For the year of 壬寅 Yang Water Tiger, Wind-Wood Qi is excess in general. Shaoyang Ministerial Fire governs the first half of the year, while Jueyin Wind-Wood governs the second half of the year.  We are entering the 3rd quarter of the Last Qi phase of this year.  (Hard to believe how fast this year flew by!) Currently the Host Qi is Taiyang Cold Water, and the Guest Qi is Jueyin Wind Wood.  Jueyin Wind-Wood Qi tends to make things drier, and generate a lot of wind, which drains the Taiyang energies. People with underlying Cold or Wind pathogens tend to have recurring symptoms in this season, such as allergies, autoimmune responses, inflammation, etc.  People also tend to develop leaking diseases, heart pain, cough due to floating Yang. Progression of diseases tends to be rapid this year due to the nature of Guest Qi Jue Yin.

Appropriate treatment should focus on regulating Guest Qi Jueyin — tonify it with pungent flavor, drain it with sour flavor, and moderate it with sweet flavor. It is beneficial to mainly ingest bearded grains (wheat, oat, barley, etc.) in this season, and supplement with rice to expel Wind pathogens. Warming method is also appropriate for this season.

According to “The Monthly Orders「月令」 ,” the seasonal material manifestations 物候 of Arrival of Winter 冬至 are:

The 1st Qi Phase 初候: Earthworms Congeal 蚯蚓結;

The 2nd Qi Phase 二候: Moose Deer Shed Their Horns 麋角解;

The 3rd Qi Phase三候: Aquifers Churn 水泉動.

Earthworm symbolizes Yang (movements) in the Yin realm (stillness). It is a medicinal that dissolves phlegm nodules. This is a season when Yang is congealed due to the severe coldness, therefore symptoms caused by phlegm such as spasms, tremors, twitching, paralysis, etc. tend to happen.

Moose deer is an animal rich in Yang Qi. Their horns fall off when Yang energies decrease and retreat. Diseases with pathological growth such as polyps, fibrosis, nodules, tumor, etc. tend to hibernate when Yang Qi is not abundant. This is a good time to incorporate “consuming” herbs to reduce pathological growth if there is any.

In the last 5 days of this season, Yang begins to arise from underground. Water begins to move and churn from the bottom as Yang slowly rises. For people with deficient constitution without pathological growth, it is time to gently tonify Yang Qi and restore it in the Kidney and Ming Men (Gate of Life).

Please find the recipe for this season on my substack.