The ancient Chinese tradition of “nourishing life”, known as Yang Sheng, dates back thousands of years.

The purpose of this practice is to promote vitality, prevent disease, and ensure a long life.

These concepts date back at least as far as the Chinese medical text Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen, which is believed to be at least 3,00 years old. In the second chapter, titled “The Law of Regulating Spirit in the Four Seasons” (“Si Qi Tiao Shen Da Lun”), the author gives suggestions on harmonizing the body with the four seasons.

Winter refers to the Chinese solar terms Slight Snow, Great Snow, Winter Solstice, Slight Cold, and Great Cold (November 7–January 3). During winter, the coldest time of the year, Yin Qi is in excess and Yang Qi is concealed; everything goes into hibernation. Yang Qi within the body also conceals itself. The Nei Jing Su Wen counsels, “Yang Qi should be guarded and not to be disturbed…. In winter it is desirable to sleep early and get up later, waiting for the sunlight to arrive.”

Health preservation in winter should conform to the features of concealment of Yang QI, and hibernation to avoid cold and approach heat, preserve yang and yin—living in agreement with the principle of nourishment and hiding.

This allows the Yin Qi to be nourished and protects the Yang Qi from cold. Health preservation in winter should conform to the features of concealment of Yang QI, and hibernation to avoid cold and approach heat, preserve yang and yin—living in agreement with the principle of nourishment and hiding.

Regulating the Emotions in Winter

The period of winter relates to the kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for the storage of our life essence (jing) and are associated with the emotions fear and fright. It is thought that winter is a time of hiding, when one should work to stabilize the emotions and cultivate the mind. One should also avoid excessive emotional activities of fear and fight, to allow the Yang Qi to remain concealed within the body. This will allow for healthy emotional development in the spring.

Regulating the Diet for Winter

Traditionally in China’s ancient life cultivation practices, winter is a time for ingestion of tonic. However, it should be said that ingestion of tonics can be harmful and should be based on one’s constitution and/or present illness.

People with deficiency of Yang Qi should consume more warm-natured yang promoting foods such as:

  • shrimp,
  • lamb,
  • beef,
  • walnuts,
  • ginger,
  • cinnamon, and
  • cardamom.

People with a tendency toward Yin deficiency should consume more cool-natured, moistening foods like:

  • pork,
  • rabbit,
  • duck,
  • bai he,
  • yin er, and
  • black sesame seeds.