There’s nothing quite like the hush of wind rushing in the branches of a tree. The winds of change are refreshing and promote clear skies. But as the ancient Taoists perceived it, wind was also evil and the “cause of the hundred diseases”. This is because it rarely occurs by itself. Instead it combines with cold, damp, dust and pathogens that fly up to “injure the upper parts”.

Wind-Cold attacks (and Wind-Heat attacks in summer) are as sudden as the movement of wind itself. Headaches, stuffed nasal passages, itchy or sore throats, stiff necks and sweating are the first signs that the body is blocking the effects of wind from penetrating deeper. The lungs are affected because they are a “tender and more external organ” governing the skin and providing defenses.

The most common acupuncture points used in treating this presentation are located on the back of the neck at the base of the skull. You can find them easily by feeling for the little dimple at the base of the hairline. The Chinese name for these points is “Wind Pool” which makes sense seeing as this is where the cold wind hits us and compromises the throat and head.

The lesson we can learn in preventing colds and flus (always better than cure) is to avoid the effects of Wind-Cold. Here are my very simple top tips that you already know but need to remember:

• Avoid the wind and draughts wherever you can including in airconditioned work places.
• Wear a scarf and a hat.
• Use the hood on your jacket if you have one.
• If you have long hair then wear it out and don’t wear it out wet.
• Wash your hands in warm water and spend an extra few minutes in the shower with hot water on the back of your neck. Then keep warm.
• Warm yourself internally with ginger tea. It’s easy to forget to drink water in water so always keep a pot of herbal tea at your side.
• Take a probiotic supplement every day to keep your defenses strong. It takes two weeks to have a full effect.
• Swab your technology and prevent disease transference from your most handled objects.
• Keep your feet warm. Coldness becomes numbness that delays reaction to it.
• Put on weight. Yep. That’s right. Taoist observations of nature suggest that like bears, we sleep more in winter, eat more and exercise less. It’s a time to rest up and stock up like a squirrel. Not on cake and biscuits however, sorry, I’m talking about fatty nuts, seeds and just a little more of the good food you already have. Why? We burn up more energy trying to stay warm and a little more body mass can insulate us too.

Finally, just like some people are drawn to a flu-shot, an acupuncture treatment will boost your energy as well as your defenses in a more tailor-made made way specific to you. Plus it feels so good under that heat lamp with all that  warming moxa!