Frigophobia

Society and culture

A case study of a 45-year-old Singaporean housewife with frigophobia concluded that frigophobia is closely related to, and influenced by, cultural beliefs. Generally speaking, in therapy, treatments would consist of using low dose of anxiolytics and antidepressants, and psychological interventions. But usually when Asian women are notified of the illness, they would adopt various measures to recover. These include withdrawal from workforce, avoid exposure to cold air and wind, and dietary precautions. It would be important to consider the patient's cultural beliefs about the "illness" in comparison to the therapist's belief of the illness, and then find a negotiable approach for the treatment.

China

In China, frigophobia is known as weihanzheng (畏寒症, lit. "coldness-fearing syndrome"). From the standpoint of traditional Chinese beliefs, the disorder is highly influenced by an imbalance of yin (the female element) and yang (the male element). Chinese traditional beliefs also states that working women are particularly susceptible to frigophobia, triggered by a combination of stress, menopause, pregnancy and other disorders such as anemia. During winter, these women are likely to experience coldness in extremities and back pains caused by the disorder.

It is believed that the disorder can be treated using a combination of diet in order to correct an imbalance in the sufferer's yin and yang. Dietary treatments include:

• Chicken soup
• Turnip juice mixed with ginger juice and honey, three times a day
• Red tea with ginger juice and sugar, two times a day
• Foods containing yeast (e.g. bread)
• Spices (e.g. ginger, chili pepper)
• Vinegar diluted in water

It is also believed that the dietary treatment will be more effective if taken in conjunction with an acupuncture routine.