Wintering
- Sarah Hodgkinson
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
During Winter our energies want to turn deeply inward. The Qi and Blood of the body moves away from the exterior and in towards the organs, helping to keep us warm and nourished during the typically harsher months of the year. I often find that an analogy to nature helps us better understand these movements. Picture a deciduous tree, during summer she is green and bright, full of leaves and vibrant. Come Autumn the sap travels away from the leaves and returns to the trunk. These leaves become a toasty blanket for her roots and her fluids are now drawn inwards to protect the most vital parts of her over winter.
From the outside, it doesn’t look like she is doing much over the winter months. Standing cold and bare, almost lifeless for months and months. But internally she is living an important process, restoring herself and reserving her energy for a glorious rebirth in spring.
There are plenty of wellness fads out there – but returning to the cycles of nature isn’t one of them. Over the past few generation’s ‘conveniences’ have taken us away from what was ‘just the way you lived’. There was no such thing as avocados and milk all year round, you had no choice but to eat what had been either preserved of was growing fresh in your garden.
We don’t need to be radical about reclaiming our seasonal selves, but if we do want to live in gentle accordance with nature it starts in an understanding of what each season asks of us.
In East Asian Medicine, Winter is the most yin time of year - quiet, dark, inward. It’s governed by the Water element, which is deeply linked to the Kidneys, our roots of vitality, fertility, and essence (Jing). For women especially, this season invites rest and reflection. A sacred pause that allows us to gather strength for the cycle ahead.
Winter asks us to slow down, to listen deeply to our body’s needs, and to nourish our reserves. It’s a time to let go of striving and allow restoration, especially for those navigating fatigue, hormonal transitions, or the steady demands of motherhood and a creative life
Ways to Connect with Winter’s Energy:
Rest More, Guilt Less – Prioritise early nights, naps, and slowness. Yin yoga, stretching, and meditative walks are ideal.
Nourish Deeply – Eat warm, mineral-rich foods like soups, stews, seaweeds, root vegetables, and broths. You should be eating more and even putting on some winter kilos.
Journaling & Dreamwork – This is a time to reflect on the past year and let new ideas incubate in stillness.
· Womb & Kidney Warmth – Keep your lower back and belly warm. Use warming teas, moxa, or castor oil packs. If you walk into my clinic with your mid-drift exposed during this season, be prepared for a lecture!
Ditch Overcommitment – Clear space in your calendar. Less doing, more being.
Remedy of the Season:
Turkey Tail mushroom is a beautiful seasonal ally for Winter. In the wild, Turkey Tail mushrooms grow on decomposing logs, stumps, and fallen trees. But rather than symbolising decay, this humble mushroom represents transformation and renewal.
From the perspective of East Asian Medicine, Turkey Tail has a strong affinity for Yang Qi: the active, vital force that animates the body. What’s remarkable is where it sources this energy: from matter that has already died.
As it feeds on decomposing wood, Turkey Tail alchemises the old into new life, drawing subtle warmth and vitality (Yang) from what has broken down. In this way, it teaches us that there is energy, wisdom, and medicine even in the letting go.
As an immune-modulating and microbiome-balancing extract, it gently restores from the inside out. When your energy feels low or your immune system is stretched thin, Turkey Tail helps rebuild resilience, particularly for women recovering from burnout, illness, or chronic digestive depletion.
With its prebiotic compounds and antioxidant support, Turkey Tail nourishes both the gut and the immune system—two deeply connected foundations of health that need extra care in Winter.
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