As stated in the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic):

"Nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter."

Winter is dominated by storage:

Yang qi in the human body withdraws inward, easily generating internal heat.

Coupled with the cold and dry weather,

the combination of internal and external factors tends to consume and damage yin fluid.

Yin fluid can moisten and nourish the skin, making it plump, smooth and elastic.

Insufficient yin fluid leads to dry, scaly and itchy skin.

Therefore, in winter, attention should be paid to protecting yin fluid to moisturize the skin.

Acupoint Massage

01 Sanyinjiao (SP6)

Located on the medial side of the lower leg, four finger-widths above the tip of the medial malleolus. Knead with the pulp of the finger until a sore and distended feeling is felt, which can nourish yin and moisten dryness.

02 Taixi (KID3)

Located in the depression between the posterior aspect of the medial malleolus and the tendon of the calcaneal bone. Push and press from this acupoint toward the Achilles tendon until a sore and distended feeling is felt, which can stimulate kidney qi, nourish yin and moisten dryness.

03 Zhaohai (KI6)

Located in the depression below the tip of the medial malleolus of the foot. Press with the thumb until a sore and distended feeling is felt, which can nourish kidney yin and clear deficient fire.

Dietary Conditioning

01 Jujube and Xueli Gao Soup

Take 10 jujubes (pitted) and 20ml Xueli Gao (Pear Syrup Paste). Soak the jujubes for half an hour, put them into a casserole, add water and boil until soft, then add Xueli Gao. It can moisten the lungs, nourish the skin, invigorate the spleen and replenish qi, suitable for dry and scaly skin in winter.

02 Ophiopogon Root, Polygonatum and Tremella Soup

Take 6g Ophiopogon japonicus, 6g Polygonatum odoratum, 10g dried tremella, 5g red wolfberry and an appropriate amount of rock sugar. Soak the tremella, tear it into small pieces, cook with Polygonatum odoratum and Ophiopogon japonicus in water until the tremella releases gel, then add wolfberry and rock sugar and cook for 5 minutes. It can moisten the throat and nourish the skin, suitable for dry seasons and after staying up late.

03 Tremella and Jujube Soup with Pork

Take 25g dried tremella, 5 jujubes (pitted) and 250g lean pork. Soak the tremella, pit the jujubes, blanch the lean pork, put them all into a pot, add water and simmer for about 40 minutes, then season with salt. Eating it can nourish yin and tonify blood, suitable for those with insufficient yin and blood.

Lifestyle Adjustment

01 Work and Rest

The Huangdi Neijing says: "In the three months of winter, go to bed early and get up late, waiting for the sunlight." TCM holds that yin and yang can nourish and promote each other. Going to bed early and getting up late, and having sufficient and regular sleep can protect yang qi and also help relieve dry and itchy skin discomfort.

02 Exercise

Proper exercise can promote the circulation of qi and blood, help transport lung fluid to the skin texture, and improve dry symptoms. Exercise should be moderate to slight sweating, and traditional TCM health preservation exercises such as Tai Chi and Baduanjin can be chosen.