According to East Asian medicine, the season of Winter* is correlated with the element of Water* [水; shuǐ]. Seasonal living involves embracing water-like qualities of serenity, a sense of inner peace, humility (water seeks the lowest place and goes down with gravity like a river flowing downstream), and awe in the face of grandeur.

From this perspective of this tradition, the season teaches us about inner stillness and rest. It is about the greater strength and force that comes from being in alignment with who we actually are—not forcing or striving—but acting from a place of ease and stepping into the grace of a larger rhythm. Like navigating on the ocean, understanding Water means knowing when to paddle with the currents and when to rest.

In the body, specific tissues and energetic processes exhibit Water qualities, including: the Kidneys* [肾; shèn], our body’s water metabolism (regulation of thirst, hydration, urination, venous and lymphatic circulation, tissue swelling), the health of the low back, our relationship with fear and uncertainty, and the deep wonderment that can come when we admit we don’t know the answer. The Kidneys organ network is also responsible for the reservoir of energy we have available in this lifetime, which is partially related to our genetics and partially related to our lifestyle and behaviors. So, symptoms related to energy, such as how much rest we need, how quickly we age, fertility, and longevity are all related to the Kidney organ and its related acupuncture channel.

[*Note that specific words are purposefully capitalized here to denote the ancient pictographic characters and the word-fields of meaning they convey. Capitalized ‘Kidney’ denotes the Chinese medicine understanding of the organ plus its related acupuncture channels plus its mental, emotional, spiritual and physiologic expressions. The uncapitalized ‘kidney’ signifies the English language word and western medicine understanding of the organ itself.]

The Kidneys in East Asian medicine are not quite the same as the kidneys as perceived by western conventional medicine. The body, from the perspective of this holistic medicine, expresses a coherence and a wholeness of intelligence that linear thinking sometimes can’t grasp. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual intelligences are expressed together, without separation.

Below, I’ll share about the energetics of this organ system. My hope is to help you transform the way you think about your body so you can better understand its inner processes and relate to yourself in a more holistic, seasonally-attuned way.

 The Pathway of the Kidney Meridian

Acupuncture channels or meridians are intelligent extensions of our internal organs. The channels are connective tissue pathways. A pathway is both an emptiness and a thoroughfare, allowing communication with the rest of the body. When a channel begins to show signs of imbalances (tightness, pain, constrictions, etc.), it is showing us how we might better support the associated internal organ before a more serious and deeper pathology manifests.

The Kidney meridian follows a specific route through the body: it begins at the little toe, is exposed at the sole of the foot (Yongquan KIDNEY-1, or Gushing Spring), ascends along the medial ankle and inner aspect of the leg, interweaves with the spine and connects with the Kidneys and Bladder and rises up the abdomen and front of the chest near the sternum.

Clinically, we often find qualities of prolapse, sagging, loss of tone, boggy swelling, or emptiness in the Kidney acupuncture channel, which usually indicates loss of energy and vitality in the system. We can look for these signs and treat preemptively with acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal therapies, and other techniques before the symptoms deepen their expression.

The Kidneys are the ‘Masters of Vital Essence’

The Kidney Organ Network is said to ‘store the essence’. To better understand the energetics here, consider that our essence acts like a reservoir of vitality: it is the body’s fundamental life force including our inherited constitution, reproductive energy, and overall strength. When the Kidneys are in balance, the essence is preserved, and the body exhibits resilience, strength, and robust fertility and libido. Prolonged chronic stress, overwork, or disease can tax the Kidney essence and manifest as issues that impact deep layers of our health and include symptoms such as reproductive disorders, bone or skeletal weakness, or premature aging. Other times the essence may be depleted, leading to fatigue, lack of motivation, or difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. This way of thinking about the body as having finite reserves is important and sometimes is not conceptualized as well in western medicine, which instead has the tendency to propose a never-ending cascade of procedures and interventions to repair or prolong health.

The Kidneys’ Relationship with Emotion: Fear and Awe

The emotional quality associated with the Kidney is described as kong, or awe. In a positive sense, kong refers to the ability to surrender and let go especially at the prospect of loss. An ability to understand and implement this aspect of Kidney wisdom is perhaps the most important key to understanding this organ system and preventing many of the problems that plague modern culture (anxiety, constant restlessness, over-activity, stimulation-seeking, lack of rest). Practicing kong, or surrender, means to adopt the water-like quality of going with the flow of nature. Observing the cycle and recycling of nature helps us to understand our limited roles in the material form and the importance of the death and dying process, hibernation, sleep, and embracing the mysterious alchemy that happens in unseen realms. Anything that wants to endure and last for a long time, needs to embrace these aspects of Kidney function.

The quality of Kidney kong is akin to being in a small boat in a vast ocean: you might feel gripping panic and fear, or a deep sense of wonder at the majesty and immensity of life. A combination of both is most likely. A healthy version of this combination is kong.

The Kidneys are Home to our Willpower: the Spirit of Zhi

The Kidney’s spirit is zhi, which is translated as our sense of willpower or determination.

Zhi is associated with a deep sense of purpose, resilience, and the unwavering will to pursue one's goals. Strong and harmonious Kidney energy contributes to a clear sense of purpose, which liberates energy so that we can navigate the unpredictability of life with focus, flexibility, and a fluid but grounded understanding of our unique path.

The Kidneys’ Role in Fluid Metabolism and Ming Men Fire

Ming Men Fire [命门火], or the Gate of Vitality Fire, is a concept in Chinese medicine related to the energy it takes for the body to regulate and transform fluids. The Ming Men is located in the low back just between the kidneys, approximately opposite the belly button. The tone and strength of this area is related with our overall metabolism and energy. (This is a beautiful area to receive moxibustion treatment and deeply helps replenish energy levels and fatigue.)

Similar to keeping a pot of water boiling over a fire, we need appropriate energy and warmth (Ming Men) and the appropriate fluids (Kidney qi) to achieve balance.

When the body's fluid metabolism and the Kidneys are in harmony, it ensures proper hydration, lubrication of joints, and optimal cellular function. On the other hand, weakness in the Kidney organ network can lead to issues such as inability to regulate thirst (always thirsty or conversely, unable to transform or metabolize consumed fluids), difficulty balancing circulatory volume (which can occur in kidney/adrenal conditions, POTS, lymphedema, or chronic renal failure), inability to regulate energy levels and constant fatigue, weakness upon standing (dysautonomia, light headedness), frequent urination/nocturia, or inability to regulate body temperature (cold aversion).

Water is Life: Embracing Rest, Darkness, Quiet, Peace, and Uncertainty

All Newness is Born from these Waters

Understanding the energetic relationships of the Kidneys allows us to observe our own body and habits and look for ways to better support our energetic health.

Similar to the resistance and restless many people feel when they first settle into meditation, leaning into the stillness and quiet of the winter months requires us to practice going inward with surrender and peace. This helps conserve energy as we slowly build up a robust re-emergence in springtime.

If you have specific questions arising about how to integrate this information into an individualized plan, please feel invited to schedule an appointment.