Scarves and Chilly Weather…

Fall plays hide and seek here in Atlanta. Chilly one day, and summer like the next; cold and bleak in the morning and deceptively sunny in the afternoon! In weather like this it is easy to forget to dress warmly, and that increases the possibility of catching a cold, or flu and becoming host to the virus of the day!

One of the simplest things one can do to add a layer of protection is to wear a scarf … yes, wear a scarf and keep the neck area covered.

In traditional Chinese medicine there is a set of acupuncture points collectively referred to as the wind gates. These points all lie in the neck region or behind the ears. As the name suggests these points can be the gateway of external invasion (cold, flu etc.) into the body. Keeping this area covered specially in the fall and early winter (when it is easy to forget to do so), essentially blocks an open energetic passage for infections to enter the body. From a bio-medical standpoint the neck only has sympathetic innervation- and it stands to reason, even from a western perspective, that keeping the neck covered is a good idea.

No doubt this may not be the only thing one needs to do to stay healthy in the flu season, but it is one of the easiest to do! So bring out those colorful scarves, add some pizzazz and style to your outfits and boost your chances of avoiding a cold or flu this season.

And yes, this applies to the guys too!

Manjusha Ladha L.Ac.