Autumn ....... Yang turns to Yin; time to stay calm and peaceful, combine spirit and energy, stay focused and keep the energy of the lungs full, clean and calm ... - The Yellow Emperor &
Yes, this time of year is here in North America. Autumn is now complete, cold weather is coming, we are on the verge of a rainy, snowy and everything around the cold season, and with it there is an increased vulnerability to respiratory diseases. During this season change, cold and flu are the most common diseases we face, resulting in a compromised immune system, the system is unbalanced, and functioning is disrupted.
But there is hope in the fight against colds and flu. No, I'm not talking about the flu. However, I am an active supporter of maintaining and caring for your body and immune system in order to avoid contact with the causative agents that cause colds and flu. However, if you succumb to cold and flu this season, there are a number of active steps you can take using traditional Chinese medicine.
First, TCM views the common cold as an invasion, and does not fall under the “mistake”, but the body is captured by the wind, one of the five main external elements in our climate. TCM describes the wind as the “tip of 100 diseases” because it is the main element that we most often encounter and controls all other elements. Think about the last time you had a cold — probably one of the first symptoms you noticed was that you felt pain, probably had a sore neck or a stuffy head, and also sniffed and sneezed that followed.
When the wind invades the body, it first strikes the outer part: a stiff neck and back, hands, chills everywhere, headache in the back of the head, cough in the upper chest; then as he moves further into the body, we feel deeper symptoms, such as sore throat, headache with irritability, cough with yellow mucous membrane and fever. TCM calls these models wind cold and wind heat respectively.
To be active not only to maintain our health, it is important to take steps to feed our Qi, or vital energy, and work on balancing these elements. TCM's approach to influenza and influenza enterprises with several approaches: acupuncture, herbal treatment, moxabusion (rolled carrots), as well as dietary modifications. They can also be used not only after suffering from a cold, but also as a preventive medicine to strengthen the immune system and prevent the penetration of the wind element into the body. Acupuncture and mokkabuziya, in particular, are important for strengthening Qi and eliminating wind from the body. Specific herbal formulas are often used at different stages of the common cold and flu to prevent deaf wind penetration and extremely infection. Cordyceps and Astragalus are good herbs for strengthening the lungs, which are our main source of protection against colds and flu.
Chinese medicine also recommends that dietary changes be made at this time: for example, without dairy products, meat, sweet or starchy foods. A simple diet with vegetables, plenty of liquid, miso soup with onions, garlic, ginger and tofu is recommended as the main source of protein and carbohydrates. Getting enough rest is important because your neck and head are warm. Remember that the wind intrudes from the back in the first place - so especially keep your back and body and neck covered.
So absolutely, you can do something to prevent cold and flu. This can be prevented, and the battle can really be won. Strengthening immunity and maintaining balance of your body are key.
Here to your health!
