Warming foods to help cold weather pains

In the cold of wintertime, some people find that their bodies react with pain. Very often, this is due to what Western doctors diagnose as arthritis. Or, there may have been an injury at the site in the patient's past. In Chinese Medicine theory, however, we believe that patients are susceptible to cold when they are lacking in warm energy. Just like when the weather is cold outside, you turn up the heat in your car, your body works a little harder to keep warm. In a body where there is not enough warm energy to draw from, this can lead to cold sensitivity and/or body pains.

What can you do about this? While bodies that react with pain will probably benefit best from Chinese herbal medicine (because the condition is more serious), those that are a little more cold sensitive can try to warm themselves from the inside out by eating foods that are warm in nature. Chinese theories hold that each food has it's own hot/cold property. For example, mint tea is considered a cooling food, while turmeric is considered warming. Incorporating foods that are of a warming nature more often into the diet, including lamb, onion and ginger can help a person to be more cold tolerant.

However, it's important to keep balance in mind! It's possible to over-warm your stomach while still being cold sensitive in other parts of the body. And of course, you should consult your physician before embarking on a new diet.

Chinese Herbal medicine operates along the same principles. However, we are able to warm the body more strongly because herbs are chosen for their potency. Being monitored by a primary care provider also ensures that your body stays in overall balance throughout the process. More info on Herbal medicine is available at www.AcuSpaWellness.com