yin: Kidneys
Yang: Bladder
Emotion: Worry
Color: Black
Flavor: Salty
Harvest Time:
Winter is when we move into the darkness. Gestation period. Time to be underground and out of the cold. It is a time of scarcity in the harvesting world. In early winter, there is a window of harvesting that can occur before the ground freezes. Then, the cold and darkness asks us to go inward– align with the plants and take time inside for reflection and introspection. In mid-late winter, there are signs of life returning– hazelnuts blooming, songbirds singing and buds swelling with sap. It is in this timeframe when we begin our seasonal rounds– tending to the harvest cycle anew.
December- Early Winter
January- Mid Winter
February- Late Winter
What to Harvest:
Roots
Young, reemerging greens
Buds
Pitch
Plants:
Conifer needles/leaves and pitch
Miner’s Lettuce (late winter)
Queen Anne’s Lace root
Teasel root
Waterleaf (late winter)
Food as Medicine:
Winter represents the death cycle– the channel of the wave– the dark side of life. It’s the time where our survival is put to the test, where the decay of life creates fear and also courage to see things through. We need foods that will nourish us and support the movement of fluids in our body.
Salt is necessary for all life. It is also necessary for our body to maintain proper fluid balance. Since our bodies are comprised with 78% water, it is vital for our survival to stabilize our fluids. Any fluctuation in water can cause severe stress on our homeostatic mechanisms. In this case, we need salty nourishment to tonify our body during the winter. Our kidneys are aching for the salty flavor to calm our nervous system and rebuild our inner life force. Yet, if we have a damp constitution, too much salt can congest our mind and cool our system. In this case, pungent/warming herbs would be more nourishing.
For those of you that need more emotional support– grounding and centering, replenishment from thirst and dryness, calming of the nerves and agitation– try foods that build Kidney Yin. Incorporate kelp, seaweed, sesame seeds, eggs, beans, miso, mineral salt, mung beans and sprouts, nettle, parsley, potato, soy sauce, spirulina, and tofu into your diet. Add a combination of mineral salts and herbs to your popcorn, soups, meatloaf, cookies, and more!
For those of you with cold extremities, that need more determination, mental clarity, inspiration and will power try foods that nourish Kidney Yang. Add the warming herbs of anise seed, black peppercorns, cinnamon bark, cloves, dandelion leaf, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, ginger, and walnuts to your teas or baked goods. Pungent flavors and warmth in foods of chicken, lamb, salmon, trout, onions, leeks, chives, garlic, and quinoa will also energize the Kidney Yang.
How to prepare your meals:
Winter is a time to cook your foods slowly. Stews, soups and roasted meals can sit in the crock pot or over the stove and in the oven for a lengthy time. This will warm the house, bring smells of warming flavors and heat your core. Avoid cold foods and drinks, raw and undercooked vegetables and fruits. Root crops, meats and fermented vegetables warm us, nourish us and restore us.