Ward off illness with warming Winter foods.

• Posted by luckyme January 13 - Filed in Complementary Therapies - #wellness  #seasons  #immune system  #Murnaghan Clinic  - 217 views

  

  As a doctor if TCM I have certain aces up my sleeve when it comes to predicting how busy the clinics will get.

  
  I check every day with the changing weather and wind knowing full well the implications of not dressing to protect against the elements. We think nothing of why we wear light long sleeve shirts and a hat in summer to protect from too much sun damage.  An umbrella is essential to most people come autumn as much as scarves, gloves, woolly socks and hats.  All of this goes to protecting the skin from outside chill but very little consideration is given to the internal more important environment of the chest, stomach, immune system and intestines.

   

  The Chinese would change their diet as acutely as their dress code based on obvious weather changes. Little attention seems to be given to the needs of the chest as in the caution needed to protect its fragile balance with foods that keep it moist, warm and working well.

   

   The chest is very important.  How many of us have been continuously ill with repeated chest issues and medications that can’t fix the problem?
  Qi and blood move together to create harmony therefore increasing warm circulation. So breathing properly keeps your hands and feet warm. Did you know that excessive sighing is a sure sign of anxiety and that also damages the lungs? But there's more to this, wearing a surgical mask in aircraft can reduce you being infected by colds flus and airborne bugs by 70%. The air you breathe in can be polluted so protect your air intake. You wouldn't eat food if someone sneezed on it but you breathe in around people who sneeze not considering it has an effective range of 8 ft to infect other respiratory tracts.

   

  The other great protector of the human is the kidney. It provides the external "ready brek" type glow around the body to fight off many invaders brought on by weather changes. Fearfulness does huge damage to the kidneys as does exposure to coldness. Warming the kidneys can be achieved by warm clothes well tucked around the waist and avoiding cold foods. Eat lamb as it makes the body warm up very quickly, cook using lots of spices, curries, chilies, garlic and cinnamon.

   

  A few of the symptoms of kidney deficiency are as follows, you might recognise them- short term memory loss, confusion, hearing loss, brittle hair, low back pain, low sex drive, feeling cold all the time and an inability to sleep easily. All types of beans are good food for the kidneys.

   

  Your skin and muscles always benefit from your spleen being looked after. The dampness in the air causes this to be upset as well as dampness in your food. Stodgy food with too much wheat daily will cause what we refer to as excess phlegm in the body. This causes weight gain, easy bruising, bloating, poor definition, repeated infections. These are all spleen associated problems.

   

  There is another culprit that causes huge upset to the person and that is the Irish wind. Yes, the breeze and nasty cold draughts. Never eat in a draughty place. Close windows on windy nights and cover up in bed making sure there is never a draft at the back of your neck as you go to sleep. Wear pyjamas- they have a purpose you know. Pyjamas stabilize body temperature. Wind invades the liver and causes insomnia, anger outbursts, lethargy, stomach and digestive problems, itchy skin and other nasties.

   

  Dealing with all of these things I am writing about are daily occurrences in the clinics and to defend yourself against and prohibit them will give you much happier health from within. This is why only half the office gets sick in winter. The healthy half takes precautions to not expose their immune system to unnecessary challenges, they are not super human but they have better reserves through conservation and prevention

   

  Why can some of us can tolerate bad weather better?

   

  It is down to your inner constitution.
  Suffice to say you should eat with the same knowledge and preparation as you dress for the seasons. We still have bugs out there from 100 years ago that still can and could make you very ill if you ignored precaution.  Dressing to protect from the elements and restoring energy through good diet and plenty of lovely moments of stillness amid the madness as well as not stressing will serve you well. Over the temple of Olympus in Greece where the gods lived there are two chiseled statements, 'Gothic Thi' and 'Megan Aden' These two brilliant statements mean 'Know Thyself' and 'Moderation in Everything' Wonderful advice for a long and healthy life. Keep warm, well fed and well this January.

   

  

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