As the saying goes, “Nine out of ten diseases are caused by cold,” and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is said that “cold is the source of all illnesses,” indicating the significant impact of cold pathogens on human health.
In daily life, many people, especially women, are troubled by “body cold.” What does it mean to have a cold body?
Whether in the freezing winter or the scorching summer, one often feels cold hands and feet; one is more sensitive to cold than others, and no amount of clothing helps; waking up from sleep, the bed is still cold; consuming slightly cool food inevitably leads to diarrhea…
So, what exactly is “cold”? Where does it come from? How can we adjust our daily habits to dispel cold?
What does TCM mean by “cold”?
Cold is the primary qi of winter, and cold pathogens often invade the body during this season. However, cold pathogens do not only attack in winter; they can also be felt in other seasons when sweating meets wind, or during hot days when one is exposed to water or consumes cold drinks.
In TCM, cold is considered a yin pathogen, characterized by “coldness, stagnation, and contraction.” There are two types of cold: external cold and internal cold:
External cold: This occurs when external cold qi invades the body, obstructing the flow of qi, leading to noticeable cold symptoms throughout the body or in specific areas;
Internal cold: This is primarily due to weakness in the body, causing qi to be unable to move effectively, often accompanied by symptoms of deficiency, such as shortness of breath and pale complexion.
When cold pathogens invade the muscle surface, they can lead to colds, fevers, etc. If cold pathogens penetrate deeper, they can obstruct the flow of qi and blood in the organs, resulting in various diseases.
There is a saying in TCM that “nine out of ten women suffer from cold,” indicating that many women’s ailments are related to body cold. Many women often feel unwell, yet medical examinations reveal no issues; this is when one should be cautious about the possibility of “body cold.”
Where does the cold in the body come from?
There are many reasons that can lead to body cold; seemingly innocuous habits in daily life can contribute to or exacerbate body cold.
1Not sleeping on time
TCM has always placed great importance on the midnight sleep. During the Zi hour (11 PM to 1 AM), yin qi is at its peak, and yang qi begins to emerge, marking the transition between yin and yang. Sleeping at this time helps the body accumulate energy.
Especially in late autumn and early winter, going to bed early helps to consolidate the body’s yang qi, while staying up late can lead to an excess of yin and deficiency of yang, which over time can result in yang deficiency and cause the body to feel cold.
2Prolonged sitting without exercise
Movement is yang, while stillness is yin. Exercise can promote yang qi and facilitate the flow of qi and blood. However, modern people often sit for long periods and lack exercise, which can lead to qi stagnation and blood stasis, resulting in internal cold due to yang deficiency.
3Excessive physical fatigue
Work fatigue, excessive thinking, and high mental stress can all increase the consumption of the body’s yang qi and essence, leading to dysfunction in bodily functions, making it easier for cold pathogens to invade.
4Cold and raw diet
No matter the season, some people enjoy consuming large amounts of fruits and cold drinks, even relying on fruits as meals and constantly having cold drinks in hand. Unbeknownst to them, this can severely damage the yang qi of the spleen and stomach.
How to improve body cold??
Anyone with a weak constitution, cold body type, insufficient yang qi, or suffering from wind-cold-damp obstruction can improve symptoms of body cold through methods such as keeping warm, moxibustion, diet, lifestyle, and exercise to nourish the yang qi within the body.
1Keep warm and protect weak areas
During this time, the temperature difference between day and night is significant, with cool winds in the morning and evening, and there may be dew and frost. It is best to keep the body’s weak areas well protected to prevent yang qi from leaking and cold from invading!
【Abdomen】 has a relatively weak resistance to cold pathogens, so one should dress warmly to protect the abdomen and cover well while sleeping to avoid cold leading to abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Cold pathogens can reach the abdomen from the lower limbs. If one does not pay attention to keeping the lower limbs warm, especially the 【feet】, it provides an easy entry for cold pathogens.
【Head and back】 are areas where yang meridians circulate, and the righteous and evil qi contend here, easily leading to headaches and fever. One should ensure hair is dry before going out and avoid exposing the head and back to wind while sleeping at night.
During this season, if we do not pay attention to conserving yang qi, leading to leakage of the spleen, stomach, and kidney yang qi, when winter arrives, not only will one easily experience cold hands and feet, diarrhea, and frequent urination, but also essence, qi, blood, and body fluids will be insufficient, leading to poor overall health.
2Moxibustion to replenish yang qi
Moxibustion has been used to support yang since ancient times, and it is especially beneficial in autumn and winter. It helps to warm the qi and blood, open the meridians, warm yang qi, disperse cold qi, dispel wind, and harmonize qi and blood, thus correcting imbalances in the body’s constitution.
For those with body cold, it is recommended to frequently moxibust: Dazhui (Du 14), Guanyuan (Ren 4), Qihai (Ren 6), Mingmen (Du 4), Zusanli (St 36), etc. Stimulating these acupoints can help to enhance yang qi, invigorate qi, disperse cold, and eliminate dampness, ensuring sufficient yang qi and smooth flow of qi and blood in the body.
Each acupoint should be moxibusted for 15 minutes. If you feel a sensation of “the acupoint is absorbing heat,” it indicates that your moxa stick is correctly positioned on the acupoint.
3Diet: Eat more warming foods
Body cold is not an acute condition; it is accumulated over time. Therefore, to adjust and improve the issue of body cold, it is not something that can be resolved overnight. One can gradually adjust through daily diet.
It is advisable to consume more warming foods such as lamb, peanuts, red dates, and eel, and to add warming spices like scallions, ginger, and pepper during cooking to nourish the body’s yang qi.
▲ Recommended dietary therapy: Ginger and Red Date Tea
Ingredients: 1 piece of ginger, 6 red dates, 30 grams of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of goji berries.
Method: Wash and slice the ginger, then place the ginger slices, red dates, and brown sugar into a pot; add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 30 minutes; finally, turn off the heat, add goji berries, and drink when the temperature is suitable.
Effects: Ginger and red date tea has the effect of dispelling cold and keeping warm, which can alleviate the coldness often experienced by women, and has a regulating effect on menstrual pain and irregular menstruation.
4Sunbathe your back to warm the meridians
The back of the human body is home to important meridians such as the Du meridian and the Bladder meridian of the Foot Taiyang. Sunbathing the back daily can utilize the yang qi from nature to warm the meridians and open the channels.
One can also engage in moderate exercise while sunbathing, but it is not advisable to sweat excessively. Gentle exercises like Ba Duan Jin or yoga stretching can continue, as they help to regulate internal qi and blood and invigorate yang qi.
Additionally, those prone to allergic rhinitis or asthma during seasonal changes should practice Ba Duan Jin consistently in winter to strengthen lung qi and prevent issues.
For those with weak constitutions who are not suitable for exercise, daily abdominal massage can be beneficial. Since the cold in the body centers around the lower abdomen, keeping the lower abdomen warm will leave no hiding place for cold qi.
5Foot baths combined with early sleep to lock in yang qi
Early sleep is important regardless of the season, especially for those with weak constitutions, as it can protect yang qi and reduce the consumption of qi and blood. Early sleep means going to bed by the latest during the Zi hour, which is before 11 PM.
Soaking feet before bed is an excellent method to consolidate yang qi, and it can also immediately dispel cold, providing relief for those who often have cold hands and feet. Adding herbs like Angelica, Cinnamon, Ginger, or Mugwort to the water can help to replenish yang, dispel cold, and promote circulation of qi and blood.
▲ Recommended: Ginger Foot Bath Recipe
Ingredients: 30 grams of ginger slices, appropriate amount of water.
Method: Place the ginger slices in a pot with water and boil for 10 minutes; once the temperature is suitable, soak your feet.
Effects: This recipe can effectively remove cold qi from the body, regulate colds, improve sleep, and is particularly suitable for women with a cold constitution.
In fact, many diseases and the formation of body constitution can be traced back to their “roots” in daily life. Congenital yang deficiency or acquired consumption of yang, combined with habitual lifestyle choices, can lead to various issues over time.
Therefore, to warm yang, disperse cold, and improve body cold, it requires long-term persistence, developing good habits in diet, exercise, and lifestyle, along with appropriate acupoint moxibustion.
When one’s yang qi is sufficient, immunity strengthens, and the body will become healthier.
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