Happy Halloween! Coffin Cold?

It has been a daily question in the last couple of weeks “What do you think of the flu shot?” I always feel like someone is handing me a grenade without the pin and asking me to juggle! The flu shot seems to have people very polarized and with very strong opinions.

Consider if you got the flu, is there a potential that it would cause death?

If you are in fragile health, over the age of 65, suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, anaemia, cancer, immune system suppression, HIV, or kidney disease then the flu shot is a good preventative measure to protect you from the flu and its potential complications.

If you do not fall into that category and are of reasonable health then maybe you might want to consider other options. In the days of liabilities and lawyers I must stress to consult with your doctor and/or primary health care giver.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, Fall is when the body starts to wind down for the winter and draw its energy more inward. It is a time for more rest and recovery after a hard summer of expending energy and emptying peach cider bottles on the deck.

To naturally prevent cold and flu we must focus on the basics of good diet, sleep, exercise, and stress reduction. One big immune system suppressant culprit is sugar! At the first sign of cold or flu you should avoid all processed sugar. Another favourite of patients is to have spicy tea such as chai tea.

Here’s a good cold buster recipe:


2 cups of water
8 cardamom seed pods crushed
3 sticks of cinnamon, crushed
4 cloves
1 inch piece of ginger sliced thinly or grated
3 teaspoons of black tea (such as Darjeeling, or Ceylon)
3 tablespoons of crushed black pepper
Skim milk or skim milk powder
Honey to taste

Place water, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, pepper and ginger in a pot and bring to a boil.

Cover and lower heat to low setting and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add milk and honey and again bring to simmer.

Next, add the tea leaves, remove from heat and cover.

Let steep for 3 minutes and strain. Enjoy!

~Think Vitality!~

Finally Fall Has Fallen!

It’s finally here- the season of autumn! While turkey dinners fill stomachs and unsuspecting pumpkins line doorsteps it is a great time to reflect practically about our health and the season.

In my acupuncture clinic this week many patients just getting, getting over, or fighting off a cold.

In traditional Chinese medicine we see patterns; patterns in nature. Every year I have seen people getting sick at this time of year as well as right before Christmas, 2nd week in January, and a couple other notable times in the year (I’ll give you ample warning as the time draws nearer!).

While in modern days we would associate this with ‘germs’ and gooey kids in close proximity, the ancients regarded this simply as a time of transition. A time when our energy, or chi starts to withdraw into the body for the oncoming winter (much like hibernation). I think the truth lies somewhere in between.

As the seasons change our bodies change. As the suns blazing energy decreases so does ours! We should adjust our schedules accordingly and sleep more, have tea instead of ice cold water, and cook soups and stews to warm our innards. (Soon I will post recipes of strange and delightful creations for the season, so stay tuned!)

But what if adjusting our lifestyle is just not enough? There are plenty of TCM herbal formulas that are very helpful in boosting our immune systems. I carry a formula called “Gan Mao Ling” which is a must have for the medicine cabinet. In fact I recommend everyone have it on hand for that crucial couple of hours when your start feeling a headache, muscles stiffness, and that impending feeling of getting the cold.

Until next time, sleep well, stay balanced, and…

~Think Vitality!~