Mulberry Power

Mulberries are coming in season now in Australia. According to Chinese medicine they have really unique properties for a fruit.

Most fruits have a heat-clearing nature, but Mulberries are a tonic. They tonify the Kidney Energy (Qi) and Blood. These functions mean they are great food for:

- Helping hair growth
- Helping hair look lustrous and moisturised.
- General weakness, tiredness and low energy from deficiency.
- Helping the kind of insomnia of waking up in the night (especially when there is night sweating)

Mulberries are a special fruit because you can't buy them from a shop, so you need to pick them yourself, making their Qi (Energy) more potent because they are so fresh.

Try some mulberries for yourself and realize the power of this nutritious, medicinal food

Mulberries can be mixed with Chinese herbs for a really yummy tonic food - Go Qi Zi (GoJi Berries) and Da Zao (Red Dates) are medicinal foods.

Winter

Winter

Seasons are a major aspect of Chinese medicine, they influence the ways in which we should live, and the kinds of illnesses that are prevalent in the various seasons. Winter is the season where things retreat, hibernate and rejuvenate. Just as the weather becomes cold, and nature retreats, our lifestyle should also change to suit the climate. 

I took this photo on one of my trips to the tea village in Changsha

Wearing warm clothing, avoiding the wind and protecting the lower back (which is known as the “kidneys house”) is an important way to maintain health. Kidney energy relates specifically to winter via the Water Element. Water is reflected in tranquillity, stillness, rejuvenation and gestation. It’s the Kidney energy that is directly influential in reproduction and fertility. Water energy accumulates in hibernation and rest, this should be encouraged during Winter with longer sleep time (go to bed later and get up later), resting during the day by lying down flat after lunch for about 20 minutes, and sweating less by engaging in non-sweat producing exercises like stretching and gentle walking. 

Generally winter is the season where we don’t need to do much exercise. Certainly opening the pores during sweating creates an easy-access path for External Pathogens like Wind-Cold to invade and cause colds and flu’s.

The primary focus of winter is to allow the body to rest, sleep and recover from any cold and flu’s, and avoid exposure to External pathogens. For healthy people, winter should be a season of storing up the nourishing Post-natal Kidney Essence (Jing). 

Click here for a winter recipe!