Winter is here again and now the days are getting
longer in the Northern hemisphere. Depending where
you live you could see as much as 8 minutes more
of light a day.
I have already started my winter organic garden
with lettuce, onions, garlic and tomato’s as well
as a host of herbs. My organic garden will produce
food for about 5 months and I know it’s organic
for sure. The garden does more for me than just
produce food; it is a way to stay in touch with
nature, stay grounded and a wonderful way to
meditate.
In Chinese Medicine, the different seasons of the
year are associated with certain organs of the
body. Winter is ruled by the Water element, which
is associated with the Bladder and the Kidneys.
Chinese Medicine sees that the internal organs are
related to the physical symptoms of a person. For
example, the bladder and the kidneys are nourished
by the cold climate in the winter, but extreme
coldness or wetness can also injure them like deep
stiffness or pain, especially in the low back and
knees.
The ears are the sense organs
associated also with the Water element.
Interesting enough, the kidneys and ears are
shaped similarly. A water element disharmony in
the cold season can cause problems of the ears or
hearing. Another association to the water element
is the bones and any changes in the head ike hair
loss and premature graying may also suggest an
imbalance of the water element.
The specific
emotional imbalance associated with water element
is fear; and fear can itself injure the Bladder
and Kidney organs. On a brighter note, the
positive emotion is gentleness; being gentle to
yourself as well as to others.
I like to go to sleep early in the winter and
sleep in a little later. During this time of year
it helps the immune system keep everything strong
and healthy.
I’ll eat more root vegetables and have a hardy
soup for dinner at least a few times a week. Here
is one of my favorite recipes that will keep you
warm all winter and the kidneys tonified and warm.
Dr. Wu’s Tonifying Lamb Stew
I made this recipe many times in the colder months
and it keeps your entire system warm. The Lamb
stew is excellent for stomach problems, a good
source of iron and essential oils. It nourishes
the liver, kidneys, tendons and strengthens the
bones.
Ingredients
2 lbs. of lamb
1 Garlic head
1 kohlrabi cubed
Fresh Rosemary (excellent stomach and nerve
curing)
Burdock Root (source of iron and essential oils)
Lotus Root (crunchy texture cools the blood and
stimulates the appetite)
1 Parsnip
1 cup of Sliced Carrots
2 Red potatoes
2 Cubed Turnips
2 cups of fresh Okras cut in half
2 cups Shou wu chih (tonifies blood, nourishes the
liver, kidneys, tendons and strengthens bones)
¼ cup Brags liquid amino acids
1 Tsp. Olive oil
Himalayan Sea Salt to taste
A Few shakes Cayenne pepper
Pure filtered or spring Water
¼ cup of Black fungus
Cooking instructions
1. Cut the lamb into about 1 inch squares. Place
on a skillet, I prefer the old iron ones, and add
about a cup full of olive oil. Add ½ of garlic and
cook in the skillet till meat is brown. Next,
place the browned meat in a large pot. Add about ½
gallon of water. Cook for about an hour or 2 until
the meat is nearly done.
2. While it’s cooking, add a sprig of fresh
Organic Rosemary. Then add the sliced thinly
Burdock right after; it takes the longest to cook.
Stir in the turnip and kohlrabi at the same time.
Let it boil for a while and then add the potatoes
and lotus root and then the 2 cups of Shou wu
chih. Stir in the other half of the garlic and the
okras.
3. Once it’s cooked, add the sea salt, cayenne and
olive oil. Serve.
In the past I have made this dish with venison, or
elk it’s just as good but you may have to add more
olive oil.
Winter is my favored time in South Florida. The
temperature is in the high sixties and the low
seventies and the humidity is low. I am on the
beach every morning doing the Recharging Qi Gong
program. It works on keeping all the organs
healthy and keeps me limber. If I only had one
exercise program to do for my overall health this
would be it, The Recharging Qi Gong program is the
first choice with thousands of people now
practicing in 7 different continents.
http://www.rechargingqigong.com/recharging-qi-gong.html
I wish you the best in your Health, Wealth and
Happiness
Dr. Wu Dhi
