As the season’s change and temperatures get colder, one thing that returns to mind is the common cold. While some people are able to soldier through the symptoms of the common cold, for many, symptoms of the common cold can significantly impact their ability to enjoy their routine days.
That is why in this blog post, we will be sharing how you can prevent the common cold using diet changes and acupuncture.
Some symptoms of the common cold include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Coughs
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Mild body aches/headaches
- Low fever
- Generally feeling unwell
However, you can prevent all of these symptoms by altering your diet to strengthen your immune system and Qi. You can do this by eating the right foods for the season, which is one of the foundational principles of Eastern medicine. This is because your body has different needs as the season’s change. Furthermore, from the perspective of both Eastern and Western medicine, many of the symptoms of the common cold are due to an infection in the respiratory system. However, in Eastern medicine, this infection is caused by climate factors relating to the seasons changing such as wind, heat, dampness, dryness, and cold, which all invite external pathogens. When you are sick with a cold, there is an internal battle between your inner Qi, and the pathogens that have entered your body.
To prevent these pathogens from making your symptoms worse, you can strengthen your Qi by incorporating more warming foods into your diet. For example, foods such as salads, cold drinks, and raw fruits and vegetables, may make you more susceptible to getting a cold as they can create a damp environment within your body which is perfect for pathogens. Meanwhile, foods such as sweet potatoes, garlic, cinnamon, and other dishes generally considered “hearty” can warm your body from within and strengthen your Qi to prevent the common cold.
Another method you can use to strengthen your Qi is acupuncture. In Eastern medicine, a proper flow of Qi is crucial in maintaining your health, and when you become sick your flow of Qi is compromised. Depending on your specific case, acupuncture needles can be placed onto pressure points along your body to strengthen your Qi, and prevent colds. In addition to strengthening your Qi, acupuncture needles can also be inserted into pressure points to provide immediate relief for headaches and congested sinuses.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made getting sick and preventing sickness more of a top priority than ever before. Not only can Eastern medicine strengthen your Qi to prevent the common cold, but it can also be used to prevent a number of common illnesses and conditions. If you want to be proactive in maintaining your health with Eastern medicine, contact us today!
