Staying warm the traditional way: How Chinese women embrace ancient wisdom in winter

As temperatures drop across northern China, women are turning not only to modern heat-tech but also to ancient wisdom for warmth and balance.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a woman's health is closely tied to the rhythms of nature and the balance of yin and yang – the dual forces of cool and warm, rest and activity, softness and strength.

Women are traditionally viewed as embodying more yin energy, associated with coolness, stillness and nourishment. It is why they are often described as having "cold hands and feet" or a tendency toward internal cold as part of their natural energetic makeup that requires mindful warmth and care, especially during the colder months.

For centuries, TCM has emphasized that women's health depends on the smooth flow of qi (vital energy) and xue (blood), as well as the harmony of the Chong and Ren meridians, which are believed to regulate menstruation and reproductive health. 

These meridians, also known as the Chong Mai and Ren Mai in TCM, are two of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels that are crucial for regulating reproductive health. The Ren Mai, or Conception Vessel, runs along the front of the body and is known as the "Sea of Yin," responsible for nourishing and regulating reproductive organs. The Chong Mai, or Penetrating Vessel, is called the "Sea of Blood" and governs the flow of blood and qi, which are vital for the menstrual cycle, fertility and pregnancy.

During a woman's cycle, the body is thought to be more vulnerable to cold, prompting advice to rest, avoid raw or chilled foods and instead choose warming drinks like ginger-and-brown-sugar tea. Another staple is hearty soups with meat, red dates and goji berries, believed to replenish blood and restore energy. These traditional remedies are still common today – often shared from thermos mugs on winter commutes or office desks.

Seasonal self-care

As winter arrives, TCM encourages "storing yang," conserving warmth and energy much like nature itself. Women traditionally take special care to dress warmly, eat nutrient-rich soups and stews and avoid overexertion. Winter is also considered the season of the kidneys, which, in TCM, are said to govern vitality, hormones and aging.

Food in TCM isn't just about nourishment – it's therapy itself. Ingredients are classified as "warming" or "cooling" not by temperature, but by their energetic effects on the body. Warming foods such as mutton, cinnamon, and sesame are thought to nourish blood and boost circulation, while cooling foods like cucumber or mung beans are avoided in winter, as they can "dampen the spleen" or drain energy.

Beyond food, the philosophy of warmth has evolved with technology. On Beijing's windy winter streets and subway platforms, portable hand warmers, heated insoles, and heat-tech clothing have become seasonal essentials. Online platforms are filled with herbal heating patches and self-warming abdominal wraps marketed to women as "TCM-inspired comfort for modern life," many combining traditional ingredients such as mugwort and ginger with modern thermal design. Moxibustion devices and mugwort products are popular, especially among younger Chinese women who combine TCM habits with pilates, yoga or strength training as part of a broader wellness routine.

According to practitioners, the goal of all these practices – traditional or modern – is to help women maintain a steady internal temperature and balance. 

Even emotional balance matters. Stress or overthinking is said in TCM to affect digestion, mood and overall vitality.

As one Beijing wellness consultant put it, "Technology makes it easier to stay warm, but true balance still comes from how we live – what we consume, how and how long we choose to rest and how we care for our bodies and minds in general."

Ultimately, women's health in Chinese medicine emphasizes a holistic balance between warmth and coolness, movement and stillness, body and mind. And for many modern women, these practices are less about strict rules than about reclaiming comfort, intuition and balance in the heart of winter. 

Editor's note: This article is part of China, Soft Focus – a slow journalism series that offers textured, cultural depth into China through measured pace and intimate storytelling.