(Chinese character FENG, meaning wind)
Wind is a funny thing--you can't see it, but you certainly feel it. According to five element theory in Chinese medicine, Spring is the season of wind. While this may sound esoteric, every spring I am reminded of this as I see patients with wind pathologies.
One of the most profound examples is bell's palsy. With this ailment, wind has entered the channels of the face, and is causing the temporary paralysis. After a bit of probing, I can usually isolate a single event where the patient was bombarded by wind. To name a few, I've heard of camping in a windstorm and sticking one's head out the window of a moving car. After this 'wind event' there is facial tingling, numbness, and eventually paralysis. The good news is that acupuncture treats this very well. With my most recent bell's palsy patient, we've had three session so far, and the paralysis is mostly gone.
Wind is an inevitable part of spring. So please do yourself a favor--protect yourself from wind. Wear a scarf if it's windy outside!
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