How to stop catching colds

How to stop catching colds

Recipes

Have you ever wondered why some people catch more colds than others? or why you tend to catch colds more in the autumn? or most importantly, how you can protect yourself against those colds and flu’s?

Well, I share some of my Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to show you why and how.

Just like western medicine which talks about our Immune system – Chinese Medicine has talked about Wei Chi for thousands of years. It’s the energy that forms a powerful boundary around your body, defending you against invading virus’s and pathogens. Chinese medicine likes to describe the body as a kingdom where each of the organs have particular roles: The Heart is the Emperor, the Lung is the Chancellor in charge of regulation, the Liver as the General for planning and executing orders and so on…… the Wei Chi is the wall that fortifies and protects the kingdom within.

If your defensive system is robust and the pathogen weak, you don’t get sick. But if the pathogen is strong, and your boundaries are weak, the higher the chance the invading virus makes it into your body and you “catch a cold.”

There are a few strategies to improve your defences such as good sleep plus being in-tune with your environment and dressing appropriately but most importantly, within the kingdom of your organs there must be balance.

What I do as a Shiatsu practitioner is to listen to your body and diagnose which of your organs is out of balance; what is too Yin and needs support or what is too Yang and needs calming, thereby creating harmony in your internal environment.

Without specialised training, you can do this by simply paying attention to your symptoms and following the 5 element system of Traditional Chinese Medicine, laid out clearly in my book, showing you what needs Yang warming and moving and what needs Yin cooling and nourishing.

As we move into Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, we can experience extreme external changes of cold winds, warming sunshine and drenching downpours, all in one day, so it is important to keep the internal system in balance.

Following the 5 element system of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the pungent flavour moves and warms the internal body. It moistens the Lung & Large Intestine, the organs associated with this season and largely responsible, together with the Spleen, for the strength of Wei Chi Immunity. They stimulate blood circulation and prevent the accumulation of internal dampness which can be pernicious in Autumn.

These pungent foods include onions, scallions, radishes, ginger, wasabi mustard, garlic and horseradish. Here I share one of my favourite Autumn recipes from my first, smaller 5 element cookbook – Vegetarian French Onion Soup, which strengthens the Lungs, warms the Large intestine and fortifies your Wei Chi.

All through the month of October in Chi Flow with Jo every morning we are practicing Qi Gong exercises, recipes and acupressure points to benefit breathing. In November we will move specifically to focus on the Immune system. Doors are closed to join Chi Flow with Jo until Sunday 24th October but you can join the wait list and receive free classes at the end of the month.  (see form below)
If you can’t wait that long you can always buy my books which lay out clearly what foods to eat for which organ and time of year or why not book an online consultation or in person Shiatsu if you’d like a personal diagnosis.

In the meantime try this wonderfully warming, pungent soup and fortify your inner kingdom

As you are cooking the miso, you retain the delicious flavour, but will kill most of the probiotic contained within the paste. So just before cooking use a mug to remove some of the soup, dissolve a further tablespoon of miso into the mug of removed liquor, turn off the heat and stir back into the soup. Remove the twiggy stalks of thyme and serve with delicious spelt bread which is the following recipe in Shiatsu & the Art of Conscious Cooking.

Vegetarian French Onion Soup

25 g butter
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1.5 kg onions
Large sprig of fresh thyme
4 crushed Bay leaves
Good splash of toasted
sesame oil
2 pints miso stock (to taste)

Melt the butter together with the oil, add the onions and fry for a minute or so on a high heat. Give them a shuffle and a stir, making sure the butter doesn’t burn and the onions don’t stick.

Throw in the herbs, bay leaves, a splash of sesame oil and turn the heat down to the lowest possible setting leaving the lid on. The onions need to cook for at least 20 minutes until they are a toffee colour and sticky consistency. Pour in the miso stock and simmer for at least another 20-30 minutes.

The longer the better. A slow soup in the making but worth the wait.

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Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.

Foods for Brain & Body Balance

Foods for Brain & Body Balance

Recipes

FOOD FOR BRAIN & BODY BALANCE

Did you know approximately 50% of people will suffer from dizziness, vertigo, or a loss of balance in their lifetime.
Quite often there’s no medical reason or explanation given as to why or how you can fix it.

Here I share Traditional Chinese Medicine 5 element foods to support your body and brain, helping you come back to physical and emotional balance.

The body’s balance system works through a constant process of position detection, feedback and adjustment using communication between the inner ear, eyes, muscles, joints and the brain.
Deep inside the ear, positioned just under the brain, is the inner ear. While one part of the inner ear enables hearing, another part, called the vestibular system, is designed to collect information about the position of the head and the balance of the body. Movement of fluid inside the ear canals caused by head movement stimulates tiny, fine hairs called silica. When these silica sense movement, they transform this mechanical signal into a chemical signal. Chemical signals are what fires the neuron’s in the brain, this is what tells you when you are balanced.

So keeping the ears healthy is essential if we want to remain balanced. In Traditional Chinese Medicine each organ is linked to a season, a colour, an emotion, a flavour, a time of day and much more. This is the 5 element system and it’s really quite easy to follow so you can learn exactly what you need for your body.
The ears, in Chinese Medicine come under the rule of the Kidneys. Even in Western Medicine the ears and the kidneys are connected. Did you know that hearing loss is a potential side effect of Chronic Kidney Disease? 

As we age, Kidney energy decreases and we can suffer with tinnitus, hearing loss and poor balance. It is essential to keep kidneys strong with the foods we eat, Qi Gong exercise and acupressure.

 Foods that benefit the kidneys, according to the 5 element system are blue black foods such as Nori, Dulse, Wakame and all the family of seaweeds. Dark coloured adzuki, turtle and black beans are also very beneficial. Wheatgrass and Barley-grass with it’s deep dark blue green colour will nourish the kidneys and of course, water.  Whilst not technically not blue/black in actual colour, the way in which we depict the image of water, is always blue.

 

Next, following the 5 element diagram, search out the flavour for the organ. For the kidneys it is salty. Quite often the blue black foods are naturally salty, such as seaweeds and it is the deeply mineral rich food of this flavour that will really nourish the whole kidney system which includes the spine, bones, brain, reproductive organs, hormonal and nervous system. Other foods that are considered salty would include oats and barley. You can find a full list in my 5 element cook books that cover the colours, the foods, emotions, seasons, acupressure points, and energy exercises for each specific organ and system.

One of my favourite recipes for nourishing the kidneys and supporting the bladder, reducing stress incontinence, lessening swelling, eye puffiness and water retention is Barley Water. It can help clear the bacteria that causes urinary tract infections, vaginitis and prostatitis.

If you have experienced stress, joint pain, sleeplessness, or maybe burnt the candle at both ends, then make this drink. Stress is kidney controlled, pumping the body full of adrenaline so that we can go that extra mile.  However adrenaline-filled situations create acidic conditions in the body. This Barley water drink can maintain the pH balance in the bodily fluids, although you may also have to address lifestyle issues, as well as food choices, to maintain Yin Yang balance.

Barley is full of potassium and other essential minerals. Potassium levels drop as we age, maintaining healthy levels of this important mineral is key to combating age-related issues such hearing loss, low bone density  and balance issues.  Scroll down for the recipe below, which is one of mine and my many 1000’s of clients favourites, returning to it again and again every winter.

If you’d like to learn more about how to understand your body, maintaining balance and health you can buy my books or sign up to future recipes and ramblings here.

Or sign up for the FREE QI Gong class at the end of the Month.  December is all about building strong bones with Qi Gong Exercise, Powerful Acupressure points and Food Medicine.

Barley Water

  • 50g barley – pearl or pot barley
  • 2 litres water
  • 1⁄2 lemon
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Pinch of dillisk (Dulse) or Wakame seaweed 

Instructions

Place the barley into a heavy-based saucepan with a good fitting lid. Pour in the water, add the half lemon, the seaweed and pinch of sea salt. Bring it to the boil and simmer for an hour, make sure the lid is on firmly. After an hour of a slow simmer, use a fine mesh sieve and strain the barley from the water. Using the back of a spoon push on the barley into the mesh to get as much of the white gloopy mixture into the water. 

This water can be kept in a jug or a bottle in the fridge for about 5 days. Shake or stir the barley water before use as the sediment will fall to the bottom. I usually make a batch from which I take a measure in the morning and in the afternoon. A measure for me would be 1/3 barley water, poured into a mug topped up with 2/3 hot water. You can use agave or honey to sweeten if you like. Its best to drink first thing in the morning, before eating to clear your system. Treat it like medicine because that’s what it is.

Save the cooked barley to use in the following Avocado Salad or in the Chilli Con Barley recipe both found in the Good Food, Better Sex Cookbook.

For more on Body Balance and Brain Health, including acupressure points and Qi Gong exercises to improve Brain and Body Balance watch

Your journey to health and balance is unique, and embracing the wisdom of TCM can help you achieve lasting freedom from cravings. Be kind to yourself, listen to your body, and enjoy the process of nurturing your health.

Until next time, stay balanced and be well.

 

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.  

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.