In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), winter is considered at its peak when the cold is at its strongest—a point when the sharp drop in temperature can weaken the body’s immune defenses, making it harder to fight off viruses.
External elements that make can you sick are called pathogenic qi, and among these, is cold. Exposure to cold can be detrimental to health, as it is believed to deplete yang qi—a vital, warming energy. When warming energy is weakened by low temperatures, the body becomes more prone to illness.
