Historically we were much more in tune with and sympathetic to the tides, times and rhythms of life.
In China they used to have a 360 day year, and 5 elements, thus allotting each 72 days.
Water – Winter
Wood – Spring
Fire – Summer
Earth – last 18 days of each season
Metal – Autumn
With the flow of the seasons and especially when they changed – e.g. summer into autumn it was observed that we are more susceptible to disease.
So the wise amongst us realise this natural flow of the seasons, and choose to live in harmony with nature and thus, be mindful of heightened susceptibility to getting diseased, – DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!! Before the event!!!
Acupuncture points to strengthen
Stomach 36 Zu San Li – Lower limb / leg 3 miles – So called because after a hard 14 hour day in the paddy field if this point was stimulated ( hit, rubbed, or warmed up- like with a cigar or hair dryer) it gave you enough energy to walk the 3 miles home and do it all again the next day! This point is regarded as being one of the best points to increase Qi – some of which effects can be seen as assisting digestion and immunity.
4 fingers breadth below the patella and 1 finger out from the crest of the tibia.
Ren 6 Qi hai – Sea of Qi
About 3 fingers breadth below the belly button, centrally located – this point helps to strengthen the Qi – in some ways very similar to Stomach 36 and often used in conjunction to strengthen digestion immunity and constitution
Herbs
Huang qi – Astragalus membranaceus – is Milk Vetch (member of the pea family Fabaceae/Leguminosae) and is one of the best plants to stimulate the lungs and the immune system.
Dang shen – Codonopsis chinensis – Is a cheap version of Ginseng and helps to strengthen the immunity and digestion.
In Chinese herbal medicine plants were usually combined into formulas.
Yu ping feng san – Jade wind screen powder is a formula from 1214 which strengthens ones “wind screen” and thus prevents “wind” invading the body… bearing in mind that “Wind” is one of the 6 external evils that make us sick – preventing it stops, amongst other things, what we would call viral and bacterial infections.
So do not be a victim to seasonal change.
Be proactive.
Warm the points.
Take the herbs.
Be well.
Get better.