Is there anything better than a hot cup of chai on a chilly Winter’s day? This popular beverage from India traditionally incorporates black tea, aromatic spices,  milk and honey, and is already a powerful digestive and immune tonic in its own right. However, add in some extra immune boosting herbs from the Chinese medicine pharmacopoeia and you have a recipe for a deliciously therapeutic superdrink! ​

The theories of Chinese medicine suggest that each season relates to a different organ system. Autumn is the season of the Lungs. It’s the time of year when people are easily affected by environmental influences, and great changes are taking place in the weather and plant life around us. 

The lungs are called the “delicate protective organ” in TCM because they are the only organ that comes into direct contact with the external environment. This can make them vulnerable to the environmental influences which can lead to colds, the flu, or allergies. Read on to learn more about our magnificent Lung 'organ system' according to TCM, and what you can do to keep it healthy and happy.

With winter well and truly upon us, and a greater incidence of colds and flus about, its important to look after ourselves to boost our immunity and get in tune with the natural rhythm of the season.

Winter is the season of stillness and conservation. It’s a period of hibernation and our time to rest, slow down and revitalize our reserves. Winter is a great time of year to reflect on our health, replenish our energy, conserve our strength and heal on a deeper level. The “downtime” that winter provides gives us an opportunity to slow down, check in and take account as to how our lifestyle supports or detracts from our health, and to recharge our battery.

Here are 10 easy pointers on how you can support and promote your own health this time of year:

By Angie

If you are living with a positive HIV diagnosis, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be powerful allies in helping you remain as healthy as possible, supporting you physically, emotionally and mentally, at whatever stage you are at. It is more important than ever to have a wholistic approach to caring for your health, and an acupuncturist can offer you this support in conjunction with your primary health care providers. Acupuncture may help to improve your immune system, energy levels and mood, and may be of benefit for concurrent health concerns or managing the side effects of medications. Taking care of your body's needs and your emotional well-being is vital and is the key to living well with HIV.

By Angie
There are lots of things we can incorporate into our daily life to keep ourselves healthy and strengthen our immune system. As discussed in the previous post, its not so much our exposure to germs but the strength of our resistance (our immune system, or "Wei Qi") that determines whether we get sick or not, especially when we are talking about infectious illness. So I'd like to introduce you to a simple technique that you can start doing today to boost your Wei Qi and help detoxify your body - dry skin brushing.

By Angie
With the change of weather, you might have heard people talking about 'cold and flu' season being just around the corner, and start to see various products crowding out chemist and supermarket shelves. There is a sense of hype about this time of year, where we are advised to not go within sneezing distance of anybody, not to shake anyone’s hand, and never, ever touch a doorknob, shopping cart, or any other object that might have possibly come into contact with any human at any point during its existence! If you buy into the hype you may find yourself locked away in a dark room waiting for the hazmat team to give the “All Clear.” :-)