As the winter continues to creep in and the temperature continues to drop, its important to build our immune systems to fend off those pesky colds. Acupuncture can assist your body in building up its natural defenses. In Chinese Medicine, the “wei qi” is what keeps our bodies safe from viruses. (Think of wei qi like an apple’s skin that protects the inner fruit.)

When the wei qi is strong, our bodies feel healthy and are able to efficiently ward off pathogens that we come into contact. When we get run down, the wei qi becomes weaker and we find ourselves in that nasty loop of catching colds, the sniffles or that stomach bug everyone in the office has.

Acupuncture utilizes specific points to build up your system and makes you a hard target. If you do get sick, there are even points that are used to expel whatever is lurking in your body so you can bounce back to your usual self.

 Some quick tips:

– In addition to acupuncture, making sure you are bundled up when you go outside can be invaluable. The neck is a vulnerable area in Chinese Medicine. It should always be covered and kept warm.  A hat and scarf are the New England must haves for both fashion and health.

– If you feel a serious chill resting in your bones, try some homemade cinnamon tea with one tablespoon of cinnamon and one teaspoon of honey. This will help warm you up and sooth your body.

– Ginger tea can be soothing for an upset stomach and promoting a healthy digestive system.

– Avoiding dairy (or using dairy in moderation for folks who love their milk products) when you have an acute cold can be helpful in decreasing congestion and overall mucus.

– Finding a good balance of enough sleep and enough physical movement is key. Both are integral in keeping your body strong and healthy. If it is too cold for outdoor activity, yoga is a nice way to keep all of your channels open and flowing.

They say that prevention is the cure. Seeing the interconnectedness of what you put into your body, what you encounter on your day to day and how you all of those parts of your life intersect is a useful tool in finding the appropriate balance in your life.

Now go have fun in that brisk January weather! (With that nice hat and scarf combo and your delicious cup of steamy cinnamon tea!)