12 Simple and Effective Remedies for Common Winter Ailments
12 Simple and Effective Remedies for Common Winter Ailments
As winter sets in, many people start to feel under the weather—catching a cold, coughing, or experiencing itchy skin. In response to these seasonal issues, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a range of simple and effective remedies.
Here are some quick tips to help you stay healthy this winter:
Wind-Cold Winter Cold: Drink Hot Porridge
Winter colds are often caused by wind-cold, with symptoms like fever, chills, and no sweating. Drinking hot porridge can help induce sweating, expel wind-cold, and aid digestion, which may be weakened after a cold.
Dry Eyes in Winter: Drink Goji Chrysanthemum Tea
The dry winter air can cause eye dryness and discomfort. Along with eye drops, try drinking goji berry and chrysanthemum tea (10g goji berries and 5g chrysanthemum flowers steeped in hot water) to soothe your eyes.
Winter Itchiness: Apply Ginger Paste
Dry air can trigger skin itchiness. Crush a piece of fresh ginger into a paste and wrap it in cheesecloth to apply to itchy skin for 10-20 minutes, 1-2 times a day. This remedy helps relieve itching and moisturize the skin.
Hair Loss in Winter: Try Hair Growth Soup
Winter hair care starts with nourishing the liver and kidneys. Black sesame seeds, mulberries, walnuts, and black beans are great for hair health. A recipe for hair growth soup: 100g black beans, 20g goji berries, and a bit of sugar. Soak the beans for an hour, then cook with water for 40 minutes and consume the soup and beans.
Winter "Heat" (Excessive Yang): Eat the Right Foods
Winter heat is often caused by dryness. To prevent symptoms like "heat" and constipation, include celery, white radish, potatoes, cabbage, lotus root, and pears in your diet.
Dry Throat in Winter: Drink White Radish Juice
If your throat feels dry and itchy in winter with excessive mucus, fresh white radish juice is a great remedy. Drink 100ml of freshly squeezed white radish juice for quick relief.
Dry Cough in Winter: Eat Steamed Pears
For persistent dry coughs, try eating steamed pears, which are known to lubricate the lungs and stop coughing. Peel and core the pear, cut it into chunks, add a little lily and rock candy, and steam until soft.
Winter Constipation: Massage Tianshu Acupoint
To relieve constipation caused by dry bowels, massage the Tianshu acupoint (located on the abdomen) in a clockwise direction using three fingers. Perform 50-100 presses daily for best results.
Cold Feet in Winter: Foot Soaks with Herbs
A traditional foot soak in medicinal herbs can warm your body and expel cold. Add mugwort to dispel cold, patchouli to relieve dampness, and ginger to warm the channels.
Low Immunity in Winter: Sunbathe
Sunbathing during winter is one of the best ways to boost your immune system. Sunlight helps invigorate yang energy, improve blood circulation, and enhance kidney function. Try to get 30 minutes of sunlight daily, focusing on your head, back, and legs.
Winter Depression: Get Outdoors
Seasonal depression is common, especially in older, introverted men. Increase outdoor activities and spend time in nature, which is one of the most effective ways to lift your spirits and alleviate winter blues.
Cold Hands and Sweating: Eat Beef or Lamb
If you experience cold hands and feet with sweating in the palms, it could indicate a deficiency of yang energy. Eating warming foods like beef, lamb, pig stomach, walnuts, longan, and leeks can help nourish yang and balance body temperature.