Winter self-care recipes 2025

from my mentor Dr Hao Liu’s clinic, self-care recommendations for the Start of Winter solar term (Nov 7-22, 2025), though it looks to me like if you fit the description these delicious herbal remedies would probably work all winter:

Beverage for Moistening Lungs and Skin
Indications: for those who have dry mouth/nose/throat and uneven breathing at the end of a long work day that consists mostly of sitting and using the brain, which gets a little stuck on and needs help winding down
Function: moisten Lung to nourish yin, clear dryness to calm spirit, whiten and beautify skin
Ingredients:
white woodear mushroom 10g 銀耳 yíněr
lily bulb 10g 百合 bǎihé
snow pear 1pc 雪梨 xuělí (I think any Asian pear would work, for this)
peach gum 10g 桃膠 táojiāo
aged tangerine peel 3g 陳皮 chénpí
rock sugar 冰糖 bīngtáng
osmanthus blossoms 桂花 guìhuā

1. Presoak the white woodear, then simmer with bǎihé and chénpí for 30 minutes.

2. Add snow pear and peach gum, simmer another 20 minutes.

3. Add rock sugar to taste, and garnish with pinch of osmantus blossoms. Serve warm.

Note: If you have phlegm, skip the sugar.
Best consumed between 3:00-7:00pm, as tonifying the mother (Lung) benefits the child (Kidney).

Five Spirit Black-boned Chicken Soup
Indications: for those who are too busy for exercise, always feel like they haven’t slept, and seem to be growing a muffin top around the middle, and those who run cold, sleep poorly, and don’t have enough energy to take care of all the things and people they’re responsible for
Function: strengthen Spleen to benefit qi, dispel dampness to tonify Kidney, nourish Heart and calm spirit
Ingredients:
half a black-boned chicken (Selkie, or any heritage breed really)
coix seed 30g 薏苡仁 yìyǐrén
lotus seed 20g 蓮子 liánzǐ
fox nuts 20g 芡實 qiànshí
Chinese yam 50g 山藥 shānyào
fresh Chinese yam 150g 新鮮山藥 xīnxiān shānyào
longan 5pcs 龍眼 lóngyǎn (Yes, this is lóngyǎnròu)

1. Presoak coix seeds for 2 hours.

2. Blanch chicken. Add liánzǐ, qiànshí, shānyào and simmer for 2 hours.

3. Add lóngyǎn and simmer another 10 minutes.

Notes: Not appropriate for first and early second trimester pregnancies.
If you have damp heat, skip the longan.
Best consumed at breakfast or lunch, because this warming chicken soup improves the digestive function and raises metabolism. All the ingredients can be eaten, so you don’t have to strain it (like so many potions).

Congee for Brainpower, Kidney, & Anti-aging
Indications: Kidney deficiency, prolonged sitting, hair and memory loss (or too much studying)
Ingredients:
black bean 50g 黑豆 hēidòu
glutinous rice 50g 糯米 nuòmǐ
millet 50g 小米 xiǎomǐ
walnuts 50g 核桃仁 hétáorén
black sesame 20g 黑芝麻 hēizhīmá
goji berries 10g 枸杞子 gǒuqǐzi
jujube dates 2pc 大棗 dàzǎo

1. Soak black beans overnight.

2. Simmer black beans, glutinous rice and millet for 1 hour.

3. Add walnut pieces, black sesame, goji berries and cook for 10 more minutes.

Notes: Safe for Spleen deficient folks with diarrhea. Can be consumed morning and evening. Works on both short-term (Spleen) and long-term (Kidney) memory loss.

Mutton Soup for Warming Yang
Indications: for those who are older or just recovered from dire illness, feeling weak and very cold
Function: warm yang to dispel cold, tonify qi and invigorate blood, strengthen the body
Ingredients:
mutton, lamb, or goat 500g 羊肉 yángròu
angelica root 10g 當歸 dāngguī
cumin powder 孜然 zīrán
salt 鹽 yán

1. Blanch mutton and skim off the foam.

2. Add dāngguī and 3L water, simmer 2+ hours until meat falls off the bone.

3. Eat with little dish of cumin and salt, dipped to taste.

Notes: If you have heat or dry mouth, skip this recipe or add bland steamed veggies and daikon radish to aid with digestion.
As with all strong tonics, ingest small amounts frequently to prevent the warming effect to be overly drying. Tuck yourself in for a restorative smooze when you feel your hands/feet warm up!

Sweet Dreams Tea
Indications: for those who aren’t able to enjoy their alone time when they finally get it
Function: nourish Heart to calm spirit, smooth qi to relieve stress, improve sleep and beautify
Ingredients:
rose 8 buds 玫瑰花 méiguīhuā
jasmine 0.5 tsp 茉莉花 mòlìhuā
chamomile 1 tsp 洋甘菊 yánggānjú
honey 1 tsp 蜂蜜 fēngmì

1. Steep in 500ml hot water for 10 minutes.

2. Add honey.

3. Breathe in the aroma before you sip to dispel negative thought spirals and other brain weasels.

Notes: If you have diabetes or high blood sugar, skip the honey.
If you’re pregnant, skip the jasmine.

If you need help sourcing ingredients, let me know.