Wind cold is a common ailment during the winter season. The reason it happens can be explained rather simply through Traditional Chinese Medicine, the wind breaks through our protective layer of Qi allowing cold to enter into the body. Whilst there can be any combination of symptoms there are a few major ones to help identify a wind cold attack, such as strong aversion to cold, slight fever with chills, achy body, stiff neck, runny nose and headache.

We have formulas that are more than 2,000 years old that can stop the common cold before it progresses into something worse. The two formulas pictured below are the most common formulas to use during cold and flu season.

Here are some helpful tips to protect yourself from wind cold this season

1. Protect your neck! Wear a scarf on windy days.
2. Warm up the middle burner! Start your day with a warm and easy to digest breakfast, like oatmeal.
3. Rest up! Make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
4. Move your Qi! Take 10 minutes in your day and move your body.

Here is a simple chicken soup recipe you can make when wind cold has you trapped.

INGREDIENTS
1 whole chicken 3-4lbs
12 cups of water
2 stocks of celery, sliced into small pieces
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 bundle of green onion, finely chopped
thumb size chunk of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
4-5 chinese dates (easily attainable from any local Asian market)

DIRECTIONS
Find your favorite stock pot and boil 12 cups of water. Once water is rapidly boiling add the whole chicken into the pot. Reduce heat to medium and cover the pot. Allow the chicken to boil for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes add the rest of the ingredients and allow the pot to lightly boil for 45 minutes. There may be some grease from the chicken that floats to the top of your homemade chicken stock, skim off as much grease as you can. Drink down as much as the broth as you can, as often as you can.

There you have it! You have the essential tools to combat wind cold invasion. However, with acupuncture and chinese medicinal herbals, Julie and Sara can help your body fight off wind cold faster than natural body healing. Schedule an appointment today to get a jump start on recovery.