Practice now for well-being the rest of the year: Health tips for a healthy year

#BeavertonHealth&Happiness

The ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic practice that values harmony and balance with the relationship of:

• The four seasons,
• The natural environment,
• The human body.

Winter is the best time to prepare the body for the upcoming year. If we preserve our body’s energy well in the cold winter, we can expect a healthier body in the whole year.

Alternatively, if we don’t prepare a good foundation in wintertime, we might easily get cold-related symptoms. These include allergic rhinitis, asthma, stomachache, menstrual cramps, joint pain, and other conditions that affect the endocrine system, making us easily fatigued later in the spring.

Significant ways to nourish and store our body’s energy are good self-psychological adjustments and keeping a calm and stable emotional space to help maintain a healthy mental state. It is also essential to exercise, which improves metabolism and immunity, and increase cellular activities.

Moreover, according to the TCM, dietary therapy can assist in our body’s energy. Foods such as lamb, duck, walnuts, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, carrots, black beans, black sesame seeds, black fungus, and seaweed can be increased in winter.

Additionally, warm spices such as ginger, garlic, fennel, nutmeg, and cardamom should be added to meal preparation.

By James Ho: Licensed Acupuncturist in Oregon, Doctoral of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. For more information: 503.646.8575 or visit www.hhclinic.com.