Top Tips for Melbourne Winter

Let’s face it, Winter can be tough!

It’s cold, daylight hours are short and the common cold seems to lurk, just waiting for someone to pounce on.

Fortunately, Chinese Medicine can offer us lots of wisdom on how to stay well and thrive in the Winter months.

My top piece of advice that I give all my patients?

Stay warm!

The reason we Chinese Medicine Practitioners harp on about this is that Cold is one of the main external pathogenic factors that can affect us (as the warm-blooded creatures we are).

Cold pathogens get in to the body through the skin (especially at the back of the neck). I should clarify that when this happens, it’s considered “Wind-Cold” because Wind mobilises the Cold and allows it to move and penetrate the body.

The biggest issue with Cold getting into the body is that if it’s not expelled properly at the initial stages, it can move deeper and deeper. This is why a) keeping the Cold out is of primary importance (prevention is better than cure), and b) if you do catch a cold, it’s really important to rest and do all the right things (acupuncture, herbs) to help your body expel it ASAP.

How do we keep ourselves sufficiently warm in Winter? Here are my top tips:

Wear a Scarf

By wearing a scarf, you protect the neck, which is a favourite place for Cold and Wind pathogens to enter the body. Note that turtle necks, skivvies and hoodies are also great too - just keep your neck covered! Interestingly, my Mum’s cousin in Switzerland says you should always wear a scarf in every month with an R in it. Flip that for we Southern Hemisphere humans and that looks like March to October = scarf time.

Layer Up

Layering our clothes means that our core stays at a similar temperature and we can just adjust the top layers if we get too hot/cold. This is important because big changes in temperature means our Defensive Qi (Wei Qi) has to work extra hard to adapt to the climate. In addition, keep your belly and lower back covered at all times.

Warm Shoes and Socks

Even when at home, warm shoes and socks are a must. Why? Because many acupuncture channels start and end at the feet, which means if your feet are cold, you’re potentially inviting Cold straight into the body. Treat yourself to some cosy slippers if you don’t already have them.

Warm Foods and Drinks

When we have warm foods and drinks, it warms us up from the inside out. This gives your Yang energy a boost (which is already working hard to keep you warm in the cold weather) and helps strengthen the Defensive Qi to push any potential pathogenic factors out. Soup and tea are your best friends in Winter.

Also, if you do eat something cold, it’s not the end of the world. Just have something warm with it (e.g. a little salad with pasta or a cup of tea with ice-cream). If you feel like you are constantly craving cold drinks/food, it might be time to discuss this with your Chinese Medicine Practitioner (hi 👋🏻).

Rest If Unwell

If you are sick, your body is asking you to rest. I realise that this might be easier said than done, but if we put off resting when we need it, it will come up again at a later time. If you are unwell, your body is working hard to do whatever it needs to do to balance things out again. Help it out by taking a break!

Have Regular Acupuncture (+ Herbs)

There is literally an entire classical text and school of thought relating to Cold disease in Chinese Medicine and all the ways it can manifest. Therefore, acupuncture and herbal medicine are both very well-equipped to keep your defences strong and support the body if anything does arise.

The Bottom Line? Look after yourself, dress/eat/drink for the season, rest when you need and see your Chinese Medicine Practitioner regularly! ❄️🩵

Need some extra support? I’m here to help!