Healthy Living

Achoo! Cough, sniffle. Ahhh, the sounds of the season are upon us. Winter is a wonderful time of year to take advantage of the activities and beauty of the great outdoors here in Minnesota. And now the season is on the verge of change: it’s warm, then cold; it’s sunny, then sleety. These fluctuations make us vulnerable, and our not-so-good friends like the common cold, influenza, bronchitis, and the like may come to visit. Here are some helpful tips à la Chinese medicine to keep you and your loved ones healthy all winter long.

Cover your neck: In Chinese medicine, common winter ailments start out as what we call exterior conditions, which means that they invade from outside the body. We believe that many exterior pathogens attack the body through the neck. Wearing a scarf and keeping your neck protected seals off this vulnerable area from outside invaders.

Soak your feet in hot water: Dr. Chi, one of my mentors in graduate school, advised nearly every one of his patients to do this — and I advise nearly every one of my patients to do the same. Foot soaks are a wonderful way to ease out of the stress of Read More