Winter corresponds, in Chinese medicine, with the element of water and the Kidney and Bladder organs. It is a time to rest a little after all the activities of the preceding seasons and rebuild your reserves.

If you don’t allow your body to rest and rebuild but continue with prolonged periods of overwork, stress, and pressure from daily life you may end up with Adrenal fatigue. This occurs when your adrenal glands become overworked and is different from Chronic fatigue which tends to be post viral.

Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and their role is to govern your fight or flight response and get you ready for action. They do this by producing important hormones including cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Too much or too little of any particular hormone can cause havoc with your health.

The symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue include a constant tiredness, even after sleep and rest, and a need for regular afternoon naps to “recharge your batteries”. This tiredness can result in an inability to cope with stress, reduced libido, low back pain, reduced immunity, irritability and moodiness.

Suffering this type of listlessness you may turn to caffeine, carbs and sugar to get through your day but this is equivalent to jump starting a dead battery. You need to fix the battery which, from a Chinese medicine perspective, means nourishing your kidney energy.

If we think of the kidneys and adrenals being like the battery of the body, we know that responding to chronic stress drains a lot of energy. At some point the battery is depleted, leading to feelings of exhaustion, low motivation, sleep disruptions, burn-out and mental fog. What is needed at such time is to slow things down and recharge our batteries, and winter is the perfect time to do so.

When we look at nature, we see that winter is the time of the year when things go into hibernation and slow down. While our culture doesn’t necessarily support this natural rhythm, it can be incredibly healing to allow ourselves to slow down during the winter months and tend to our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

In winter it is ok to go to bed a little earlier and the occasional nana nap is fine. It is generally harder to wake in the mornings as it is still dark out but adrenal fatigue goes beyond this. To support your kidney energy and adrenals here are a few things you can do:

1) Look at how you can better manage your stress. Acupuncture is a great way to do this as are Yoga, Tai Qi, meditation, or time in nature. Any stress relief measures will benefit you and your adrenals. Regular acupuncture and a course of Chinese herbs can help you nourish and strengthen your Kidney energy and Adrenals. It is also a good idea to discuss a lifestyle and meal plan that will not only protect your Kidney energy but help to support overall good health.

2) Remember to balance activity with rest. If you have a big week at work then have a quiet weekend. If you have a big weekend then have a week of early nights. Minimise exposure to stressful events and people. Consider not watching the news and staying away from social media especially if they are sources of stress for you.

3) Fill your soul: When you feel very depleted and burned out, it is important to add joy back into your life. Re-engage with that hobby that brings you so much satisfaction; spend time in nature; bring something beautiful into your life by connecting with art; explore a spiritual practice which might include meditation and prayer.

4) The physical realm of your Kidney is your lower back and knees. Stretching and exercises to strengthen your lumbar area are helpful in supporting your Kidney energy. You can also stimulate the blood flow to your Kidneys by patting or massaging your lower back area. Be sure also to wear clothes that will keep your lower back warm and keep your feet warm with socks, shoes and slippers in winter.

5) Foods that are particularly nourishing to your Kidney energy include those that are very dark (even black) in colour. These would include dark fruits and vegetables, and foods like black beans, black sesame seeds, and black walnuts. The water element comes into play when choosing foods for your Kidney energy, too. Foods from the sea, such as fish, shellfish, seaweed, kelp, and sushi are all excellent Kidney energy tonics. If you are going to have sushi in winter be sure to have the pickled ginger to keep you warm.

If you are struggling with adrenal fatigue consider having some acupuncture treatments to help nourish your system back to great health. Book an appointment today.

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