Garlic, Ginger and Cinnamon – the 3 must-use herbs for winter health.

 

 

1. Ginger (Sheng Jiang)

 

Ginger is a powerful and pungent herb in Chinese Medicine, renowned for its ability to warm the body.

It’s a fantastic addition to your winter meals, adding a touch of spice to casseroles, soups, and stir-fries.

Ginger is wonderful for easing coughs, and colds (especially those with chills rather than fever) and settling an upset stomach. It’s also great for relieving motion sickness.

Gingers’ pungent and hot properties – enable it to warm the body – assisting with poor circulation and cold hands and feet. It’s the perfect herb to use for people who also feel the cold easily.

You can use fresh ginger to make the perfect winter tea!

Ginger Tea:

– Cut a slice of ginger (approximately 0.5 cm) and add it to 250ml of hot water.

– Allow it to cool slightly, then drink as needed.

 

For chills and a stiff neck accompanying a cold:

– One slice of ginger

– ½ a teaspoon of brown sugar

– One slice of spring onion (Cong Bai in Chinese Medicine)

 

Combine these ingredients and drink while the water is hot. Then, wrap up warmly. The ginger and spring onion will help you sweat, assisting your body in expelling the cold.

 

At Rebalance Chinese Medicine, we offer a delightful Ginger Glow Tea, packed with all these benefits.

Visit us for an appointment or simply drop by to pick up a pack and make your winter cosier and healthier.

 

 2. Cinnamon (Gui Zhi)

 

Cinnamon is another wonderful warming spice that benefits your body’s circulation. It’s perfect for those who often feel chilly, especially in their hands and feet.

Cinnamon’s antibacterial and antifungal properties make it effective against colds and flu (when accompanied by chills, not fever) and fungal infections.

 

For those experiencing painful periods, particularly in winter, cinnamon can be a helpful addition to your diet.

It warms the uterus, promoting blood circulation and easing menstrual pain.

Additionally, cinnamon is beneficial for joint pain, such as the dull, heavy pain associated with osteoarthritis and arthritis.

Sprinkle cinnamon on your morning porridge or incorporate it into your favourite winter recipes. It adds a delicious twist to apple crumble, pies, stewed apples, or even as a warming drink.

 

Cinnamon Drink:

– Break a fresh cinnamon stick into pieces and steep in hot water.

– Add honey to taste.

 

Cold Feet: Foot Bath:

– For cold feet or trouble sleeping, add a cinnamon stick to a tub of warm water before bed.

– This will warm your whole body and relax your muscles, preparing you for a restful night’s sleep.

 

 3. Garlic

Garlic has been celebrated for centuries as a natural antibiotic. It’s effective against fungal and viral infections.

In Chinese Medicine, garlic, onion, and ginger are key ingredients in every dish to maintain a robust immune system.

Use garlic generously in your cooking: soups, casseroles, hamburgers, stir-fries, pasta sauces, and pizza. Roasted garlic cloves also add a wonderful flavour to vegetables.

Garlic can help manage high cholesterol, and hypertension (high blood pressure), and prevent strokes.

For a cold:

– Take a fresh garlic clove, peel it, crush it to release the juice, and add it to a glass of water. Be cautious, as garlic juice is potent and can burn. Drink it for a powerful, though intense, remedy. (This is not for the faint-hearted – but it does the trick!).

Make garlic a staple in your winter cooking to enjoy its many health benefits.

Conclusion

As the colder months settle in, incorporating warming herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and garlic into your diet can provide numerous health benefits, from boosting your immune system to improving circulation and alleviating common winter ailments.

These basic remedies from Chinese Medicine are simple to use and can easily be added to your daily meals.

Whether you’re soothing a cough with ginger tea, relieving joint pain with cinnamon, or protecting yourself from infections with garlic, these herbs offer natural, effective ways to enhance your well-being this winter.

At Rebalance Chinese Medicine, we’re here to support your health journey.

Visit us to explore more ways to stay warm and healthy, or drop by to pick up some of our specially blended teas.

We love the Immunity and Energy tea blended together in Winter! A perfect pick me up for the afternoon!

Stay warm, stay healthy, and enjoy the comforting benefits of these wonderful herbs all winter long.