Winter Wellness with Chinese Medicine Rebecca Rapaport Ness, L.Ac., C.M.T. Winter is a quiet, slow time. It's a time of restoration. If you do not rest sufficiently and take proper care of yourself during the Winter, aside from catching colds, you may develop various difficulties, such as allergies, arthritis, constipation or painful periods in the Spring. This illustrates the classical Chinese belief that the life and activity of individuals has an intimate relationship with the environment at all scales. Three ways to achieve wellness during the winter involve: Acupuncture treatments, proper clothing and thoughtful food selection. The beauty of Chinese Medicine is that it can be used to correct imbalances that have become illness and pain, or even correct imbalances prior to the appearance of symptoms, therefore preventing disease. Supporting yourself with Acupuncture treatments during the Winter strengthens your immunity and helps to prevent illness. If you do catch a cold, the sooner you come in for a treatment, the easier and faster it will be to bring you back to health. Wearing warm clothing seems obvious, but best intentions in this domain work only if applied! Wearing a scarf around your neck protects vulnerable parts of your body from wind and cold attack thereby working to prevent "common cold." Food is one of your best allies in achieving optimal health. A proverb of Chinese Medicine is that "Food is medicine and medicine should be food." Eating seasonally maintains harmony with nature and keeps your body in balance. It's a time for hearty slow-cooked stews, plenty of root vegetables and warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, fennel and lemongrass. Keep in mind that we live in a unique environment with many micro-climates making it necessary to be aware of the changing temperature, dampness, dryness and wind so that we can eat appropriately to support our bodies. Consider trying this Barley Flake Porridge on a chilly Winter morning. Barley Flake Porridge with Cinnamon and Goji Berry. Goji berries, honey, sunflower seeds and sesame combat winter dryness and cinnamon is warming and stimulating making them an ideal pair for a cold winter morning. It's like putting on winter coat from the inside. 8 oz barley flakes 1 pint of rice or soy milk maple syrup (to taste) honey (to taste) 1 oz goji berries 1/2 tsp cinnamon 2 oz sunflower seeds 1 oz black sesame seed pinch of salt can add seasonal fruits. Pear is especially good if you are feeling dry. Preheat the oven to 375. Combine all ingredients. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Check the porridge and stir after 20 minutes adding more hot water or milk if it is sticking or becoming too thick. Dr. Fung Fung, a high-level doctor, said, "Prevention requires the realization that humans are but part of nature, and are not created just to perform certain functions like a machine. We are here to enrich all other living and non-living things of nature, as they do for us. Hence, to live in harmony with nature is what the life process is all about." Please bear in mind this article contains general information. If you would like to learn specific information about your needs, visit Rebecca for an Acupuncture session.