What is Jing and why is it so important in Women’s Health?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calss the essence, our vitality Jing, and is closely interwoven with a women’s hormones throughout her menstrual life. Jing directly impacts and is affected by Ovulation, Menstruation, Fertility, Pregnancy, Postpartum and Menopause. Jing is stored in the Energetic Kidney organ and Reproductive organs of both females and males in TCM. It is responsible for our genetic inheritance and the strength of our constitution.

As women transition through major hormonal fluctuations in life, she is at risk of losing Jing. Jing is one of the three treasures in Traditional Chinese Medicine along with Qi and Shen and it is imperative that the Jing is nourished and preserved for a long, quality life.

The Menstrual Cycle

The Menstrual Cycle is a complex process orchestrated by interactions between many of the body’s tissues, cells, and hormones: reflective of your holistic health it is known as the “5th vital sign of life” along with blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

Your hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They affect many different processes including growth, development, metabolism, mood and reproduction. In particular, female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone have a major influence on woman’s health. These are the two key players that help regulate the menstrual cycle that Natuorpathic support can help to nourish their optimal balance.

I work with women like you to empower you to deeply understand your Menstrual Cycle as your 5th Vital Sign of Life, supporting you to transform your life. By increasing awareness and nourishment you can bring alignment with the archetypal energies inherent within the cycles that influence your being.

In TCM, a healthy menstrual cycle is a reflection of adequate Qi, Yang, Blood and Yin, and that there is a free flow of Blood and Qi. A regular cycle and efficient Ovulation, the main event of the cycle, is a reflection of Jing.

Understanding the seasons of the cycle and implementing self care practices throughout all the phases of our cycle, especially the season of Winter, our menstrual bleed, will support the vital essence of Jing and prepare the body for the next cycle.

Read more on understanding the seasons of our cycle……

5 menstrual care practices to implement during your menstrual bleed:

1. Schedule Downtime and Extra Sleep
When planning your social schedule around your bleed, schedule downtime for self care rituals to deeply nourish your being. Ensure you have 8 hours of sleep.

2. Eat warm foods
By eating warming foods you are supporting a warm uterus, think 80% cooked, 20% raw on your plate.

3. Avoid chilled drinks
Drink room-temperature water, and avoid Iced coffees.

4. Add some nourishing kidney foods to your diet
A warming bowl of oats or quinoa will support your digestion and energy throughout your period. By implementing Chinese Herbs such as Ground Cinnamon ( Rou Gui ), Black Sesame Seeds ( Hei Zhi Ma ) and Goji Berries ( Gou Qi Zi ), this will support your menstrual cycle and hormonal balance.

5. Keep your feet warm
Wear socks, your Kidney meridian begins on your foot and supports your Jing

Menopause

Read more on the Beauty of Menopause

In the ancient Chinese Medical text, the Huangdi Neijing also known as the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Cannon, describes the cycles of Jing which for a woman, change every 7 years. The fifth cycle of Jing begins at the age of 35 for a woman and this marks the decline of Jing which I prefer to view as the time to become aware of preparing the body for Perimenopause and Menopause. It is at this point in life, that how a woman looks after herself will directly affect her experience as she transitions through Menopause.

Preparing for Perimenopause and during Menopause is focused on strengthening the Kidney Jing as well as nourishing the Kidney Yin. If a woman has not had the opportunity to recover from Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum, this can directly affect one’s experience of Menopause like a domino effect. For women who have not had children, if they have menstrual cycle imbalances that have not been addressed, this can also affect their Menopausal experience. Previous hormonal imbalances before menopause can be viewed as heading into the next hormonal event already deficient, with a lack of Jing not sufficient to be support through this phase which can then lead to disharmony in Traditional Chinese Medicine arising as symptoms associated with Menopause such as hot flushes, night sweats and hormonal mood changes.

I recommend to women that after preparing for pregnancy through preconception care, this is the next significant chapter to prepare for. I say to my patients that you want to aim to be your strongest and most balanced version of yourself heading into Menopause and the earlier you start looking after yourself as a priority, the better.

Traditional Chinese Medicine practices to implement during Perimenopause and Menopause:

Traditional Chinese Medicine practices to implement during Perimenopause and Menopause:

1. Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is heating and drying, creates liver heat and exacerbates the warmth we start to feel during this phase of life due to a reduction in oestrogen levels and yin energy.

I have seen a reduction and elimination of alcohol alone reduce hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia immensely

2. Avoid Chilli and Spicy Foods

Avoid these to reduce excess heat in the body.

3. Minimise Coffee intake

Caffeine is heating, drains the adrenal energy exacerbating hot flushes, anxiety and overwhelm.

4. Introduce resistance and strength training

Whether you are in your twenties, thirties, forties or fifties reading this journal entry, begin to incorporate resistance and strength training to support muscle strength and Bone Density preservation to reduce the risk of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis as you age.

5. Consider Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are both beneficial treatments in Traditional Chinese Medicine to manage Perimenopausal and Menopausal symptoms including irregular periods, heavy periods, insomnia, mood changes, hot flushes and night sweats.

The Season of Winter

Is the time of the Water element, and the Kidney ad Urinary Bladder, it is essential to nourish our Kidney essence during the season of winter.

Winter Rooting

The season to ground your energy, draw inwards for deep rest, nourish your yin roots, restore your kidney essence for a strong foundation from which to flourish and thrive ready for the rebirth into new beginnings as the cycle transitions to spring.

My nourishing root yin tonic that I am drinking daily is:

Dandelion root

Siberian ginseng

Shatavari

Astragalus

Licorice

and a pinch of cinnamon

This tonifying blend will support your energy to ground and rejuvenate.

Restore our vital kidney energy

Replenish our inner yin rivers to bring lubrication, flow and flexibility to our being

Reduce and clear excess heat and yang from the body

Excellent for:

Fatigue

Insomnia

Menopause

Hot flushes

Menstrual wellbeing & fertility

Dryness and stiffness within the body

Libido and sexual energy

Enjoy!!! What herbs are supporting and nourishing you through the winter roots season of rest?

Read more about Cyclical Seasonal Wisdom and The season of Winter, the water element and restoring the Kidney Essence