Self Care Suggestions During the Winter

It is only the beginning of the winter, some of my patients already caught cold. I'd like to share some simple things to do to prevent catching cold and stay healthy during the winter. 

According to the Eastern Medicine, common cold could be caused by wind-cold, wind-heat, or dryness depending on the external environment (such as season) and an individual's body constitution. 

General Lifestyle  Suggestions for the Winter: 

• whenever coming home from outside, have a cup of hot ginger tea and let out little sweat. It helps to expel the wind-cold (from outside) invaded us while we were outdoor, and is hidden at the cutaneous layer (right underneath the skin). By expelling wind-cold right away, it could prevent us from wind-cold or wind-heat symptoms including nasal congestion, body ache or cough. 
• Always cover your occipital head and back of your neck because it is the common area where wind-cold enter our body other than skin pores. 
• Have cinnamon in your breakfast cereal, tea or coffee. Cinnamon is  very warming, which could strengthen the protective energy in your cutaneous layer to prevent wind-cold invasion. Cinnamon also nourish your kidneys. For people who always have cold hands and feet, having cinnamon and ginger on a daily basis  could really warm you up. 
• In the ancient Asia, people adjust their sleep in accordance to the season. During the winter time, it is highly recommended to go to bed early at night, and wake up late in the morning. Waking up late may not be possible for most of us who have to work. But at least try to go to bed as early as possible at night. 

I will try to write suggestions for each season later. Wish everyone having a happy and healthy holiday season!!