I am sure most will agree, 2016 was quite a year! That clever Yang Fire Monkey held true to his nature by being hectic and erratic yet unpredictable with a hearty dose of adventure rolled in for good measure.

As the Yin Fire Rooster prepares to make her entrance January 28, 2017, embrace the wisdom of sages, which encourages us to prepare for the upcoming year by aligning with the energy or nature of the year, using it to our advantage.  While it’s wise to have resources to continue to stoke the fires started this year, it’s prudent to ensure sufficient water to contain those fires if need be. And what better time of year to align with the environment to help strengthen the Water element within our selves than winter, especially here in Canada?

While we are blessed in this country with an abundance of water, the past year brought to light many issues pertaining to water. California continues to experience some of the worst drought conditions in decades yet, is not alone as parts of South Africa, Brazil and even North Korea continue to struggle with water shortages. Shamefully, in the midst of these deficiencies, governments continue to allow large corporations to drain our watersheds of undeniably, the world’s most valuable resource for pennies while leaving surrounding communities to deal with the resulting scarcity of water. Who didn’t hear about the video that surfaced this year of Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe in which he reportedly proclaimed that water is not a human right? Thankfully, such unchecked greed was

challenged at the end of 2016 by thousands around the globe who stood in solidarity with the Sioux of Standing Rock to remind us all how critical water is to our survival.

In the world of Chinese medicine, this past year demonstrated continued growth and acceptance throughout the country yet not without a few good challenges to keep us humble.

As the dust begins to settle in Ontario after several bumpy years following the 2013 proclamation of the TCM Act, Nova Scotia looks to join the group of provinces that regulate the practice of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. This past year, Ontario saw two public colleges admit their first cohorts in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in addition to the growth of several private schools throughout the province. Meanwhile this past September, British Columbia’s Kwantlen Polytechnic University opened the doors of its Richmond campus to their first cohort in an Acupuncture diploma program.

In addition, research in Chinese medicine is on the cusp of really taking off in this country as knowledge and understanding of this system grows. An exciting concept I’ve discussed with several practitioners is to develop a program within Canada to support our grossly underserviced, northern communities. I’m so proud of our global Acupuncture tribe that travels to areas in need to provide effective, sustainable and affordable healthcare. Why not celebrate our 150th anniversary as a country by bringing the wonders of our medicine to as many Canadians as we can?

I am fortunate to be one of the first instructors in Georgian College’s Acupuncture Diploma program, which saw the successful completion of its first, student lead clinic this past term. If the overwhelmingly positive reviews from the clients are any indication, Canadians are more than ready for what we have to offer. As TCM practitioners and acupuncturists we should be pleased with our accomplishments in a relatively short period of time but our work is just beginning.

Challenges with lack of coverage by some insurance providers, Health Canada proposals regarding additional herbal regulations and our own internal battles have been taxing to say the least however; I am hopeful that as our profession matures in this country, we will begin to speak with one voice.

With change comes apprehension and fear for many and as we approach the depths of winter, why not delve into the causes of that fear, the emotion associated with winter according to the Five Element theory?

The Kidneys, which are Yin in nature, are associated with Water elementally as well as the winter season and salty flavours. They are believed to store Jing or our Essence, dominate bones and, due to their location, are closely related to the health of the lumbar spine. According to my good friend Laura Erlich, fertility guru and co-author of the book Feed your Fertility; mussels are considered great Jing or Essence tonics, which is stored in the Kidneys. They are known to be warm and salty, can boost energy within the Liver and Kidneys and are reported to be effective in the treatment of night sweats, impotence and low back pain.  

Bone broth has become quite popular over the last few years and is arguably one of best Jing tonics we can add to our diet.  It contains gelatin and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium as well as chondrointin and hyaluronic acid, which benefit teeth, bones and

joints among other tissues. With bone in the name, it’s a safe bet it will be a good tonic for our Kidneys.

Lemongrass, or Xiang Mao in pinyin is a perennial herb used by cooks throughout Asia and is reported to be warm and pungent in nature. It contain various substances such as sterols, terpenes, alkaloids and essential oils and is said to treat a wide variety of conditions include respiratory conditions, rheumatic pain, headaches as well as colds and fevers. Coconut milk (although some sources argue its neutral) and ginger are both considered warming food, which are beneficial during the cold winter months.

Sour limes provide a cooling balance to this recipe, as they are considered cold in nature. They are purported to enter the Lungs, Spleen, Liver, Gallbladder and Kidney and aside from clearing heat they encourage circulation of both Qi and Blood.

Aside from the energetics of the ingredients used, howa meal is prepared also imparts varying degrees of Yang to food.  According to Richard Craze and Roni Jay in their book Cooking for Long Life: The Tao of food, electric stoves are very Yang and drying in nature, while the flame of gas or propane being closer to a wood fire, is still considered ‘Yang but well-balanced toward being Yin’.

They go on to say that baking and the use of a pressure cooker are considered Yang while boiling is a rather Yin method of cooking with stir-frying being reported to be well balanced. Some sources indicate that steaming is closer to the cool end of the spectrum but Craze and Jay feel it’s similar to stir- frying. As such, the following recipe is well suited for my intentions of the meal, which is to strengthen not only the Yin but also ensure sufficient warmth in the Yang aspect the Kidneys to help us get through the long winter ahead. What a great meal to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

As a profession, we collectively need to bring our ‘A’ game as we are now under the microscope, and not just by our clients. Their primary care providers, allied health care team, insurance carriers, and the government are all watching, waiting for the mysteries of Chinese medicine to unfold. We will face many challenges during this period of growth but if we stay true to the wisdom of our ancestors, remain focused and strengthen our core values over the winter, we can continue share this amazing medicine with even more Canucks this coming year.

As the energy of the Rooster reminds us, the year is about a dawning or awakening, the realization of the many years of hard work and determination to get to this point. If you’ve ever been near a farm early in the morning, you are well aware that the nature of the Rooster is to wake every one, and every thing, up, a sort of call to action if you will. According to the website, http://www.chinahighlights.com, the Rooster is considered trustworthy and resourceful with Fire Roosters in particular demonstrating responsibility at work. Be diligent with your deep, core work this winter. Strengthen that back and postural muscles, investigate the root of your fears and for goodness sake, slow down! The frenetic pace many of us function at is not sustainable and I for one have vowed to do my best to pump the brakes more often. Its time to slow down in all aspects of our lives and what better way to share this principle with the masses than through the beauty of Chinese medicine.