As we approach winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are wrapping around us like a blanket, the air is cooling and deepening, and the ground shines with frost.

In Chinese Medicine, winter is the season of the Water element. And water is associated with mystery, emotion and the unconscious aspects of our life.

The two channels of the Water element in the body's energy system are the Kidney and Bladder meridians.

In Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are known to store your Jing - your life force energy and holistic sense of strength and vitality. For this reason, the Kidney meridian holds great importance in Chinese Medicine.

The Bladder is closely connected with your soul, and the emotional balance at the deepest level of your being. When in balance, you are able to go with the flow and experience the mystery of life.

In your physical system, the kidney and bladder form most of the urinary system. This is associated with filtering the blood, purifying the body, and releasing nitrogenous compounds (urea and uric acid).

It really is an incredible system, filtering 1200mL of blood every minute in around 2.5 million nephrons in the kidneys. An inconceivably beautiful and intelligent system.

You can strengthen and maintain the health of the Kidney meridian, Bladder meridian and overall urinary system, in physical and nutritional ways:

- Keep the kidney and bladder strong by drinking sufficient water, especially if you are spending time in dry, centrally-heated environments.

- Take care not to overload your system with too many toxins. Your kidneys are especially sensitive to alcohol and caffeine.

- Do plenty of gentle stretching, especially to open up your back and the inside and back of your legs. These are the channels of energy flow for the Kidney and Bladder meridians.

You can also consider the emotional and energetic health of your Kidney and Bladder channels:

- Check in with your emotions. Is anything out of balance? Ask yourself if you are feeling any fear, as this is the emotion that corresponds to the Water element in Chinese Medicine. 

- Write down your dreams, as these will help guide you to greater depths of your being, provide clues from your unconscious and connect to your soul's purpose.

- Practise being open to mystery and learning to trust your inner self and guidance.

- Check in with your life force and vital energy - do you have a reserve of energy? Is this a time to rest, replenish and restore?

This is the perfect season (in the Northern Hemisphere) to pause for gentle reflection and gather together your innate strength and spirit, in preparation for your new year of growth.

Balance your body and energy system with bryony@creativesoultherapies.com