Ask Doctor Yu, Chinese medicine practitioner: Winter herbal soups

Chinese traditional medicine principles for cold weather recommend nourishing yin and soothing dryness, to prevent irritation and dryness to the lungs. The following are some recipes to ward off cold weather.

Ask Doctor Yu, Chinese medicine practitioner: Winter herbal remedies

Spring and summer are the seasons to nourish one’s hot energy of yang, while autumn and winter is the time to feed the cold energy of yin, according to traditional Chinese medicine. As the seasons come and go, the unpredictable weather moves from sweltering to freezing. Drier seasons means the body needs more moisture and nourishment. Autumn dryness is considered metallic in Chinese medicine’s five elements, which affects the lungs. Therefore, the principle of autumn nutrition should be soothing nourishment to prevent dryness and irritation of the lungs.

Ask Doctor Yu, Chinese medicine practitioner: Yin or yang?

Many patients come to me asking whether they are “cold” or “hot” people. Coldness and heat are two principles in Chinese medicine used to differentiate between how much yin and yang individuals have. It does not refer to whether a person is hot- or cold-blooded, but about the balance of the hot yang to the cold yin.

Four traditional Chinese recipes for growing children

Children have unique developmental needs. We look at Chinese supplements appropriate for their needs as they grow. Based on their bodies, the best supplements for children are not the same as adults. They need food that is easily absorbed and strengthens their lung, spleen and kidney functions. However, the recipes below are also suitable for adults and elderly people to consume as well.

How to keep your child healthy with Chinese medicine

In the view of Chinese medicine, from birth to adulthood, the growing and developing human body has significant physical, physiological and pathological differences in each stage. Therefore, a child should not be taken as a miniature adult and given nutritious supplements that are usually for grow-ups. During growth, a child’s organs are not fully developed and cannot function well, especially their lungs, spleen and kidneys. They can easily catch a cold, cough and vomit as well as suffering from diarrhea, enuresis, edema and other illnesses. Focusing on their physiological characteristics, the best nutritious supplements for children are not expensive Chinese medicine like ginseng, but some food supplements that are easy to digest and can strengthen their lungs, spleen and kidneys.