Help for Old Injuries

As the seasons shift from warm to cold, many people notice their old injuries return, or background annoyances start to become nagging issues.

This isn’t just your imagination. In fact, it’s a well-known phenomenon in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to TCM, cold weather can “awaken” old injuries by slowing down the flow of blood and qi in your channels. This leads to stagnation, stiffness, and eventually pain.

There’s also the issue of cold itself. In TCM, cold can enter the body (especially after an injury), lodging itself in the joints and soft tissues. Over time, these become weak points that get triggered when the temperature drops or in damp weather. That’s why fall and winter are peak times when old injuries flare up.

So, how can you keep cold and stagnation at bay so your old injuries can finally heal?

1. Warm up your joints before movement.

Never stretch or train on cold muscles. Spend at least 5 to 10 minutes doing gentle mobility work and targeted stretching to stimulate circulation and warm up your muscles and tendons before jumping into a workout.

2. Cover up your neck, low back, and knees.

These are major channels or vulnerable points where cold tends to enter and linger. Protect these areas by wearing layers, covering your neck with a scarf, and getting warm and dry after a workout.

3. Soak it out with a warming herbal bath.

A soak with blood-moving, warming herbs (as in our Warming Foot Soak or Ho Family Herb Pack ) can penetrate deep into the channels and “dispel” the cold. Try soaking the painful area after training or on rest days.

4. Apply a warming liniment before and after activity.

Old injuries often benefit from regular application of warming, blood-moving herbal formulas like Ancestors Advanced Dit Da Jow. This blend was designed to target chronic stagnation, support tissue repair, and promote deep healing for old injuries – especially when they flare up in colder months.

Warming herbs are powerful – not only do they improve circulation, but they can also quickly ease pain, reduce stagnation, and dispel the cold and dampness that linger in chronic injuries. Let’s get to know three key herbs that warm up our Ancestors Advanced Dit Da Jow and make it the go-to liniment for tackling chronic injuries.

• Frankincense (Ru Xiang)

Frankincense is a resin that’s known for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. In TCM, frankincense is especially helpful for injuries that feel cold and stiff.

• Turmeric (Jiang Huang)

Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb used in both cooking and medicine. In TCM, it is mostly used to address pain and stagnation by moving blood and energy through the channels.

• Angelica (Dang Gui, Pian)

Dong quai nourishes the blood while also helping it move gently. It supports the recovery (and ongoing health) of tendons, ligaments, and muscle tissue.

Get the benefits of these three herbs and more with our Ancestors Advanced liniment – a formula specially designed to address long-standing pain, cold stagnation, and nagging old injuries that just won’t resolve.