5 Traditional Chinese Medicine Tips To Avoid Colds and Flu

5 TCM tips to avoid colds and flu this winter

Author: Dr. Sharon (Jinghua) Mo

Do you find yourself getting colds frequently in the fall and winter? Does your body have a hard time recovering when you get sick?

As the weather gets colder,  how can we minimize the risk of getting colds and flu? From the angle of Traditional Chinese Medicine, here are 5 tips to help.

1. Drink Warm Water

Drinking warm water improves your circulation. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory,  it is less likely to get sick if the circulation is good. Warm water helps the lung, spleen and kidney work well together to detoxify from sweats and urination. Hot coffee, tea or other beverage might be very pleasant, but they are not doing the same work!

2. Eat Well

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is important for health. The spleen and stomach are important organs to govern the food transformation. They love foods which are warm and easy to be digested. When the spleen and stomach work well, our body could have more defensive energy to expel the external pathogens. It will be great to include fish, meat, eggs, dairy foods, vegetables, nuts and fruits in your winter meals.

3. Exercise regularly

Regular moderate intensity exercise helps your immune system. In TCM theory, exercise can produce “Yang” energy. Defensive energy is one of the “Yang” energy, which is the first barrier to protects our body.

4. Add Regular Cupping Therapy

When our “Qi” energy and blood flow are strong and smooth, the body can fight the bacteria and virus well. The primary objective of cupping therapy is to move the “Qi” and blood.  In other words, cupping therapy boosts the immune system. Adding regular cupping therapy to your routine during autumn and winter can give you additional protection against colds and flu.

*It is important to have cupping therapy with practitioners who are well-trained to control the strenth and treatment time according to different body constitution.

5. Get Regular Acupuncture

There are many scientific studies that have come out in the last 10 years to prove the effects that Acupuncture has on our Immune System. From regulating the Autonamic Nervous System (flight/fight response), to Increasing your T – Cells (“Killer Cells”) and Increasing the release of Endorphines (Feel Good Hormones). It’s time tested and it works with the additions of the other tips.

Dr. Sharon(Jinghua) Mo is a Registered Doctor of TCM at Angel Hands Integrative, practicing acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Profile Link http://www.angelhands.ca/therapists/docoftcm/