Cold Season is all around us

Winter is here and the holidays have begun. Here are some tips on staying healthy. 

• Stay hydrated – Drink warm liquid – no cold juice or cold beverage (lowers immunity)
  
• Eat warm healthy food (slow cooking food retains lots of heat so great to consume during this time of the year). Salad is not recommended. It is consider raw and a cold type of food. (Yes, it also lowers immunity)
• Reduce stress and get enough rest. (You guessed it, it also lowers the immune system)
  
• Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.
• Exercise regularly even if it is only 15 minutes, consistency is the key.

In TCM the back of the neck is considered the wind gate and should be covered at all times.  When you are out in the cold environment it is best to cover up the neck and chest area. This is especially important if you are covered with sweat from exercising.  Cool down completely and bundle up before you head out to the cold environment. This preventive measure only takes a second but a cold will last you a week or more. 

When your pores are open from sweating, the wind and cold can seep into the open pores. The first sign of cold can start with neck ache or body ache and that is because of the wind lodged into the muscles causing tightness and achy-ness.  This is called wind-cold (note: use the sweating method explained below).  Another sign of a cold is wind-heat.  The first symptom is a sore throat.  A wind-heat type of cold actually starts with a wind-cold but it transform so quickly that you may not feel the cold come on and the next thing you know it turns into a heat-cold. The herbal formula Yin Qiao San is great for sore throat type of colds and it has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

If you contracted a cold immediately take some Yin Qiao San or Gan Mao Ling every couple of hours for at least 12-24 hours to fight off the cold. You can continue to take it until the cold is completely gone. 

Sweating method:Another thing you can do which it very effective is bundle up with many layers of clothing and wear gloves and thick socks to sweat out the cold along with taking the above cold remedies. Tip: There is only a very small window of opportunity (within a few hours of realizing you have a cold) to sweat out the cold. So when you feel it coming on bundle up and drink lots of hot liquid. If you miss this window of opportunity, unfortunately you will have to ride out the cold, but taking these remedies will help shorten the cold and help you feel better.

Karen Chan received her Masters in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine from ACCHS in Oakland, California. With a passion for preventative care and nutrition, she has been helping her clients in the East Bay achieve a more balanced and healthy lifestyle since 2009. 
4287 Piedmont Ave, Ste 106C, Oakland, CA 94611 || (510) 384-9226