When the temperature drops and the air turns crisp, many of us start to feel the effects of winter on our bodies—We at Raja Wellness begin to see a rise in patients with exacerbated joint pain, stiffness, and muscle tension; noticing this time of year they struggle to move and enjoy daily activities. Luckily, natural wellness approaches, including acupuncture/TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), offer effective ways to manage these winter woes and keep your body feeling its best! Here’s how acupuncture and complementary therapies can help ease cold-related stiffness and aches.
The Connection Between Cold Weather and Stiffness
Winter often brings a combination of physical and environmental challenges. Colder temperatures can:
- Tighten muscles and joints, reducing flexibility.
- Slow circulation, which leads to increased discomfort and prolonged recovery times.
- Aggravate chronic conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia.
- Restrict outdoor activity, leading to less movement and muscle stiffness.
- Cause general discomfort and limited mobility.
How Acupuncture/TCM Can Help:
- Promotes Circulation: Cold weather can constrict blood vessels, leading to poor circulation and increased stiffness. Acupuncture stimulates blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to muscles and joints, reducing tension and pain.
- Reduces Inflammation: Acupuncture helps calm inflammation, which is often at the root of joint pain and stiffness. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
- Releases Muscle Tension: By targeting trigger points and releasing muscle knots, acupuncture helps relax tight areas and improves flexibility, making it easier to move without discomfort.
- Balances Energy (Qi): In TCM, cold weather can block or stagnate the body’s energy, leading to stiffness and pain. Acupuncture restores the smooth flow of Qi (energy) to promote overall comfort and balance.
- Boosts Endorphins: Acupuncture can trigger the release of natural painkillers like endorphins, reducing discomfort and providing a sense of warmth and relaxation.
Complementary Natural Approaches
In addition to acupuncture, incorporating other natural strategies can enhance your results and keep you comfortable through winter:
1. Massage Therapy
Massage helps loosen tight muscles, improve circulation, and reduce stiffness. Pairing acupuncture with massage can provide immediate relief and longer-lasting results.
2. Heat Therapy
Apply heating pads, warm compresses, or use a hot water bottle to relax stiff muscles and joints. You can also try infrared saunas or warm baths with Epsom salts at home for deep relaxation.
3. Herbal Medicine
Traditional Chinese herbal remedies can help support joint health and circulation. Warming herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric reduce inflammation and improve circulation naturally.
4. Stretching and Movement
Gentle yoga or stretching routines help maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness. Try some warm-up movements before stepping into the cold: jogging in place, jumping jacks, or a few minutes on a stationary bike or elliptical.
5. Diet and Hydration
Nourish your body with warming foods like soups, stews, and teas. I can’t stress this enough—Stay hydrated, as winter air can be very dehydrating and worsen stiffness.
6. Protective Clothing
Wear layers and insulated gloves or socks to keep your joints warm and avoid cold-related flare-ups.
Who Can Benefit?
Acupuncture/TCM strategies are suitable for individuals of all ages and activity levels. It is particularly helpful for:
- Those with arthritis or other chronic pain conditions.
- Athletes recovering from winter sports injuries.
- Those experiencing general stiffness or tension from the cold.
- Anyone seeking a proactive approach to staying comfortable in the winter months.
Don’t let the cold weather hold you back from enjoying the season! Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain or simply want to stay limber and active through the colder months, our approaches offer effective, drug-free solutions to support your health and well-being.
Schedule your acupuncture session today and experience the warmth and relief your body deserves this winter!
Evil Bone Water (EBW) is one of our best sellers in the clinic for many very good reasons!
According to the classical name, Zheng Gu Shui, (Zhèng Gǔ Shuǐ; 正骨水) the formula is called “Mend the Bones Water”, highlighting its use for soothing pain and speeding the healing of fractured and bruised bones. But wait…
There’s more:
- Random bruise? Watch it fade faster and with less pain with a daily spritz or two of EBW; even those frustrating bruises on the hands and arms that plague our elderly patients.
- Nausea in early pregnancy? Many of our mothers-to-be swear by a spritz of EBW on the wrists (ala perfume) to soothe a queasy belly—even in severe cases. (This has also helped patients with post-chemo nausea)
- Speaking of pregnancy—post-partum aches, episiotomy sites, and post-epidural pain have all responded well to EBW—and it’s safe in all stages of pregnancy.
- Chest congestion? Move over store-bought “vapor rubs”! A liberal application of EBW to the chest helps open airways (we love to spritz some on our palms and inhale to clear stubborn nasal passages).
- Speaking of noses—Several patients credit a gentle application of EBW with a cotton swab below each nostril with helping to return their post-COVID sense of smell to normal.
- Ouch! Got a cut? If you don’t mind a brief sting, EBW disinfects and speeds the healing of minor cuts—and actually somewhat numbs the cut after application. This stuff makes paper cuts no big deal!
- Burned yourself on that hot stove? Take the sting out and help it heal with some EBW if you don’t have some of our Shiunko burn cream on hand. Note: If it’s a serious burn see your provider first!
- Arthritis? Apply liberally for best results.
- Muscle aches? EBW isn’t just for the bones; it soothes sore muscles as well.
- Sprain an ankle? Yup, you guessed it—lots of EBW.
- Headaches? Tension headaches fade faster with a spritz of EBW to the back of the neck, and temporal headaches can be soothed with a little rubbed into the temples in many cases.
- Neuropathy? Yes, that too—any kind of body pain is alleviated by EBW.
I have all of these!!! Can I bathe in it?
- Yes, actually—several of our patients and staff who have taken a tumble added 2 TBSP EBW to a warm tub along with Epsom salts and soaked away the soreness. Please note—test EBW on your skin first before jumping into this remedy. For focused pain, it does work best to apply it directly where the pain is.
Is it just for humans?
- It is safe for dogs, horses, and even chickens (but not recommended for our feline friends). I have used it on multiple horse wounds, a tendon strain, a partially detached chick beak (which reattached and healed quickly), as well as to quickly dry up the sebaceous cysts my dog is prone to—so they don’t fester and result in another vet trip to remove them. He much prefers this over soaking in the medicated shampoo the vet prescribed, and it works better and is easier for me! Once again, the highly aromatic herbs in EBW are not suitable for use on cats but you can use it around cats safely.
It sounds great! What’s the downside?
- Do not use it near your favorite white or light-colored fabric—it will most likely stain!
- Do not rub your eyes after applying to (or with) your hands—you will not go blind or damage your eyes, but you will probably cry a bit.
- If using in sensitive areas—use a cotton swab and always test a small area first. If the sensation is too intense, flush with lukewarm water. You can dilute it in water in a separate bottle to reach an acceptable level of sensation when using for episiotomy sites or similar injuries.
- If you have sensitive skin, patch test a small amount with a cotton swab on the arm and wait 24 hours to see how you react.
Ok, so it’s not quite 101 ways, but Evil Bone Water is a wonderfully useful topical to have in your first aid kit. I keep a bottle in every car, at the barn, in my husband's shop (he’s a mechanic) and the patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! Several buy it by the case to share with their friends and family! So on the “List of things I wouldn’t want to be on a deserted island without”, this one is definitely in the top 5!
Evil Bone Water is available for purchase in our clinic, and online here!
Have an Evil Bone Water success story? We’d love to hear about it!
