How Hongkongers can boost their immune systems to beat winter's ills
Tianjiu is a traditional Chinese medicine moxibustion therapy that involves applying mixed herbal paste on selected acupuncture points on designated summer days
People in Hong Kong were on full health alert this summer. First up was the Mers outbreak in South Korea. That was followed by the worrying lead scare in public and private housing estates.
Now, as winter approaches, health care professionals are turning their attention to the dangers posed by the onset of the cooler weather. The debate centres on how best to maintain, or boost, our immune systems.
Every winter Hongkongers are routinely floored by common urban ailments such as flu, asthma and seasonal allergies, to name a few. Some of these problems can be put down to a weak immune system caused, in part, by stress, dietary imbalance and a lack of exercise, all contributing factors of living in the modern world.
When it comes to enhancing the immune system, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe adopting good lifestyle practices is the first step. They say plenty of rest and exercise and avoiding spicy, oily, deep-fried and cold food and drinks will help to nourish and protect our kidneys and spleen. It all sounds like common sense.
But there is an interesting, lesser-known treatment that also helps sustain our body and immune system to help us better prepare for winter.
