Your Winter Garden Of Health

By S. Hunter Thompson, DOM, DiplAc (NCCAOM) LAc ADS (NADA)

Turning Point - Foundation of Wellness

. https://foundationsofwellness.net

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Your Winter Garden Of Health

Chinese medicine sees each human being as a garden to be tended rather than a mechanism to be fixed. Clearly from that viewpoint, human beings are part of nature. Throughout history, with the exception of the last 150-200 years, most people lived more in tune with nature’s cycles. Winter months brought more hours of darkness in which to rest. In our modern world, electric lights extend our hours of wakefulness and activity far beyond sunset. During the time of year when nature invites us to go to bed earlier we may find ourselves attending parties or other events far into the hours of darkness.

We all need rest to be healthy. And winter is the time when we should be getting more of that rest. Instead, we push ourselves to keep going. Many species hibernate or at least curtail their activities during these months. It is no wonder human beings experience more illness in winter. In order to build our immunity to illness, we should be getting more rest and, if possible, more sleep during the winter months.

We only rest when forced to do so through some external event such as a heavy snowstorm that forces us to stay home for a day or two. Instead of waiting for a snowstorm, plan a “staycation” for a few days in winter. Plan your activities to end earlier in the evening and take some of those hours for some quiet time. Allow your body to get extra sleep and hang out in the house enjoying a movie or a good book. Drink a hot drink by the fireside or cuddle up with a loved one.

Schedule an appointment with your acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist or other complementary practitioner for a seasonal treatment to enhance your immunity. In the new year, resolve to see your health as a priority, for without health we are limited in our ability to enjoy life.