Keeping Warm - Keeping Well

Keeping Warm - Keeping Well

By Laura Nutley

Keeping the body warm and protecting it from outside influences, particularly at this time of year, is seen as a very important part of dis-ease prevention in Chinese Medicine.

Ailments such as back pain, headaches, neck ache, the common cold, infertility and even painful periods are seen to be as a result of cold invading the body and damaging the internal balance needed for good health. Central heating can exacerbate this problem as it leaves our pores open and our defences down as we step outside into the cold winter air, thereby allowing the cold to penetrate and affect our internal systems.

Luckily, prevention is easy! Do as your mother always told you and wrap up warm before facing the elements. Protect areas such as your head, neck, lower back, abdomen and feet and eat warming, nourishing foods, such as soups, stews, and avoid a diet high in raw, cold foods. Likewise, it is not advisable to exercise and then step straight outside whilst still hot and sweaty from a workout. For example, the practice of young female athletes training and then using ice baths is seen by some practitioners as having a direct correlation with these young women later having menstrual disorders and suffering from infertility. At a time when the body is changing and developing the shock of the cold to a warmed up body is just too much and as the pores are so open the body has little defence. Although this example is extreme it illustrates the problems that can be caused by temperature extremes and the very real effect that not adequately protecting the body can have on health.

All common sense really, but worth keeping in mind and putting into practice, as these ideas can make a real difference to your health and well being.