Hot or cold sensations of the body can tell us a lot about finding balance in health. Common complaints like cold hands and feet are simple signs of Qi circulation being impeded as it flows out towards the limbs. Exercise like Tai Chi and Qigong styles can mobilize qi to the extremities and even out unusual temperature sensation to promote better circulation. Exposing your neck and shoulders to wind, cold or heat can obstruct the Qi circulation in the surrounding area and lead to headaches, stiff neck and muscles spasms. It’s important to keep your neck and shoulders covered to avoid excessive exposure particularly on hot, cold or windy days.

Take note of any unusual temperature sensations to identify imbalances. Move your hand down your arm from your shoulder to the hand and feel for any temperature changes. Do this also with the legs from hip to foot. If the temperature is even throughout the limb this is a sign of good circulation. If the temperature for example is warm down to the knee and then turns cold from the knee downward there could be a block to Qi circulation at the knee joint. Other regions to check include your back and abdomen – look for spots that feel different temperature-wise. If the cheeks or nose on your face are cooler than the rest of your face this could be a sign that your immune defenses are deficient and you could be susceptible to cold invasion – you could be catching a cold. Forthcoming signs and symptoms could be low energy, body aches and a runny nose. Ginger is a common herb often used to warm the body and ward off this cold invasion.

Understanding imbalances in temperature sensations can give insight on individual health needs to promote optimal health. If you are interest in optimizing your health and want to learn practices in prevention consider making an appointment for an evaluation.

Check out the upcoming Key Point on signs of Unusual Sweating.