Farmers are aware of what is in their soil. They know that soil with a pH level that is either too low or too high could produce smaller-than-usual plants, those with yellow leaves or those that do not fruit at all. For a farmer, the right balance of pH, water, sunlight and nutrients gives a positive end result—better produce. If a farmer does not achieve his desired end result, he will change the environment of the soil by adjusting the factors noted above for the next crop cycle.

The same principle can be applied to your health. Most colds and flu are associated with a cold essence. A common approach is to suppress cold symptoms with medication. But even though the symptoms may be gone and you start feeling better, the virus is still there—it’s hiding in your body. The virus will wait for the right opportunity—and the right environment—to express itself.

Traditional Chinese medicine’s approach to wellness is based on harmony and balance. It focuses on changing the body’s internal environment to achieve a better end result—wellness. This approach allows the body to push the cold essence out naturally. It’s based on the principle that when your internal environment is strong, a virus cannot attack.

One way to do this is through the use of certain foods. Ginger and turmeric have a warming essence that allow the body to perspire. When this happens, the body pushes the virus out through the skin, the body’s largest organ, and exercises the immune system.

Read more: Kitchen Pharmacy: Ginger and Kitchen Pharmacy: Turmeric.