Oriental Martial & Healing Arts

Head Instructor: Nick Nanos - 4th Dan
B.S., M.A., L.M.T., Dipl.Ac., L.Ac.

Oriental Medicine, In Good Hands, In Good Health
With Nick Nanos

Welcome to the first edition of what I hope will be a regular feature in the I Lig Chuan Newsletter. I hope to introduce a variety of health articles, health remedies, philosophical discussions and articles regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  I hope to motivate you the readers to provide questions about general or specific health issues, as well as to develop a forum for ongoing reader contributions. I invite your questions, your comments and your contributions.

Did you know that this is the Wind Cold season? You are probably wondering if what I meant was ‘the cold season’. TCM like I Liq Chuan teaches awareness of Energy and its effect on matter. Oriental Medical Practitioners (1) (OMP) believe the common cold is caused by the Invasion of an Evil (causing illness) Qi (life force or energy) into a body that has been weakened, and, subsequently, has had its Wei Qi (immune function) compromised. The Evil Qi is Cold. The vehicle delivering the Cold is Wind. The potent combination of Wind Cold can overwhelm a body with a deficient Wei Qi. The resulting symptomology includes muscle stiffness and soreness, chills, slight loss of appetite, sore throat, sneezing, cold ears, nose, fingers and toes, clear and very runny watery mucus, nasal and sinus congestion, post nasal drip, possible ear congestion (fluid build up), earache, aversion to wind and cold, possible headache and possible watery mucus of the eyes. The OMP will look for additional signs such as a floating or superficial pulse especially at the lung position and a white tongue coat. There may be sensitivity at a number of diagnostic points on the body as well. Other related Wind Cold pathologies include some allergies and some types of asthma.

The Invasion of Wind Cold should be viewed with more concern. The OMP recognizes that this invasion can develop to an internal Heat, which may manifest as serious respiratory illnesses such as influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, and walking pneumonia.

Below are a number of Wind Cold remedies that I have gathered from a variety of sources. Read and stay, In good health, Nick Nanos.

Wind Cold Remedies

Avoid: sugars and sweets (because sugar nourishes bacteria and viruses), ‘heavy’ meals with rich foods (fats and excessive animal proteins) or any difficult to digest foods, or big meals.

Have: plenty of water, green tea with honey (unless there are loose stools), spicy foods like hot and sour soup to open nasal and sinus passages; chicken soup, garlic (for their immune-stimulating properties, and detoxifying properties).

Vitamins:  Vitamin C: increase to your maximum dosage, up to 6000 to 8000 milligrams per day, best spread out during the day; vitamin B complex; vitamin A.

Avoid: Wind and cold as well as damp especially around the posterior neck; stay warm, use a hat and scarf outside.

Zinc gluconate: at least two lozenges daily to enhance your immunity.

Echinacea: taken at the first sign of symptoms to help reduce a cold's intensity and duration.

Rest, so your immune system can work.

Wash your hands frequently. Cold viruses often survive for hours on doorknobs, money, and other surfaces.

Gargle frequently: use a stronger salt water solution (1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt-any kind will do- to 1 cup of warm water; alternate with a strong over the counter gargle like Listerine.

Salt Water nasal rinses: Beginners use ½ teaspoon of salt to one cup warm water, inhaled one nostril at a time from the palm of the hand or from a netty pot; experienced patients will benefit from a sinus rinse using a dilute salt water (1/8 tsp salt to one cup warm water) solution especially to begin with, lying supine tilting the chin upwards and delivering the solution into each nostril.

Warm/hot epsom salts baths for body aches and also to deliver steam for inhalation.

Refrain from smoking.

Honey with fresh lemon juice for sore throats.

Perform the yogic pose known as the Lion’s Pose.

(1) Oriental Medical Practitioners may include a variety of health care providers. This group includes acupuncturists, Oriental body workers and massage therapists, Oriental Herbologists, and Qi Gong for Health practitioners among others.

Mr. Nanos is a Licensed Massage Therapist, a Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate of Acupuncture. Before embarking on this career in Oriental Healing, Mr. Nanos taught public school Biology/Science for 25 years. His avocation is the Martial Arts having studied and taught the Martial Arts as a sport, as self defense and as an art form for more than 45 years. The highest level of attainment in Martial Arts is not hurting and harming, but rather, helping and healing. Traditionally, the Martial Art Master was the Healer and Spiritual Leader of his community.

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