Winter health tips
Burr…it’s winter again. Winter is many things to many people. To some it signifies the ski season, to some it is the ultimate season of sharing and consuming, and to TCM people, and winter is the season to tonify and to restore one’s essence for the coming year. For those outdoor snow mountain warriors, it is the season of sore muscles, aches and sprains.
As it’s often preached, warming up the muscles and joints is the best prevention against injuries. In addition to warm ups, putting external analgesic ointments like Wood Lock Oil or Electric Medicated Balm on joints and muscles before and after conquering the snow mountain will help in maintaining good circulation. A great and commonly used herbal combination for athletes and weekend warriors is taking Tien Chi (powder, regular strength pills, or extra strength pills) with Panax Red Ginseng. This combination works well because Tien Chi is an herb that promotes circulation and Panax Red Ginseng offers a good source of qi (energy).
This time of year people tend to overeat and eat less healthy food. Frequently used Chinese herbs for situation like this are Cleansing Tea and Hawthorn fat reducing tablet. The basic principle of these herbal formulas is to aid digestion and help with the “output” process.
According to TCM philosophy, winter is the season to tonify one’s qi and blood and thereby restore one’s essence. The reason behind this thinking is not just because the physical climate change affects the qi and blood flow but mirroring the ways of the earth, we humans too need to rest and replenish ourselves for spring. The most common qi and blood tonifying formula is Shi Quan Da Bu (in pills or powder) since it contains ten herbs specifically for this purpose.
For those who always complaints of cold hands and feet, try cooking 4 slices of Panax Red Ginseng with 2 cups of chicken/vegetable broth and reduce the ginseng soup to one cup, (roughly 20-30 minutes cooking time). Then, simply pour in a vial of Deer Tail Extract to the soup and drink it while it is warm. (This is soup is not recommended for people with hypertension).
If this is too laborious for some people, Jen Shen Lu Jung Wan is a good substitution for the soup.
Despite what the winter season means to each person, it is really a time to count one’s blessings and take care of one’s health for a new beginning in the spring.
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