During the colder months, our body directs more blood to our torso and head, to protect our brain and vital organs. Our extremities may end up feeling cold as a result. Cold hands, warm heart.
From a Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) perspective, various organs and meridians can be involved in the symptoms of cold hands and/or feet; from a Meridian Therapy perspective, cold hands and feet usually relate primarily to the Lungs and Kidneys, respectively.
Here are a few tips for keeping your hands and feet warm during winter.
Keeping your feet warm
The Kidney pathway starts on the soles of your feet. Wearing socks or slippers (especially on tiled or concrete floors) can help protect the kidney pathway.
Ginger is such a wonderful warming and comforting herb. From a TEAM perspective, fresh ginger is mild and supports the torso, while dried ginger is hot and is better at warming cold hands and feet. It warms the stomach and spleen and is therefore good for digestion. It is often used for nausea, morning sickness and vomiting.
I often make a very simple ginger tea – just add a few slices of fresh ginger, or a generous pinch of ginger powder to some hot water, let steep for a few minutes and drink. You can also add some fennel seeds, which are also warming and supportive for digestion.
Pranayama done on a daily basis, may help to improve the flow of qi and blood in the body.
I love my haramaki – Japanese Kidney warmer. They help keep the midsection warmer in the cooler weather, thus providing the Kidneys with additional warmth.
Exercise also helps to ensure that qi and blood flows properly throughout the body. When I exercise, I notice that my hands warm up quickly.
I’ve also been eating black beans this week. Black is the colour that corresponds to Winter. Black-coloured foods like black beans, black sesame, black rice, black buckwheat, dark-coloured jujubes and black fungus support the Kidneys and our yang energies. These foods have many benefits and may improve qi flow. During the cold winter months these foods may help to keep hands and feet warm.
If you have persistent cold hands and/or feet, please check in with your health practitioner. A number of modalities can support cold hands and feet, including acupuncture and medicinal herbs.
The concepts discussed in this article are presented within a Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) framework and are intended for educational purposes only.
