Cold and yin

We are in the yin time of the year. Yin is the dark, cold, slow and inward energy. Our natural environment affects our life and living in harmony with nature helps us to stay healthy throughout the year. Our immune system gets stronger and better apt to fight off disease. Understanding how to coexist with the weather can help us stay healthy through the cold season. From a biomedicine lens, cold constricts the vessels and thickens the blood, potentially aggravating chronic diseases. In Chinese medicine, cold is said to obstruct Qi (our vital energy) and blood circulation.

Cover up when you go outside. Wear layers when you go from outside into controlled heated environments. Wear a scarf and a hat to avoid getting cold from the back of the head and neck. In Chinese medicine, it is said the back of the head is one of the most vulnerable areas to cold and wind. When cold invades the body, one might experience headaches and a stiff neck. Keep your feet warm as well, with wool socks and a hot water bottle at night.

Avoid going out with a wet hair, which can cause a damp and cold scenario and lead to sickness. Moreover, if there is history of Bell’s palsy, be careful with wind and cold in your face at this time of year. Wear a face beanie or ski face mask (balaclava).

The sunset is at about 5 p.m. in the beginning of February and 5:30 p.m. by March. We have long nights. Many animals are hibernating this time of year. Be inspired by them and, if possible, go to bed earlier to live in harmony with this environment. Rest is so important for revitalizing our body.

We are still prone to colds and flus. In Chinese medicine, there are both hot and cold wind attacks. Sneezing, a runny nose with clear or white phlegm, itchy throat, coughing up clear or white mucus, and an achy body are signs of a wind-cold invasion. Sore throat, more fever than chills, thirst, nasal congestion with yellow phlegm and coughing up yellow mucus are signs and symptoms of wind-heat.

You can adjust your food and drinks according to your cold symptoms. In general, avoid cold drinks and cold and raw foods. Soups, stews, congee, rice porridge with chicken, beef and lamb, garlic, ginger, squash and mustard greens are good for this time of year. If your symptoms

are more wind-cold, add spicy teas, ginger, cinnamon, green onion and garlic to your foods and drinks. If your symptoms are more wind-heat, drink peppermint tea, chrysanthemum, hibiscus and lemon.

In this month of love and Black history, cold and snowy days, look inwards, practice self-care and stay warm.