Cold Weather Joint Pain Remedies

Blame it on Jack Frost.

Winter weather (cold temperatures, wind, dampness, and barometric pressure) has a significant impact on how your joints feel and function.

Unfortunately, cold weather in the winter months tends to increase joint and arthritis pain (especially in the knees and back). The good news is that there are several cold-weather joint pain remedies to warm up stiff and frosty joints.

Read on to learn how to use Chinese herbs, acupressure and a delicious recipe to ward off winter joint pain from within!

Acupuncture for Cold Weather Joint Pain: 3 Points for Warming Pain Relief

Stiff muscles, creaking bones and aching joints are common winter woes for those suffering from arthritis and joint pain. Why is winter so hard on joints? One reason is that cold temperatures slow down circulation and lead to painful qi and blood stagnation.

With the help of acupuncture or acupressure, you can reinvigorate the flow of qi and blood through your joints to relieve joint pain. Here are 3 acupressure points to try this winter for natural joint pain management:

Stomach 36

Stomach 36 is one of the most commonly used acupuncture points because of the powerful effect it has on both the local area and the body at large. Located below the knee, it stimulates circulation through the entire joint while also encouraging healthy qi and blood flow from head to toe. Stomach 36 also reduces inflammation, boosts energy and improves immunity.

Stomach 36 is located on the lower leg, one hand-breadth below the knee cap and one finger-breadth to the outside of the crest of the tibia. This point may feel tender. Press for 10-20 seconds. Release and repeat on both sides for 3-5 minutes.

Kidney 3 and Urinary Bladder 60

If you suffer from joint pain in the back, or general back pain, this combo is an easy way to get relief. Kidney 3 and Urinary Bladder 60 both alleviate back pain, encourage circulation through the back and promote back health.

Kidney 3 is located on the inner ankle, midway between the highest point of the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon. Urinary Bladder 60 is located in the same place but on the outer ankle. Grasp each side of the Achilles tendon to activate both points at once. Hold for 20 seconds, then release and repeat 3-5 times. Repeat on the other ankle.

Follow-Up Care

For best results, practice these acupressure points daily and follow up by applying Plum Dragon Ancestors Advanced Dit Da Jow or our Topical Pain Relief formula to the affected joints.

Herbal Chinese Chicken Soup for Winter Wellness

Chicken soup is one of the oldest healing remedies in the book – and for good reason! A slow-cooked herbal chicken soup nourishes the body’s yang and qi, fights off the cold and restores our immunity.

Chinese herbal chicken soup can also help ward off cold joint pain, especially with the addition of warming cinnamon and pain-fighting turmeric.

For this recipe, we adapted Yvonne Oh’s healing Chicken Soup (from Souper Diaries: Chinese and Asian Food Recipes) with a few extra ingredients to focus the healing effects on winter wellness and joint pain relief.

Ingredients

• 1 Chinese Herbs for Chicken Soup Pack
• 500 g chicken (on the bone)
• 8-10 cups water
• 2 Teaspoons ground turmeric (or 3 grams jiang huang )
• 2 Teaspoons ground cinnamon (or 3 grams rou gui )
• 2 Tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons scallions, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: Any vegetables you like, chopped (such as celery, onion, or carrot)

Directions

Blanch the chicken pieces in a non-metallic pot of boiling water for a few minutes (until you see scum float to the surface). Remove from heat and set aside.

Rinse the dried herbs from the herbal pack (as well as jiang huang and rou gui if using), place them in a large pot with 8-10 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add blanched chicken and vegetables (if adding) to the pot.

Reduce the heat to low, add ground turmeric and cinnamon (if using) and simmer for 1.5 – 2 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add chopped herbs and serve

Tip: Double this soup to make a large batch and store the extra in single portions in the freezer. Enjoy as a quick healing lunch or snack on particularly cold winter days or when your joint pain acts up.

Find more herbal remedies