As we are now heading into Winter and the days are growing colder, I thought it would be good to cover the Water element according to the Chinese, which relates to Winter. If you struggle with the cold, find your symptoms are worse during Winter or battle with your mood at this time of year, try some of the suggestions to help restore balance.

The Water Element has a spiritual type of energy, and Water types are constantly seeking to understand the world around them. They tend to be introspective and like to ponder the meaning of life. They have a great imagination as well as being intellectual and visionary. They have a keen interest in how things work and are usually really good at solving problems and coming up with solutions. Water energy has strength and purpose and is fearless. When there is fear and anxiety, this element is out of balance. It knows when to retreat so as not to waste energy and when to forge ahead going around or over obstacles in order to reach its destination.

The Kidneys regulate the content of water and other substances in the blood and the bladder eliminates what is no longer required by the body. The Kidneys also store the powerful water energy or vital essence, which nourishes the body, mind and spirit. They are responsible for dispersing warmth and energy throughout the body thus nourishing and providing fuel to every cell in the body and energising the vital organs so they may function optimally. The Kidneys also give us the determined will power needed to move forward, overcome obstacles and reach our goals in life.

Excess Water symptoms:

• Dry nose and throat

• Deterioration of gums and teeth

• Acute flare ups of arthritis

• Sleep problems: difficulty falling asleep, insomnia

• Stiff joints – knees and hips

• Severe lower back pain

• Kidney and bladder stones

• Headaches – behind the eyes or in occiput (where head and neck meet)

• Vertigo, dizziness

• Acute, painful bladder infections

• Neurological disturbances: extreme anxiety, difficulty concentrating, phobias

• High blood pressure

• Pessimism/cynicism/apathy/insecurity/paranoia/inflexibility

• Depression

• When stressed, tendency to withdraw and isolate yourself

Deficient Water symptoms:

• Lack of energy

• Premature greying, thinning or balding, dry brittle hair

• Chronic lower back pain

• Cold extremeties, cold hands and feet

• Ear infections or tinnitus/hearing deterioration

• Achy, weak knees

• Dark hue around the eyes

• Yeast infections

• Impotence/Infertility/lack of sex drive

• Degeneration of disks and cartilage in spine

• Osteoporosis

• Procrastination

• Laziness

• Lack of confidence and loss of faith in self

• Poorly defined goals and sense of direction

• Loomy, cheerless demeanor

• Lack of motivation and willpower

• Aversion to cold, intense dislike of winter

If you identify with any of these symptoms then here are some suggestions for restoring balance:

The time of day for Water energy is between 3pm and 7pm, if your energy feels low at this time of day you may need to recharge your kidneys by resting and having some downtime.

Water’s season is Winter, a time for conserving and storing. It is a resting period, a time to go within and nourish yourself. If you dislike the cold, make sure you stay warm and avoid sweating, which cools the body down.

Find a cause to believe in – Water types need something greater than themselves to believe in, a spiritual connection or something that is for the greatest good. When you do something to help another, it touches something deep within you and brings a sense of peace and happiness. Do some soul searching to discover what your purpose in life is, what do you love to do and work towards fulfilling your dreams. You may want to volunteer to a cause you believe in passionately or write a book. Have a goal and then move one step at a time towards it. Anything worth achieving takes time so be patient and keep your goal in sight.

Water types enjoy listening to classical music as well as tragic operas and ballet peformances, which represent the dramatic nature of life, with all its ups and downs. Experiment and see what moves you. Playing a musical instrument may also help to keep your water energy flowing.

Invigorating breathing involves breathing rapidly in and out of the nose keeping the mouth closed starting with 20 to 30 seconds working up to a minute. At the end take a deep breath in through the nose and release it slowly through the mouth. This is great to use if you need extra energy. The Calming breath can be used if you are feeling anxious or tense and need relaxation. Exhale completely, then through your nose inhale to a count of 5, imagining pure air entering your lungs. Hold your breath for twenty counts imagining your cells releasing all their waste products into the blood. Exhale for 10 counts imagining the waste products leaving your body. You can change the ratios to what suits you. The main acupoint used to support the kidney yin energy is located between the belly button and pelvic bone so focus on that area when holding your breath and feel the energy dispersing to all your vital organs from that area when you exhale.

Meditation is really suited to Water’s need for solitude and silence. While meditating you observe your thoughts and emotions as they flow towards you and around you without being too attached to them. It helps to still and centre the mind and allows a feeling of connection to something greater than the self. Meditation comes in many forms, you can sit quietly and focus on your breathing or you could take a walk in nature.

Stay in the present and face whatever comes your way with courage. When Water’s energy is out of balance there is a tendency to focus on the past and brooding over what is done or being drawn into the future and fearing the unknown and imagining things that may not even happen.

Stay warm. As water is naturally cold, you may tend to feel chilled easily in all seasons but especially Winter. You may also find that symptoms like arthritis, fatigue, depression may be more common in Winter. There is less natural light in Winter resulting in Seasonal Affective Disorder, which results in the Pineal gland not secreting enough hormone to create a sense of wellbeing and joy. So make sure you turn the heaters on, put on a fire and drink warm drinks to keep your body nice and warm.

Diet – If your Water element is out of balance you may find yourself craving salty foods or alternatively having a dislike for salty foods. The kidneys help to regulate salt in the body so your body can function properly but in excess it can cause imbalances such as water retention (swollen ankles, legs, fingers, abdominal bloating), high blood pressure, osteoporosis, constipation, menstrual problems and heart problems. Too much salt causes the body to excrete calcium. If you feel the need for a little salt, rather use natural sources like seafood, seaweed, kelp or sea salt. Avoid stimulants like caffeine, sugar and soft drinks as they will drain the Kidneys energy trying to put out the brushfires that they cause. Also avoid having cold, raw foods which can chill the body. Rather steam or wok fry them so they are easier to digest.

Drink plenty of water – As the temperature drops we often tend to forget to drink as much, but it is more important now to make sure you hydrate. You should be drinking at least a litre and a half a day, hot drinks count too but remember that caffeinated drinks will dehydrate so you would need extra water. A more accurate guide is 1 litre for every 18 kilograms of body weight, starting slowly and building up. Water helps to flush out toxins and ease the burden on the kidneys and bladder.

Exercise – Anything that involves silence and solitude appeals to Water types. Examples include Yoga, Tai Chi, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, jogging, brisk walking, cycling. Weight bearing exercise is important to strengthen bones, you could even carry your shopping bags to your car instead of using a trolley, walking up stairs instead of using the lift. Keeping muscles toned and stretched helps to keep Water types flexible. Inactivity will result in stiffness, aches and pain.

Blue and black are the colours associated with Water. Incorporating them into your life may help balance your energy.

Sound and the ears are linked with Water so problems with hearing, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or vertigo are common issues when there is a Water imbalance. Groaning or moaning is the sound of Water. Magnesium deficiencies can result in tinnitus so you may want to try eating foods rich in magnesium like nuts, pumpkin seeds, spinach, potatoes, wheatgerm, seafood, bananas and broccoli. You could also try a magnesium supplement or magnesium oil, which you rub into your skin. Gingko can also help increase blood flow to the brain, relieving tinnitus.

Smell – surround yourself with fresh cut flowers making sure to replace the water regularly so that it doesn’t stagnate. Use aromatherapy oils, whatever appeals to you. Lavender is a great oil to relieve depression, anxiety, headaches, aches and pain.

Touch – Water types need to have their boundaries respected yet it is important to be able to have contact with others and be able to express affection. Reiki and Reflexology are good forms of touch therapy for Water types as they offer safe and impersonal touch.

What is your favourite season?

I would love to hear from you if you found this helpful. I would love to know if this resonated with you and if not, what is your favourite season?

With love,