Cold hands and feet? Maybe these tips for cold constitution can help you improve it!
Every time winter comes or the weather gets colder, I know that there are friends who hold the thermos cup and won’t let go. Let’s see if you have any of the following problems? Do you become a “household who has difficulty getting up” as soon as the weather gets colder? Cold hands and feet? Do you get upset when you catch a cold? You are covered with many layers of clothes, but you still feel the wind entering your body? People of the older generation will say that this may be due to body cold, which is what Chinese medicine calls “cold constitution.”
What exactly is the cold constitution?
The formation of cold constitution is caused by two factors. One is insufficient innate endowment and weak yang energy; the other is acquired factors, such as not paying attention to keeping warm and avoiding cold, eating cold things, and living in cold places for a long time. , often staying up late, etc. The above two factors jointly lead to insufficient yang energy in the body. Therefore, people with cold constitutions often have cold hands and feet when the weather is cold and the stagnant yang energy cannot be transmitted to the limbs. They are intolerant to cold and are susceptible to cold, damp and other yin evils The susceptibility of women is strong, and cold symptoms will occur if they are invaded by wind and cold evil spirits; if cold air hits the spleen and stomach, abdominal pain and diarrhea will occur; in women, cold coagulation and blood stasis will induce dysmenorrhea.
As the weather gets colder, it becomes more and more difficult for those with cold constitutions. Therefore, we provide you with a few tips to help you warm up quickly!
Self-massage skillfully prevents diseases
Here we recommend three acupoints, Shenque point, Mingmen point, and Yongquan point.
Shenque point is located in the center of the navel. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that “the navel is a congenital connection and an acquired Qi house.” The belly button is the foundation of our body’s internal organs and the place where our body’s vitality is stored. Because it is located in the abdomen, massaging the Shenque point is particularly effective in relieving abdominal pain and diarrhea. The Mingmen point is opposite to it, the portal of life and the foundation of human body’s vitality. The two acupoints match each other and can play a role in strengthening the foundation and cultivating the vitality. With sufficient vitality, the body’s ability to resist cold and disease will also increase, and the incidence of external diseases such as colds and coughs will also decrease. Yongquan point is the starting point of the kidney meridian, which can warm and unblock the meridians, symbolizing the continuous flow of qi and blood like spring water. There are six meridians in the human body, all of which converge at the soles of the feet. Through the relationship between the external and internal meridians, they are closely related to all the organs, tissues and organs of the whole body. Therefore, stimulating the Yongquan point can nourish the kidneys and strengthen yang, and relieve the symptoms of cold hands and feet. When massaging the above three acupuncture points, you don’t have to stick to the length of time, just use warmth as the measure.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Rub Shenque
Location: In the middle of the abdomen, in the center of the umbilicus.
Operation: Hold the right hand into a bowl shape, clasp it on the Shenque point of the navel, and make a circular motion through the wrist joint. The frequency of kneading should be slow, 15-30 times per minute, and kneading for 3-5 minutes each time. Massage once a day in the morning and before going to bed.
2. Wipe the gate of life
Location: In the subspinous process of the second lumbar vertebra. Simple acupoint selection: just opposite the navel.
Operation: You can use the palms of your left and right hands to go down along the bladder meridian on both sides of the spine, 20 cm above the Mingmen point to the Mingmen point, and then push and rub the point with your palms until it feels slightly warm, for about 3-5 minutes. . Massage once a day in the morning and before going to bed.
3.Cayongquan
Location: On the sole of the foot, approximately at the junction of the front 1/3 and middle 1/3 of the foot.
Operation: Use the sides of the palms or the hypothenar to rub back and forth until a warm feeling appears on the soles of the feet, for about 1-3 minutes. Do this once for each left and right foot as one group, and one group each day in the morning before going to bed. Add some safflower oil or baby oil during massage for better results.
Special sharing: Taking pictures of meridians
In autumn and winter, people with cold constitutions have insufficient yang energy. On the one hand, they lack enough driving force to push qi and blood to the limbs. On the other hand, they lack the warming effect, resulting in cold limbs. By tapping the meridians of the limbs, you can stimulate yang energy, promote blood circulation, and quickly “warm up” the hands and feet, which can also improve immunity and enhance physical fitness.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that stimulating the meridians along the direction of the meridians is a tonic method that can stimulate the meridians. Therefore, tapping the meridians also follows this principle. The following are specific operations:
1. Upper limb tapping method
Choose sitting or standing position
The fingers of the right hand are naturally brought together, and the metacarpophalangeal joints are slightly bent into a “virtual palm” shape, and then the virtual palm is used to tap rhythmically, first along the inside of the arm from the side close to the armpit to the direction of the palm; then along the outside of the arm Pat from the back of the hand toward the shoulder. Then switch to your left hand and repeat the above actions once. Beat for 3-5 minutes each time. The strength should be moderate during operation, and the speed should be brisk and consistent.
2. Lower limb tapping method
Choose sitting or standing position
Put your fingers together naturally, slightly bend the metacarpophalangeal joints into a “virtual palm” shape, and then tap rhythmically with your empty palm, first along the front and outer sides of the thighs from top to bottom to the outside of the calf; then along the inner side of the calf from bottom to bottom. Pat up to the inner thighs. Beat for 3-5 minutes each time. The strength should be moderate during operation, and the speed should be brisk and consistent.
?Cold tonic dietary prescription
In the cold season, delicious food is naturally indispensable. People with cold constitution should eat more foods that warm yang, dispel cold, replenish qi and activate blood circulation, such as mutton, beef, ginger, longan, etc. Here is a classic recipe recommended – “Angelica Ginger Mutton Soup”. Although it is simple in composition, with only three flavors: angelica root, ginger, and mutton, the combination of the entire recipe is not simple at all.
Mutton is a food of flesh and blood, sweet but not greasy, warm but not dry. It has the effects of nourishing the kidneys and strengthening yang, warming the middle and dispelling cold, warming and replenishing qi and blood, appetizing and strengthening the spleen. It can strengthen the body and improve the body’s ability to withstand cold, which is perfect for people with cold physiques. Angelica sinensis is a blood-tonifying medicine commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has a warm nature and returns to the spleen, heart and liver meridians. It has the effects of nourishing blood, activating blood circulation, dispersing cold and relieving pain. Ginger is an ingredient that can be found everywhere in the kitchen, and is also a “frequent” in dietary prescriptions. It can warm the stomach and dispel cold. The combination of the three, angelica and ginger nourishes the blood, activates blood and dispels cold, lamb warms and replenishes essence, and the whole medicated diet warms yang, nourishes blood and dispels cold. It is actually the best dietary prescription to warm the body and replenish deficiency.
specific methods
Ingredients: 10 grams of angelica root, 20 grams of ginger, 500 grams of mutton, appropriate amount of rice wine and seasonings.
practice:
1. Wash angelica and ginger with clean water, cut into slices and set aside;
2. Remove the fascia from the mutton, wash and cut into pieces, blanch in a pot of boiling water to remove the blood, take out and let cool for later use;
3. Put the mutton into a casserole, pour an appropriate amount of water, add rice wine and bring to a boil, then add ginger, bring to a boil over high heat again, turn to low heat and simmer. After 1 and a half hours, add angelica and simmer for another 15 minutes. It is ready to eat. ;
4. Take out angelica and ginger slices, drink soup and eat meat;
5. Do not add salt to this medicinal diet. It is recommended to drink it in the morning and noon;
Note: This prescription is not suitable for those with yin deficiency and heat, or excessive phlegm and heat, otherwise the condition will be aggravated.
Foot bath recipe for warming menstruation and activating blood circulation
The six meridians of the human body are all gathered at the soles of the feet, and through the relationship between the internal and external meridians, they are closely related to all the organs, tissues and organs of the whole body. Therefore, the feet have been said to be the second heart of the human body since ancient times. “Medical Classics” records: “People have feet, just like trees have roots. The roots of a tree die first, and the feet of a person age first.” Therefore, foot bath can stimulate the acupoints, reflex zones and meridians of the feet and promote blood circulation. , greatly improve the symptoms of cold hands and feet!
Note: It is best to use a taller foot soaking bucket to soak your feet. It is best to prepare a pot of boiling water and keep adding it to the bucket to keep the water temperature at a temperature that feels a little hot on your feet. You should soak your feet for at least 15 minutes each time, until your head is covered. Sweating slightly works best. After soaking your feet, pay attention to keeping your feet warm.
