Autumn.......Yang turning into Yin; time to remain calm and peaceful, gather one's spirit and energy, remain focused and keep the Lung energy full, clean and quiet... - The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine
Yes, it's that time of the year here in North America. Autumn is now complete, colder weather is seeping in, we are on the verge of the rainy, snowy and all around colder season, and with that, comes increased vulnerability to respiratory ailments. During this change of season, cold and flu are the most common ailments that we get hit with, resulting in a compromised immune system, a system out of balance and impaired functioning.
But there is hope in the battle against cold and flu. No, I'm not talking about the flu shot. I am however an active proponent of maintenance and taking care of your body and immune system so as to avoid attracting the pathogens that cause cold and flu. However, if you succumb to the cold and flu bug this season, there are a number of pro-active steps you can take by utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine.
First, TCM views the common cold as an invasion, not being invaded by a "bug" but the body being invaded by wind, one of the five main external elements in our climate. TCM describes wind as the "spearhead of 100 diseases" as it is the main element that we get affected with most often, and drives all other elements. Think of the last time you had a cold--probably one of the first symptoms that you noticed was that you felt achy, probably had a sore neck or stuffy head, along with sniffles and sneezing that followed thereafter.
When wind invades the body, it hits the exterior portion first: stiff neck and back, arms, chills all over, headache at the back of the head, coughing in the upper chest; then as it progresses further into the body, we feel deeper symptoms such as sore throat, headache with irritability, cough with yellow mucous and fever. TCM calls these patterns wind cold and wind heat respectively.
In order to be pro-active at not only maintaining our health, it is important to take steps to nourish our Qi, or vital energy and working at balancing these elements. The TCM approach to cold and flu comprises of several approaches: acupuncture, herbal treatment, moxabustion (rolled mugwort) as well as dietary modifications. These also can be used not just after you are plagued with cold, but also as preventative medicine to strengthen the immune system and prevent the wind element from invading the body. Acupuncture and moxabustion in particular are important in strengthening Qi and expelling the wind from the body. Specific herbal formulas are often used at different stages of cold and flu to prevent deeper penetration of wind, and ultimately infection. Cordyceps and astragalus are good herbs to take to strengthen the lungs, which are our primary source of defense against cold and flu.
Chinese Medicine also recommends that dietary changes be made during this time: for example, no dairy, meat, sugary or starchy food. A plain diet of vegetables, lots of fluids, miso soup with onions, garlic, ginger and tofu are recommended as the main protein and carbohydrate sources. Getting enough rest, keeping your neck and head warm is also important. Remember, the wind invades from the back first - so especially keep the back and of the body and neck covered.
So ultimately, you can do something to ward off cold and flu. It is preventable and the battle can indeed be won. Boosting immunity and keeping your body in balance is key.
Here's to your health!
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