Winter coughs and colds are nowadays talked about in terms of the virus or bacterium that has infected us. The Covid pandemic has put viruses centre stage – we recognise pictures of them, give them names and personalities, and we have a tendency to feel at their mercy. Covid is an especially dangerous and infective virus, and avoiding contact and getting vaccinated have been important ways of reducing its serious effects. But what should we do now about all the other respiratory infections – the good old ‘coughs and colds’ that are returning to us as we venture out into the world again? Now we are being reminded that these infections can also be pretty miserable and disabling, albeit for a shorter time. You may be getting bad coughs lasting several weeks or recurrent sinus infections that may even need antibiotics. Viruses and bacteria are part of our world, and we can’t sanitise everything.

Fireside by Winifred Nicholson

Now is a good time to remember that our bodies have inbuilt defences against infections and that when these defences are strong, we can generally fend off infections and stay well. However, these defences can be weakened by any bad illness or emotional upset, by overwork or other stress, by age, or you may just have a constitution that is not strong in that area. Acupuncture, based on the theory of Chinese medicine, is an effective way of strengthening our defensive energy. I have successfully treated many patients who were plagued by repeated or lingering colds, coughs and chest infections. Acupuncture does not attack the virus directly but instead it repairs the body’s inbuilt ability to resist or expel infection. The details of the treatment will vary from person to person as it is the imbalance that underlies the weak defence system that has to be addressed. This may include emotional as well as physical factors – I nearly always treat both these aspects of health. Some people have a few treatments and then remain strong: others need a more regular monthly/quarterly treatment to stay well.

In addition to acupuncture treatment, Chinese medicine guides the advice I give to patients about avoiding infections. Although traditional Chinese medicine was unable to see and understand viruses, it did understand that something – they called it a pathogenic factor – invaded from outside. Their knowledge teaches us that to avoid an invasion, especially in winter, it is necessary to keep warm and dry, wear warm layers, and to particularly protect the back of the neck, the lower back and the feet from cold, wind and damp. We should eat warm nourishing food, take moderate but not extreme exercise, and counteract overwork and stress with sleep and relaxation. Keeping our spirits up is always important. Now this may not always be easy in our modern world, but do your best, embrace a quiet winter, and save up your energy and vigorous activity for Spring.