• Cold weather reduces circulation and the body requires more Qi to warm up. So, make things easier for yourself by rugging up, especially protecting the nape of the neck with a scarf to prevent an easy entry point for pathogenic cold and wind.

As winter is the season of the Kidneys, it’s especially useful to wear

warmer layers on the legs and lower back

• Try to sit in full sunlight and absorb some Vitamin D especially in the mornings (taking care to avoid drafts).

• Get lots of rest and sleep and slow down as your body is using more Qi to keep warm in the colder weather

• Try to let go of emotional stressors as much as possible as these can easily drain your store of Qi

• Gentle Qi Gong exercise to keep your Yang and Qi flowing and pores opening and closing properly (have a look at this simple yet powerful Qi Gong exercise to help strengthen your Kidney this Winter featured below

• Minimize spread of pathogens by washing hands regularly

• Eat mindfully with the Seasons. Try cooking foods longer, at lower temperatures and using less water to enhance the warming qualities of your food. Bone broths, vegetable stews and soups, oats, winter squash, butter, quinoa, walnuts, chicken, lamb, salmon are fantastic for protecting your digestive fire.

• Having a good sweat! Prepare a bone broth with plenty of ginger, garlic and green onion and one of our Immuni-Qi Chinese Herbal mixes. Take a hot bath and get under the covers to sweat out the pathogen. Remember to replenish with fluids.

• Enjoy vegetables high in Vitamin Csuch as bell peppers, cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli

• Daily acupuncture for three days in a row is a very effective method to help release the pathogen and combined with Chinese herbal medicine it is very effective for boosting the system and releasing the exterior at this stage.

• Allowing yourself to rest & relax is very important. The body needs all the energy it can muster whilst trying to fight infection

1.  Avoid wheat, dairy, alcohol and sugar.

Processed sugar and refined carbohydrates can cause a spike in blood sugar which can hinder the body’s ability to fight off infection. Dairy makes mucus thicker and unbearable. Try drinking a soothing Chrysanthemum tea which is a great source of Vitamin C and helps to relieve and sooth sore throat, redness or dry eyes and provides relief for respiratory problems.

• Receive some Chinese Medicine!

Herbs, acupuncture and other hands-on treatments such as cupping &guashaare extremely effective enabling the clearing of wind and cold pathogen, moving the lymphatics, clearing blockages and opening the skin pores to open facilitating the release of toxins

Helps to clear the wind and cold pathogen, move the lymphatics and clear blockages.

Very  effective for aiding the release of the pathogen and

supporting weak organs to prevent deep invasion of pathogen

Exercises for opening and strengthening the lungs and dietary advice on healing foods and those best to avoid depending on your presenting condition

Pungent and warming herbs will assist the dispersing of the pathogen and warming the interior of the body