I have already started seeing patients at my Clinic with light Asthma, Chills, Neck Aches, Sore Throat and Sniffles.
The Chinese believe that it’s most important to keep the Back of One’s neck covered to protect from, “The Disease of the Thousand Evil Winds.”
The cause of the common cold as well as it’s cure, still remains a mystery to Modern Medicine.
However, when we look to nature we see Oriental Medical thinking at it’s best.
The Chinese character for wind is combined with the character for evil, so together they form the word, Evil Wind, or the Oriental equivalent of the common cold. This evil wind is able to penetrate the body through the back of the neck, when there is a deficiency of Qi or Life Force.
We all posses an invisible powerful layer of Qi around our bodies. When this outer protection becomes weakened by poor dietary habits, lack of sleep, inadequate exercise, lifestyle excess, exposure to pathogens or erratic temperatures, Evil Wind is able to penetrate our body due to deficiency of Qi.
Putting on a scarf or a jacket with a high collar to protect the vulnerable back of the neck is smart when going out on a windy day.
The lung transporting points of the back are located very close to the base of the neck, supporting the belief that we often suffer from stiffness of the neck and shoulders, sore throats, as well as stuffy or runny noses, at the beginning of a cold.
Most of us posses within our bodies all the resources needed to overcome a common cold. My approach to treatment is to strengthen the body’s curative mechanisms and watch as the immune system takes over to heal from within. One way to heal from the common cold is to make sure we use food as medicine.
During the windy season it’s a good idea to always have warm liquids and a pot of soup on the stove.
SEASONAL CLEANSING SOUP
Directions:
Bring 1 gallon of Alkaline or bottled water to a boil in a large stock pot.
Add as many chopped, varied, seasonal, colored vegetables (making sure to include dark, leafy greens) as you can to the water. Include scallions, leeks or onions and fresh garlic to your taste preference.
Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
Take off heat and allow the vegetables to blanch until the water cools.
Add chopped fresh parsley or cilantro and the juice of 1 lemon.
Season with sea salt and/or pepper.
*Throughout the week, you may add to the stock pot or your individual bowl: Fish, chicken, saffron rice, lentils, a poached egg. Feel free to experiment with anything that sounds good and is healthy.
Ingredients:
1 large eggplant or 4 small ones of varied colors, cut into cubes
1 large sweet onion, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, pressed
Chopped fresh tomatoes to your taste preference
1 chopped green pepper
1 chopped red pepper
1 or 2 cups of diced mushrooms
3 or 4 green zucchinis sliced to medium thickness.
1 can tomato paste
1/8-cup of olive oil
1/8-cup of balsamic vinegar, plus a splash, if needed
Sea salt to taste
1 large, fresh rosemary sprig
Directions:
In large stock pot, sauté garlic, onions and mushrooms in olive oil until onions are translucent and golden.
Add the tomatoes, rosemary sprig and the red and green peppers; cook the mixture over moderate to high heat; sauté until softened. (You may need to add more olive oil.)
Pour in 1/8-cup of balsamic vinegar, stirring well.
Add the chopped eggplant, zucchini and the tomato paste, along with more balsamic vinegar if mixture is too thick.
Cook until vegetables are tender and soft.
Season with sea salt, to taste.
*Store for up to one week, in the refrigerator and reheat, or freeze remaining portion. Eat over spaghetti squash, zucchini, baked garlic potato or fresh spinach.
Gan Mao Ling: Take at the first sign of scratchy throat 2-6x/day.
Oscillococcinum: Dissolve entire contents of one tube sublingually every 6 hours up to 3 x a day for the first day. (No food or drink 15 minutes before or after).
Traumeel: For body aches, muscular pain or inflammation: 1-2 tablets dissolved sublingually or in mouth up to 3 x a day.
Emergen-C: Dissolve in water and drink throughout the day.
Zinc: 30 mcg, 1 x a day with food.
I wish you the Best in your Health Wealth and Happiness!
Dr. Wu Dhi
Sherwood S. Swartz AP, MMQ.
