Rules for Fighting Cold and Flu
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) vindicates mothers around the world! The number one rule for cold and flu prevention: Wear your scarf! From the TCM perspective, a cold or flu begins as an ‘external wind invasion.’ These wind invasions primarily enter our bodies through the back of the head, neck, and shoulders. By protecting your neck from winter winds, you’ll greatly decrease your chances of coming down with a cold or flu this season.
Rule number two: Strengthen your qi. There are many simple ways to strengthen our immune system (or defensive qi, as it’s known in TCM). Getting a full eight hours of sleep every night is one which is overlooked by many people. It is also important to receive or practice some sort of stress-reducing technique such as acupuncture, qi gong, or yoga.
Already come down with a cold? Mom was right again: eat your chicken soup. No worries for you vegetarians, though—the real healing properties in the soup are actually in the garlic. Garlic has been used for centuries to prevent and fight the common cold. So when your loved ones are sneezing all around you or you wake up with the sniffles, add plenty of fresh garlic to your diet.
—Jessie Siers is a licensed acupuncturist who practices in Rogers, MN. Learn more about how acupuncture can help you bring your health into balance at www.Luna-Acupuncture.com