Today’s blog post is brought to you by the common cold, as I sit here at my kitchen table (in my pj’s, on a Tuesday) wishing I was not sick and definitely surrounded by the mountain of tissues and cups of tea I see around me I am filled with ideas to share with you on how to stay healthy. It is however the season for sniffles and sore throats when we stock up on tea, lozenges, cold and flu medicine, but how do we know that these investments are healthy, safe to take, or even going to make a difference? These are important questions, especially during pregnancy, when the immune systems are working extra hard to keep us at peak performance! Below are some great ideas to consider if you find yourself in the same position as me this season.
You probably already know that I’m going to tell you acupuncture is a great way to stimulate and promote a healthy immune system, and it is! it is also a great way to shorten the duration of a cold or the flu. This is especially true when caught at the very first sign of symptoms like runny nose, cough, sore throat, HA, itchy eyes, fever, chills, should I go on. . . acupuncture can stop it from fully developing at all! Did you also know that women are more likely to get sick right before and during our period.
Chinese herbs can also be very beneficial for warding off a cold at the first signs of symptoms as well. But how about if you’re caught off guard and wake up all of a sudden to feeling lousy, how can you make sure it doesn’t take you down especially right before the holiday season! Lots of adequate rest, plenty of fluids, a good multi vitamin on a regular basis, a diet full of vibrant colors and whole healthy foods are the obvious ones. Some not so obvious ideas include moxibustion at home, trying a nette pot, a steam bath, or sipping on congee.
It’s also important to remember to stay warm, wear socks or slippers, wear a scarf or make sure to keep the back of your neck covered when in drafty spaces or outside on a windy day. In Chinese medicine there is a specific acupuncture point located at the base of your neck on your back; this is a very important point and when left uncovered while outdoors on a windy day can leave you more susceptible to getting sick or catching a cold. Remember how your mother always told you “don’t go outside with wet hair or you will get sick,” well it’s sort of like that. When we leave our bodies susceptible to the cold or wind, or when we are run down our pores are open and resistance is lower allowing the wind and cold to come into our bodies and make us sick. This can lead to those nasty symptoms listed above.
Moxibustion is a terrific thing that can be done at home and is safe during pregnancy when there are signs of a common cold or flu. Moxa comes from the herb mugwort, known as Ai Ye in Chinese medicine. There are many forms of moxa, but for home use the smokeless moxa is the best option; it is used to create a warming sensation and deeply penetrate warmth into the body and can be used on specific acupuncture points. My favorite point to use moxa for immune function is St-36.
You can find a great moxibustion instruction sheet right here 3-guidelines-for-using-moxa
Important things to remember when using moxa at home, NEVER touch the skin directly! It can be applied 5 to 7 minutes at the point above until it feels very warm, never to the point of painfully hot.
I hope you find these ideas as helpful as I do when I’m stuck at home with a cold! Here’s to a healthy and happy holiday season!