Colds, Flus, COVID-19 and how to stay healthy this season is in the forefront of everyone minds right now. Fortunately Chinese medicine has a lot to offer for both building the body’s immunity and how to treat infectious diseases. In fact this is one of the areas that Chinese medicine really excels in.
In Chinese medicine language all viral and bacterial infections come under the “external pathogenic influence” banner. It doesn’t really matter what type of viral or bacterial infection it is, what matters is how it affects your body. Once affected by a particular external pathogen we might show common symptoms such as a sore throat, however the trajectory of the illness can vary wildly from person to person. You may have a stuffy head for a few days while your partner is flattened in bed for a week. In Chinese medicine theory this is to do with how well balanced the energetic function (Qi Dynamic) in your body is, and where your point of weakness is. This is why it’s best to talk to your practitioner about your base-line health and how your body tends to respond in the face of a cold or flu. It is in this way that we can support you more specifically. As the Chinese medicine saying goes ‘When the body is in a state of balance it is less likely to be invaded by pathogens’.
In saying this there are a few things we can all do to support our bodies and reduce the change of illness.
How to Stay Healthy
Rest – use this time to say no to things that are energy sapping and do not support you.
Gentle exercise – Spend some time outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Go for a gentle walk in the park to clear your mind and lift your mood.
Eat well – include bone or veggie broth into you daily diet.
Stay hydrated – drink herbal teas. Liquorice root and ginger tea is a delicious immune supporting blend used in hospitals in China.
Fresh lemon, ginger and honey or our Harmonising blend are others.
Get treatment – regular acupuncture treatments will be aimed at maintaining your body in a state of balance, reducing stress and anxiety levels and improving overall wellbeing.
Take your herbs. Please, if you do nothing else take your herbs.
It would be a terrible time to come down with a cold – Check out our Natural Remedies for Colds and Flus for more info.
And please try to stay calm.
