Warming up to winter

The Chinese believes in striking a balance between yin and yang. In the chills of winter, you need to take care of the yang aspect of your body. Ye Jun shares some pointers.

As the coldest winter in the last 28 years pushes the mercury to dip to a low of -15 C in Beijing, traditional Chinese medicine doctors share some tips to keep warm and fit to cope with the chilly days. "Winter is a time to take good care of the yang aspect of the body," says Wang Yuntao, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor with Beijing Dongwen Clinic. According to TCM theory, the balance of yin (cool, calming side of the body) and yang (hot, stimulating side of the body) energy in the body plays a vital role to ensure good health. Once the balance is impaired by factors such as emotions, improper diet and overwork, the body will fall sick.

The function of yang can be compared to a cup of hot water: Inside a warm environment, it stays warm longer; but inside a cold environment, it turns cold faster. The yang factor is the ability to keep warm, Wang explains.