Winter in Portland

Ah, winter in Portland. What to expect? Every year is different, some colder, some warmer, some snowy, some not, but always we can count on three things in the City of Portland during the winter months – some combination of cold, damp and windy weather. In Chinese medicine, these three climate factors are recognized as more than just changes in the atmosphere, they are known as “External” or “Evil Pathogenic Invaders.” These Evil Pathogenic Invaders, or EPI’s for short, can occasionally penetrate the body’s natural energetic defenses and make us sick with colds and flus during the winter months. So what can we do to give us a better chance to stay well? Chinese medicine’s 2500+ year history has several tips to keep us healthy:

• Keep your neck and shoulders covered. The neck and upper back area contain a network of acupuncture points that are highly susceptible to Wind. Wind is known as the “big brother evil” in Chinese Medicine. This means that wind has the ability to enter the body swiftly and carry other pathogenic invaders with it to make you sick. By keeping the upper back and neck area covered when outside, you can protect yourself from “big brother” and be one step closer to staying well!

• Drink warm liquids and eat warm food, avoid cold to protect the Lungs and Spleen! Energetically speaking, the Lungs and the Spleen work together to create your first line of defense. The Lungs are responsible governing the Qi flow of your entire body and also create and distribute Wei Qi or Defensive Energy along the skin. The strength of your Wei Qi determines your susceptibility to the above mentioned EPI’s. The Spleen governs the transformation of food, drink, and air into Qi and Blood to fuel and support your body functions. The Spleen is the energetic mother of the Lung, supplying it with the energy it uses to create Wei Qi and protect you from EPI’s. The Spleen is especially susceptible to cold, so eating and drinking cold consumables during winter adds insult to injury. To optimize your immunity, try to eat and drink warm foods and beverages as much as possible and when you just have to have a salad, try to follow it up with some hot tea or water!

• Avoid sugar. In Chinese Medicine, food is also medicine and like Chinese herbs they have different energetic temperatures and properties. Sugar, white sugar especially, is cold in nature and, like drinking cold beverages above, can make your more susceptible to the cold winter weather. From a western perspective, sugar has also been proven to increase inflammation and suppress your immune system again, decreasing your body’s natural resistance to illness.

• Chicken Soup for More than the Soul. In Chinese food therapy, chicken is warm in nature and gently tonifies, or strengthens, Qi and Blood to strengthen your Wei Qi and help keep you healthy.

These tips may seem like common sense, but they have a long history of theory and practice behind them. If you follow these simple recommendations, you can stave off a number of potential invaders. If you do get sick with a cold or flu, Chinese Medicine can be combined with Western therapies to help you get better faster.