In last month's blog I had the chart below explaining about the Yin and Yang of ailments, its handy to look at it as it helps with self-diagnosis and whether to apply hot or cold to a pain. This month I thought I would take it a step further and explain why you should watch out for cold spots, and how you can relieve them with shiatsu.
This is a handy chart to help you self assess some of your own everyday symptoms; this is what it's saying:
If something hurts to touch it’s a temporary , external issue, it's excess which means swollen, inflamed and you can put something cold on it to help the pain go away (or take anti-inflammatories) - It’s a HOT symptom and it can be dealt with pretty well with over the counter remedies as western medicine is very good at relieving heat symptoms. You can also help relieve heat symptoms with many natural medicines include essential oils like peppermint, lavender, german chamomile and wintergreen.
What is more complex is long term chronic or insidious symptoms that you've tried to relieve with all your traditional methods and nothing has worked, this is because they are more likely to be cold symptoms, or cold spots!
Watch out for cold spots
It doesn’t matter if you’re a person that generally feels too hot, or too cold, everyone still gets COLD SPOTS. These are localised issues that cause you pain and you think well I haven’t bashed it so I’m not sure why it’s hurting... its normally in places like:
Shoulder
Neck
Lower back
Stomach
Intestines
Knees
Ankles
Wrists
Cold spots can happen at any time of the year, in winter it maybe more obvious, like getting a knee pain after walking the dog if you've only been wearing leggins. In the summer if you sit with your back in the shade and a draft on a warm hot day you can still catch a chill in your shoulder, neck, back or even you intestines.
Why do you get a cold spot?
Most of these body parts are bony ones, like neck wrists and ankles, these now need to start being covered up again if you’re susceptible to getting pain in these places regularly. Massage helps, so does Shiatsu , Qi Gong and Yoga; anything that helps your energy (Ki) flow!
The lower back I talk more about in this blog and quick fixes for you to keeping you warm, intended mainly for winter but they can be used at anytime of the year can be found here. One of the best things you can do for your lower back and keeping warm is invest in a Haramaki, known as a kidney or belly warmer in Japan; you wear it discretely below your clothes and I wouldn't be without it in the colder months, especially if you're sat at the PC a lot!
Have a think about an ache you have that niggles you, does that spot like you applying pressure? Does the warmth of your hand make it feel better? If so, this is a cold spot that will be susceptible to the change in weather and is a point of ‘weakness’ that needs some TLC! If you're struggling to overcome this issue then I help people via online sessions to self massage these spots and offer an action plan to resolve these symptoms, just book a chat with me!
How to help relieve your cold spots
Cold symptoms and spots like to have pressure applied and warmth. When you apply pressure gently and you go ‘ahhhh’ then you're helping a cold spot. Cold symptoms are known as depletion, they also like gentle warmth. Note the word gentle, if you apply to much heat this disperses the energy locally and can make your condition worse; I've learnt from experience. One of the best gadgets to have to hand is a floppy heat mat, just about everyone of my clients has one, you can wrap it around a knee, elbow or neck, place it under your feet, over your belly, sleep with it or watch the tele, they are so versatile so keep one to hand!
Every winter I write a blog on how to keep yourself from getting cold, but for some people they are like this all year round so check out this blog for my top tips for keeping warm whatever the weather. If you experience cold flushes this is a symptom of perimenopause or your body has a lot of physical stress then you may find this blog useful.
Read more on how chinese medicine helps relieve cold symptoms
My blogs in the early days were really short, so if you'd like to read more indepth articles on how to help yourself resolve issues based on whether your symptoms are cold and chronic or hot and acute here are some further blogs:
Read more indepth blogs on how to deal with your symptoms based on whether they are hot or cold:
Do you need need resolving health issues naturally using the principles of chinese medicine?
Contact Andrea at Shiatsu Bodyworks for a Health & Vitality call, you can then book an online session, or in the room if you're in Gloucestershire. Use the principles of yin and yang from chinese medicine for health to help you alleviate your aches, ailments and issues. Check out the shiatsu treatment options here
About Andrea at Shiatsu Bodyworks Cheltenham
Andrea is a qualified Zen shiatsu and chinese medicine practitioner with over 20 years immersed in holistic therapies and the energetics of mind and body. Based in Cheltenham, UK she offers in house clinic and online shiatsu sessions to help people with midlife health issues see all treatment options here and also offers online consultations as she is a menopause specialist too.
Shiatsu Bodyworks: Gentle body work to make your body work better!
