Staying Warm with TCM

Its -40 degrees with the wind chill, what does one do to stay healthy when its so cold out?  In Traditional Chinese Medicine winter is related to the water element and the Kidneys and Bladder, both of which are sensitive to cold. The Kidneys are considered to be the gate of life or life force, storing our essence, regulating reproduction and development, fluid distribution and our longevity is directly related to the health of our Kidneys. According to Chinese Medicine it seems impossible to be too good to the Kidneys.  Treat them well and you will live a long healthy life.

Our Kidneys are directly related to our hair and our hearing. Early or excessive hair loss, premature graying and split-ends are all signs of Kidney deficiencies. Bone marrow is linked with the Kidneys as are problems with the knees, lower back and teeth. Many ear problems can be linked to the Kidneys too, like ringing, loss of hearing and dizziness.  The health of our Kidneys also directly impacts our reproduction and sex drive.

In winter, warm pungent herbs such as shallots, garlic, onions, cinnamon cloves, black pepper, ginger, and horseradish all help to remove cold from the body internally and externally.  Have you ever been so cold that your bones feel cold, or that your arms, legs, fingers and toes feel like they are going to fall off?  That is internal cold, and can lead to what we call in Chinese Medicine ‘Devastated Yang’.  In colder temperatures, like what we’ve had recently our bodies need heat.  So where do we get this heat from?  Ginger!!  Native to southeastern Asia, this wonderfully spicy herb, ginger has been renowned for millennia in many areas throughout the world. Ginger is mentioned in ancient Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern writings, and has long been prized for its aromatic, culinary and medicinal properties. After the ancient Romans imported ginger from China almost two thousand years ago, its popularity in Europe remained centered in the Mediterranean region until the Middle Ages when its use spread throughout other countries.

After eating ginger, you may feel warm, as it helps the blood vessels to expand and accelerates blood circulation. In China, it’s believed that after getting soaked in rain or being out in the freezing cold, drinking a large cup of hot ginger tea and then sweating will prevent catching a cold. When people show the earliest symptoms of a cold, such as sore throat or cough, ginger tea is believed to thwart its onset.

“Give your body the right fuel and it will run smoothly”

Not only does ginger help our bodies in the winter months, you can also enjoy an alcoholic beverage in moderation. Wine is pungent and bitter and sweet and enlivens the spleen, warms the digestive system, expels wind and cold, promotes circulation of qi and blood, improves appetite and dispels fatigue.  Excellent!!   It is dry and warm or hot and can be used to dispel dampness and cold. Its yang nature enables these positive effects to reach everywhere in the body including the head, skin, and extremities. It’s particularly useful when the weather is windy, freezing cold, and damp. In moderation, alcohol is a great tonic, particularly as we get older. And a little wine can add good times with friends – which is important!

BUT…Alcohol is also poisonous!!  So only drink amounts your particular body is comfortable with. Drinking too much will impair the mind, blood, stomach and increase production of phlegm-fire (extreme Anger, Anxiety, Stress, Insomnia, High blood Pressure). 

The legendary Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) physician and herbalist, Li Shi-zhen wrote:

‘Wine, a beauty bestowed by heaven – drinking a small amount harmonizes the blood and moves the qi, strengthens the spirit and wards off cold, disperses worry and dispels moodiness. Drinking an extreme amount damages the spirit and consumes the blood, causes detriment to the stomach and death to the essence, engenders phlegm and stirs fire… Addiction to wine and getting drunk on a regular basis leads to disease and decay at best and to humiliation of one’s nation, ruination of one’s family, and loss of one’s life at worst’

Sore Throat/Cough Remedy

Mix hot water with:

1 Chunk of Ginger

2 Tablespoons of Honey

2 tablespoons of  Vinegar

2 tablespoons Lemon Juice

1 dash of Cinnamon

Stir it up and you’ll feel better within hours