Many patients come to see me in Mamaroneck seeking acupuncture for various conditions. Most of these patients not only get acupuncture and herbal medicine but they also get help through lifestyle adjustments. Adjusting your sleep is one of them, Going to bed at a reasonable time can have a strong effect on your mental, emotional and physical health.
In ancient China people believed the cycles of the body followed the cycles of the natural world. They thought if you go against these natural cycles disease will arise. The ancient Chinese also believed you should not only dress properly for the seasons but you should also attune your exercise, rest, sleep, diet and lifestyle to fit with the changing of the seasons. For example, in winter time you should eat more warming and nourishing foods such as meat, root vegetables, cabbage and other winter vegetables. You should also eat more cooked foods and fewer raw foods. In the winter time you should also go to bed earlier and sleep a little later. Exercise should be more contemplative and meditative. Qigong and meditation are good for the winter time. Life should slow down during this time of the year. The winter time in Chinese medicine corresponds to the water element. In Chinese Cosmology the organ related to the water element are the Kidneys. The Kidneys should be nourished during the times that correspond to the water element.
In Chinese medicine the feet are viewed as the roots of the body. The energy in the lower half of the body should be warm and dense while the upper body should be cool and clear. Chinese people are very protective of their feet. They pay very close attention to keep their feet covered and warm. In today’s modern world a persons heart and mind is overly stressed. Too much sensory stimulation through modern technology and fast pace living tends to over work the nervous system. We tend to be less in our bodies and more in our heads. The most obvious results of this is insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, shallow sleep, stress, headaches, nervousness, infertility, constipation, fatigue and many other symptoms associated with a nervous system that is over stimulated. These symptoms can be helped with foot soaking. People that suffer from menstrual pain, infertility or other types of chronic pain may also find benefits from soaking their feet. This is due to the fact that warming the feet helps to increase circulation through the entire body. 
On the Chinese calendar winter started on November seventh. In Rego Park it does not seem much like winter though. Usually by this time of year we are already in the 30’s. We are nearing Christmas and it feels more like October. This time of year is an easy time for people to get sick. I would like to share some simple advice from Chinese medicine that will allow you to have a healthy and relaxed winter season.