Below are a few useful Chinese medicine tips for staying healthy during the cold winter season:

• Using Moxibustion (Mugwort) at specific Acupuncture points on the body can increase your white blood cell count and improve your immunity.

• Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also shares anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-viral properties. Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is used in many Chinese medicine herbal formulas as well as in Ayurvedic medicine to treat pain, help with weight management, ease the effects of chemo-radiation, as well as lower the chances of getting Alzheimer's. 

• Feel a cold coming on? Try supplementing with extra Vitamin C, zinc, and grapefruit seed extract to boost your immune system and fight off infection.

• Starting to get the chills and fever? Try this Chinese herbal tea: One half-inch piece of sliced ginger and one quarter cup of chopped scallions steeped in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Drink up and wrap up while your body sweats out any oncoming infection.

• Acupuncture when combined with physical therapy and other rehab modalities following an injury and/or surgery can dramatically decrease recovery time.

• A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that Acupuncture outperformed standard care in treating osteoarthritis, migraines, and chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain.