Alternative Health Blog

If you feel like you have one constant cold all winter or you are a parent with school-age kids seemingly cycling a family cold for months at a time, let’s tear a page out a classic Traditional Chinese Medicine textbook that is part of the Alternative Health Blog’s occasional series on Eastern therapies applying to our Western life. Today’s installment considers “Health Exercise for the Prevention of Colds.” Each exercise is most effective when performed at least once daily.

There are three exercises or self-therapies suggested by the Chinese practitioners. The first translates to Rubbing of the Nose, but it is different than what you might think. You start by interlocking the fingers of both hands and rubbing the fleshy part of the thumbs until hot. Then, hands still interlocked, rub the nose from the forehead downward along the sides of the nose. Do it 16 times from forehead and down past the nose to boost circulation of both qi energy and blood.

The next exercise is called Pressing of Hegu. It involves the hands. You press on the left hegu, which is located between the thumb and index finger about where the two digits’ bones meet. It is best to spread the finger and thumb apart widely but not stiffly. Press to and fro for 16 times; you actually will be doing it right if you feel some soreness in the therapy. Repeat on the right hegu to “remove pathogens from the superficial portion of the body.”

A final exercise to fight off colds is Kneading of Yingxiang. This is a massaging of a acupressure point outside both nostrils and above the upper gums and teeth. Your massage fingers will about the same alignments as the corners of your mouth. Knead with some force and perform 16 times in a to-and-fro motion without interruptions. Note: You will find this exercise easier on the face if your nails are short. Targeting the yingxiang will promote more air flow, which is no small thing when suffering through the endless cold.