In Chinese culture, the kidneys are the ‘root of life’ and a storehouse of energy – known as Qi, or in yogic terms, Prana. Traditionally, Eastern holistic health systems have guided people to care for their kidney energy, but in the modern Western world where life moves fast, stress is rife, and ‘nourishment’ doesn’t tend to feature as a staple of our lifestyle, kidney qi can suffer. It may sound a little esoteric, but each organ of the body is responsible for housing a different type of energy; the heart is the seat of joy, vitality and consciousness, the lungs are connected to sadness or grief, as well as openness and communication, and the kidneys are linked to fear, which is perhaps one of the strongest emotions we felt throughout 2020. This deeply rooted energy is so important in order to feel strong, well-rested, resilient and balanced, and it’s an energy that serves to support the rest of the body too. The kidneys are said to hold ‘pre-natal qi’, inherited from our parents, and when another part of your body is struggling, the kidneys are said to send it extra energy. If you’ve been feeling stressed and exhausted recently for instance, it’s likely your kidney energy has been working overtime trying to support flagging organs and systems. If this unsustainable way of living continues for too long, the adrenals (located directly above the kidneys) start becoming overworked and eventually fatigued.
So how do you know if you’re lacking in kidney qi? Traditional Chinese Medicine texts say you may be feeling fatigued, with achy joints, frequent urination, and an irregular menstrual cycle. The kidneys are partly responsible for the overall aging process, so if you’re beginning to notice yourself looking and feeling more tired than usual, this could be a sign your kidney energy needs attention. Importantly, the kidneys are a reservoir of subtle energy – meaning they support us even if we face challenges, skip breakfast, become ill or experience stress. The thing is however, being stressed, skipping meals and ultimately ‘running on empty’ physically, emotionally and energetically is all too common for many of us. If you haven’t nourished yourself or paid attention to your kidney qi or ‘life force’ recently, it’s perhaps time to try the following holistic tips to recharge yourself, especially as the kidneys need more support during Winter months.
Love Over Fear
Fear is the primary emotion linked to the kidneys, and when we live from a place of fear, or think fearful thoughts, we stress our adrenals out in a big way. To recognise whether you’re living from a place of fear or love, start paying attention not just to the decisions you make or the actions you do each day, but the reason why you do them. Do you say ‘yes’ to things because you’re scared of disappointing others? Do you push yourself to follow a lifestyle that doesn’t serve you, because you’re worried of what others think of you? Do you prevent yourself from relaxing because you’re fearful of not being ‘productive’ enough? All of these things ultimately, are done from a place of fear, so if you can begin to switch your attitude and your actions to move from a place of love, you’ll have taken one very important step to recharging your mind and body. Try saying ‘no’ to things you really don’t want or need to do, start being your true self and aligning with your own values, and begin noticing the difference between being truly creative, and just trying to ‘keep busy’.
Warm Your Back
A cold lower back is a quick way to deplete your kidney energy, as is being cold in general. Especially during colder months, try keeping your lower back warm by wearing an extra layer and tucking it into your trousers (or leggings, let’s be honest), or placing a hot (but not too hot) water bottle on the lower back when you’re feeling fatigued. If you’re a fan of cold showers for their adrenaline-pumping and mood-boosting benefits, be sure to balance them with warm showers and baths too, so you don’t drain yourself of vital energy in Winter.
Pressure Points
Both Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine offer effective pressure points that can help restore and revive kidney qi. The Parsva Sandhi marma points either side of the spine on the lower back can be massaged firmly to restore kidney energy and care for the adrenals, whilst the Bubbling Spring acupressure points in the centre of the soles of the feel have a restorative and grounding effect, and directly link to the kidneys too.
Rest Up
Listen to your body, and it will almost always tell you the right thing to do. Rushing around during Winter can quickly deplete the body’s vital stores of energy, and especially when the amount of daylight is shortened in December, January and February, we need to rest a lot more. If you honestly feel tired and as though you need to ‘do nothing’, then it’s a cue that you really do need to do nothing. We’ve been living in a culture where ‘busy’ means ‘good’, and ‘multitasking’ is the shortcut to happiness, however as I’m sure you can feel now, that really isn’t true. Being able to feel calm, clear, present and well-rested is the doorway to being more powerful and being able to produce more when you need to.
Choose Your Foods
The kidneys are related to the taste of salt, which means not having too much, but also making sure you’re getting enough. If you’re truly craving salty foods, eat them in the form of seaweed, miso, broths, and by seasoning your food with good quality salt. The salty taste is also something that can help us feel more grounded and calm too. In terms of the colour of foods, Chinese Medicine links the kidneys to black foods, so tuck into blackberries, black beans, and dark veg like aubergine, as well as walnuts, and plenty of fluid intake.