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Healing Wisdom
Beat a cold, before it takes hold
Stress and cold are both strong challenges to the successful functioning of our immune system, and this winter we seem to have an abundance of both. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we see a cold as an invading pathogen that is managing to get past the bodies external defenses, such as the skin, lungs, and nasal passages. Once the body is under attack by the pathogen the immune system mounts a counter offensive. And one way we see this is in a rising body temperature. The body literally tries to "sweat" the cold out. The following is a simple recipe for helping your body do just that.
Ginger and scallion soup and bath. Use this to make a spicy, temperature raising soup that will open the pours and induce mild sweating. And after you drink it, take a bath in it! The hot bath will help you sooth away stress and open your pours, while the ginger scallion in the bath water will increase circulation at the skins surface, and increase sweating.
Ingredients:
1 Ginger root
2-3 Scallions
In a 3 quart pot add one peeled and thinly sliced ginger root to 2 quarts of water. Bring this to a boil, cover and turn down to simmer for about 20 minutes (the water should turn slightly colored). In the last 10 minutes add 2-3 thinly sliced scallions to the pot. Ladle out 2 or 3 bowls of soup (one for now and 2 more for later). Now put on some warm clothes and draw a hot bath (add Epsom salt for further benefit). While your bath is filling relax and sip your ginger scallion soup. When the bath is ready, strain the rest of the contents of the pot right in to the bath water and slip in for a soothing and stress relieving soak. Now finish the rest of the soup over then next 3-4 hours to help keep you warm and continue to expel the cold.
You have just naturally enhanced your bodies ability to fight off a cold and at the same time you have warmed up and de-stressed, both of which will optimize your immune systems ability to keep you well.
Tapping out stress
Stress suppresses our immune system and impacts our health on all levels of body mind and spirit. This effect is well documented. But most of the time we don't make a conscious connection with the cause (stress) and effect (see above), as it is occurring in our daily lives. When we do notice we are stressed, we rarely have tools at hand to deal with it in the moment. Have you ever wished you had a simple method to knock your stress back a few notches, when you need it the most? Well, here it is.
Tapping is a simple way to stimulate points on the body that are known to have significant physiological effect on your overall health. One such point is called "Yin Tang" in Chinese Medicine. It is also known to many as "The Third Eye". Yin Tang is an acupuncture point that calms the spirit and the mind (Shen, in Chinese medicine), and relieves stress and pain in the body. The location is on the forehead right between the eyebrows, and about one quarter to one half an inch above. There is usually a slight depression on the forehead in that area. When you find you are dealing with increase stress simply use your forefinger to gently and rapidly tap this area for one to two minutes. Do this with your eyes closed and make sure your are breathing is steady and relaxed. Once you stop you will notice that the area remains stimulated, and you will feel calm, relaxed, and centered. Now get back to work!
