Cold: A stagnating force of nature

Snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes   are one thing, but prolonged periods of cold are quite another.  Cold is perhaps the easiest force of nature to imagine harming our bodies.  From goosebumps to frostbite, our bodies try their hardest to maintain a specific temperature at which all our systems can run smoothly.  When pathogenic cold presents itself, it becomes much harder for the body to maintain its temperature.  This can lead to all sorts of symptoms, from runny noses to menstrual disorders to pain.  When we are exposed to cold, our bodies stiffen against it, shunting our blood flow to our most important organs.  This safeguards our lives but can leave us suffering the consequenses, sometimes far after the exposure. Cold can linger in certain areas, inhibiting circulation and restricting movement. While the stillness we experience in a frozen landscape is beautiful to behold, our Qi and blood does not like to be still.

To treat patterns of cold, Chinese medicine uses acupuncture points that promote blood flow, warming moxibustion, and herbs that expel cold, like ginger, cinnamon and aconite.  If you are from a cold climate or have exposed yourself to cold for long periods of time, let your acupuncturist know!  We'll come up with solutions to get the persistent effects of cold out of your body and protect you from it in the future.