This article provides you with not only an effective way to deal with the flu and colds but also a way to promote self-healing. There are also a few home remedies for you to use at home. Your lifestyle directly affects your ability to ward off sickness. Here are some general rules to follow in winter when the temperature is cold.

1. Dress properly. Do not expose your upper back to cold. If you have weak lung energy, wear a scarf around your neck when the temperature drops quickly (such as when a child is waiting for the school bus in the morning or late a night). Always wears pants in cold weather – even indoors.
2. Practice good nutrition. Do not skip meals. Add extra snacks. Take Chinese herbs daily to boost your immune system. (Master Lee will customize the herb formulas for each client based on the survey questionnaire completed by the client).
3. Ensure quality sleep. Go to bed a half hour earlier to prepare yourself for a restful sleep. Reduce sexual activity (according to Chinese medicine, sexual activity exhausts vital energy).
4. Drink sufficient liquid. Follow the Chinese medicine concept. Constantly swish liquid in your mouth throughout the day. If you visit the bathroom hourly, you are drinking too much too fast. If you visit the bathroom every 3-4 hours, you may be dehydrated.
5. Exercise. Do not overdo it! Too much exercise and sweat can do more harm than good to your immune system. Exercise can reduce the “Wei Qi” which is the body’s protective energy. Daily skin massages are important. By spending less than 1-2 minutes to give yourself a whole-body scrub from head to toe, you can boost the skin’s resistance to outside temperature change. Also, massage the “Dan Tien” – the abdominal area between the naval and pubic bone. This should be done after each bathroom visit or at least twice daily to naturally improve the body’s immune system. Do the Chinese Bow daily to channel the spinal cord’s energy.
6. Hygiene. Shower properly. Avoid catching cold after a hot shower. Be sure to dress properly. Do not soak your feet in cold, wet areas or water. Douche the nasal passageway twice daily during the flu season by using a few drops of saline solution in each nostril (be sure to flush the nose, then spit it out). This is very important for people who catch a cold or have weak lung energy. Practice Chinese Qi-Con breathing to reduce daily stress and remove unnecessary thoughts.
7. Try Chinese warm/hot soup. Use this soup to stop the progression of the flu or cold as soon as you feel exposed (within the first 24 hours, before symptoms develop).
   
   To make the soup, follow these simple directions:
   
   8-16 oz of water
   5-6 shavings of ginger (1/4 inch thick)
   1 small crushed/chopped onion
   
   Bring these ingredients to a boil for 3-5 minutes. Mix with brown sugar (or regular sugar) and drink when it is warm or hot. Go to bed early to make sure you get sufficient rest.
   
   As a result, you may find that you will be cold-free!