Category Archives: Seasons & Universal Cycles

Seasons & Universal Cycles, Self Care

Autumn Alchemy: Embrace the Season’s Wisdom for Immune Health and Inner Peace

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As the leaves turn golden and the air carries a crispness unique to autumn, it’s a signal for us too, to slow down and shift our focus inward, both metaphorically and physically.

Autumn is a season of transition, a time when nature slows down and prepares for the quietude of winter. It invites us to mirror this natural cycle and embrace practices that nurture self-care and boost our immune health. It encourages us to align with the natural rhythm of letting go, conserving energy, and nurturing inner wisdom.

The gentle energy of autumn reminds us this is the time to prepare both our mind and body to weather the challenges of the dark winter months ahead. Autumn is the perfect time to adopt specific holistic practices that resonate with the season’s energy of release, conservation, and introspection.

Align with Autumn Energy for Optimal Wellness

Here are some holistic health practices to consider incorporating into your autumn wellness routine. By integrating these practices into your day, you will enhance your well-being and align with the natural cycle of the season.

Embrace the Art of Letting Go

The turning colour of the leaves is a beautiful reminder of change and re-growth and the cycles of nature. Just as trees shed their leaves, autumn is the perfect time to release what you no longer need, be it stress, clutter, or negative habits. This can be a therapeutic process, making room for new growth and positive energy.

Slow Down with Gentle Exercise and Ample Rest

Exercise remains important during autumn but keeping it gentle can boost the immune system without depleting energy.

Incorporate gentle, grounding movement into your routine. Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong can balance your energy and support your immune system. These practices encourage deep breathing, which calms the mind and is vital for maintaining healthy respiratory functions. Focus on poses that encourage deep breathing and relaxation.

As the days grow shorter, allow yourself more time to rest and sleep. Aim for seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night to rejuvenate your body and strengthen your immune system. Aligning with the rhythm of the season can be incredibly restorative.

Nourish With Seasonal Foods

Eating seasonally not only supports local agriculture but also provides your body with the nutrients it needs during this time. Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkins are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that’s essential for good health.

Savour the flavours of autumn. Embrace the harvest of the season by incorporating foods like apples, pumpkins, squash, pomegranates and hearty greens into your diet. These foods are not only in sync with the season but also packed with vitamins and antioxidants that support immune health.

Warm your soul with soups and stews. There’s nothing quite like a bowl of warm soup or stew to comfort you on a chilly autumn day. Choose seasonal vegetables and spices like turmeric, black ginger, ginger or cinnamon, that not only taste delicious but also offer immune-boosting benefits.

Some foods such as pears, apples, beans, eggs, flaxseed, leeks, mushrooms and root vegetables ‘moisturise’ us from within. These foods help combat the dryness that affects our throat, skin and can lead to constipation.

Tap into Inner Wisdom with Meditation

Autumn is an ideal time for reflection and the contemplative nature of the season invites us to seek inner awareness. As our pastimes grow gentler and more leisurely, we can begin to turn our attention within to our own thoughts and dreams. It allows us to gain clarity before setting plans and goals we want to initiate when the arrival of Spring heralds a new beginning.

Meditation can help you tap into your inner wisdom and find direction, clarity and peace. It’s a practice that can enhance mental resilience and emotional well-being.  There are many different kinds of meditation and dedicating just a few minutes each day to the practice can help reduce stress, improve focus, and maintain a sense of inner peace.

Create calm and reduce stress and anxiety with a mindful walk amongst the autumn foliage. Use the beautiful autumn scenery as a backdrop for mindful walks. Pay attention to the crunch of leaves underfoot, the earthy smell of the air and the array of colors around you to ground yourself in the present moment.

Support Autumn Immunity with Natural Remedies

Protecting the immune system is paramount as we head into cough, cold and flu season. High doses of vitamin C, combined with zinc and vitamins D3 and K2 can offer an extra layer of defense as winter approaches.

Consider incorporating herbs like Astragalus and Reishi mushrooms which are known for their immune-boosting properties. garlic is another herb traditionally used to boost the immune system. Take raw garlic at the first sign of a cold for immediate benefits. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.

With the drop in humidity, staying hydrated is crucial. What better way to do it than with water and herbal teas?   A hot water concoction with lemon, ginger and manuka honey, serves as an antibacterial flush to soothe the throat and support the body’s natural defenses.

Autumn Self Care Rituals

Autumn invites us to become more introspective and allow for inner reflection, awareness, and planning. This season encourages us to find peace within ourselves and to let go of personal dramas that do not serve our well-being.

Take your self-care cues from nature.  As the trees shed their leaves or drop their seeds and gumnuts, they begin the process of drawing in their life force to conserve their energy. Having extracted all the nutrients from summer-nourished leaves they shed what no longer supports and serves them and turn inward to focus on their centre or heart. With this process they strengthen their reserves and ready themselves for the winter ahead. Strengthen your reserves in mind, body and soul by also turning within.

As autumn settles in it is time to put your self-care practices firmly in place. This is the time to treat yourself with compassion and kindness. Remind yourself autumn is a season of gentleness and wrap yourself in TLC.

Cultivate observation and awareness without engaging.

Autumn encourages us to find peace within ourselves and to let go of personal dramas that do not serve our well-being.

Cultivate a habit of gratitude and reflect daily on what you’re thankful for. Keep a Gratitude Journal where you write down what you’re grateful for at the end of the day. This positive practice can have a profound impact on your overall well-being.

If you’re someone who is always there for other people, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others. You can’t be there for others unless you care for your own needs first.

Make time for yourself. Set aside time to unwind with a good book. This can be a wonderful way to relax and escape into another world, reducing stress and supporting mental health.

Practise deep breathing exercises to improve respiratory health and reduce anxiety. Breathing properly is especially beneficial as we prepare for the winter months ahead.

Make time during this season to reflect on your achievements and areas for personal growth. Setting intentions for the coming months can be a powerful exercise.

Connect with Nature

The gentle golden light and softness in the air invite us to get outside and connect with the natural world. If you have a garden, this is a great time to prepare it for the next season. Engaging with the earth is an excellent way of grounding.

As the trees release their gifts collect fallen leaves, acorns, and pinecones to create nature crafts. This can be a fun and therapeutic way to connect with the natural world.

Autumn Alchemy

The greater cycles of the Universe continually turn and when we turn in harmony with them, we become more balanced. Aligning yourself with the cyclical rhythms of nature allows you to tune into Universal energy to live holistically in a state of harmonious balance.

When you engage with the turning of the seasons and honour your needs on all levels you honour yourself.  Honouring the needs of your body strengthens your immune system which responds by staying healthier. Honouring the needs of your mind creates more focus and clarity. Honouring the needs of your heart creates peace and happiness. And when you honour the needs of your soul it responds with deep insight and vision.

Autumn is a beautiful reminder of the cycles of life, of the importance of letting go like the falling leaves, and of embracing the peace that comes with simplicity and self-care. By following these wellness tips, we can ensure a healthier, more balanced transition into winter.

Remember, taking care of yourself is not just a seasonal practice, but a way to maintain health and happiness year-round.

Disclaimer

The Information contained in https://happyholistichealth.com is for your general health information. It is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes. The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

This post first appeared at https://womangetwise.com/

Seasons & Universal Cycles, Self Care

Stay Well Through Autumn With Natural Remedies

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Autumn Stay Well For Winter

As the gentle energy of Autumn settles around us, wrapping us in her hazy sunny days and crisp evenings it is time to prepare for the turning inward that naturally occurs as we approach winter.  Autumn is a time of benevolence, when the activity of summer has slowed, when pastimes become gentler and more leisurely, when we turn our attention within to our own thoughts and dreams.

As the energies of Autumn contract and gather inwards, they cause us to also slow down in readiness for the stillness of the coming winter. The contemplative nature of the season allows time for inner reflection and awareness, providing a space to find clarity before setting plans and goals to initiate in the Spring.

In readiness for increased awareness and understanding, Autumn is a time to embrace peace and avoid engaging in personal dramas. This is the time to practice distancing yourself, to step back from conflict, judgement and other triggers in your life. It is the time to take a deep breath and count to ten before responding to potential conflicts.

Autumn Health

April is a time of transition for our whole body. As the evening air takes on a bite after the gentle warmth of the afternoon sun our bodies become more susceptible to health problems. Illnesses that have gone underground over the summer will re-appear and new coughs, colds and other infections appear.

If you don’t use this time to build your health and charge up your immune system, you may find yourself more susceptible to winter illness and less capable of throwing off any illness you develop by June.

Change Your Habits

By adjusting your lifestyle to align with the seasonal energies you can strengthen your whole system.

There are a number of changes you can make which all contribute to building your health.

Most people naturally change their foods when the weather cools and Summer salads make way for heavier meat and root vegetable stews and soups. But also adapting your life practices including exercise, meditation and sleep offers huge support through the colder months.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

Sleep autumn pexels

One of the most important lifestyle changes to make for Autumn and Winter health is to recognise that your body needs much more sleep as it turns inward. Getting seven hours sleep every night is one of the best ways to protect yourself against winter illness. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t recover from a work-induced sleep deprived week by sleeping in on the weekend so it’s important to develop routines that make sufficient sleep every night a regular part of your daily health practice.

If you can’t get to sleep or stay asleep, speak to your natural health practitioner now, before Winter, for advice and treatment to help you break this pattern.

Push yourself to rest whenever you need it and take it easy. Develop great bedtime routines to maintain wellness and keep ‘office illness’ away.

These Seven Surefire Ways To Get a Good Night’s Sleep will get you started.

Self Care

As Autumn settles in it is time to treat yourself with compassion. Be conscious this is the season to be gentle, and wrap yourself with TLC. If you are someone who is constantly there for everyone else, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others.

It is only by first caring for your own needs that you can adequately care for those around you.

self care sleep

Modify Your Exercise

Exercise is a great way to boost immune health.

It increases oxygen levels in the blood. A recent study has shown that there is no place on earth that does not have some level of air pollution.  In major cities the level of oxygen in the air is significantly below normal. When you consider that most people also breathe poorly, and that many chronic diseases including cancer are associated with low oxygen levels, the importance of boosting oxygen intake becomes obvious.

Exercise makes you feel more alert, boosts your levels of endorphins to make you feel positive, as well as improving oxygen levels in every cell of your body. But during Autumn it is vital to tone down your exercise program to prevent your energy becoming depleted, as that adversely affects your immune system.

Yoga, t’ai chi or Qi Gong are very balancing and present the perfect exercise option for autumn. Deep breathing exercises and yoga stretching both serve your immune system as well as your respiratory organs through the Winter. Brisk walking and bike riding are other great ways to exercise in Autumn.

Avoid heavy aerobic exercise outdoors in the cooler autumn months, as it may reduce vital energy and weaken your system.

autumn-colors

Susceptible Organs During Autumn

The lung and the colon are both organs of elimination and relate to your ability to “let go” on all levels. According to the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine if your immunity is weak these are the organs that will be affected during Autumn, with respiratory problems including coughs, breathing difficulties and sinus problems, or gut issues like constipation and/or diarrhoea.

These are the organs that are affected when you hold on to grief and sadness. If you are holding unresolved grief or sadenss they eventually affect the health and function of your lungs or large intestine, sending you the message that it is “time to let go”.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatments suggested on this site.

Seasons & Universal Cycles, Stress & Overwhelm

Best Tips For Spring Wellness

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Spring has blossomed in all her exuberance, bringing the reminder of youth, and the promise of new beginnings. Spring is the time of transformation and growth; the time to renew your energy and change your life. These top tips for Spring wellness will launch your momentum to rise to your fullest Summer potential.

As the days warm and lengthen in Spring you start to feel lighter, in body, emotions, mind and spirit.

These unexpected practices will help you feel your best and at the peak of Spring wellness.

 

best tips spring wellness

 

 

Top Spring Wellness Tips…

 

 

To Awaken

 

Get outside. Play, socialise and have fun, just as a child would.

The sun is up earlier and staying around later. Join him and get outside to watch the dawn. Even if you wake grumpy give yourself the opportunity to get out, feel the earth under your feet and soak in all the rebalancing benefits of grounding as you connect with the Earth.

 

 

Spring Movement

 

Instead of letting restlessness irritate you in spring use it to kick-start your exercise program.

Spring is a great time to overhaul – or begin – your exercise routine. Walk, join a dance class, try yoga, qi gong or tai chi, even join a hiking group or cricket team.

Honour your body by not overdoing it, and remember to keep hydrated or you’ll become fatigued very quickly.

 

 

Spring Foods

 

As we move out of winter’s chill we need to change our diet. The heavy, salty foods of winter put a big strain on your liver, which is sensitive during spring. Your liver is the main detoxifier in your body so it needs some TLC during spring. Cut back on alcohol, fats, oil and particularly junk food.

Sour foods like vinegar, lemons, limes and grapefruit stimulate your liver. An excellent spring wellness practice is drinking lemon or lime water in the morning.

Bitter foods cleanse the liver and are essential to good health. Some bitter foods are dandelion greens, radicchio, rapini, endive, kale, rocket, rye, chamomile, unsweetened cocoa, daikon, and even nettles. A salad of mixed leaves can easily include many bitter herbs.

Replace heavy winter foods with light, quickly-cooked ingredients.

 

 

Friend’s Support

 

With the warmer weather and longer days, Spring is a great time to reconnect with your support network.

Having friends who have your back when the going gets rough, and who really listen to you, is essential for wellness. Having someone you really trust who will hold the space for you to download, discuss, or even rant if you need, helps you stay on top of stress and overwhelm as life gets busier.

 

 

Better Sleep

 

Most people don’t get enough sleep. Many have passed the point where they can recognise that they need sleep.

You need between seven and eight hours sleep every night. Binge sleeping on the weekend doesn’t compensate for lost sleep during the week, or the other way around.

If worry is keeping you awake introduce some strategies to reduce the stress.

If your bedroom does not support good sleep use this guide to make changes

Most importantly, don’t sleep with your cell phone anywhere near you, and stop using at least thirty minutes before bedtime.

 

Reduce Stress

 

Spring is the perfect time to set the resolve to manage your stress more effectively.

 

Continue reading….

 

Work With Me…

 

Would you love to develop deep Self-Care practices to keep you grounded and energised, and your heart singing?

Join me on the Indochine Queen Women’s Retreat in Vietnam in March 2019.

For all details and  bookings

spring wellness self care womens retreat

 

Disclaimer

 

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Natural Health, Seasons & Universal Cycles

Natural Remedies For Winter Health

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natural remedies for winter health

When your mood matches the sky it’s tempting to dive under the doona and tune out from the world.  Winter is naturally a time to close down and go within so we need to be mindful of honouring our needs during this time.  We need to sleep more, eat nourishing foods and tone down the active life we enjoyed over summer, for our inner health.  We also need to support our immune system because it can take a beating during the winter months.  It’s important to know how to keep your immune system strong and balanced if you want to avoid winter infections and stay healthy.  These natural remedies for winter health provide a simple foundation for wellness.

The chill of Winter brings with it a swag of seasonal diseases which range from chilblains and cold sores through many respiratory illnesses.  The common cold is the most prevalent contagious disease in Australia and the most common reason for people to stay home from work or school.  Coughs, colds and sometimes flu are a common part of most household’s winter experience.  Colds are very easily spread from person to person affecting over half of the population in winter

Natural Immune Support

Your immune system protects your body and is your greatest health asset.  But with greater demands and stress placed on it over winter it can suffer. In order to get through winter without any sickness it pays to build your immunity naturally.  Vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are three of the best nutrients for this. When you add probiotics you have a powerful combination.

Zinc and vitamin C are essential for the healthy function of white blood cells which fight infection.  Vitamin D contributes to a multitude of body functions including fighting infection.  Probiotics support the immune function of the gut.

Vitamin D

As we huddle indoors over Winter and spend less time in the sun, our vitamin D levels can easily fall below our needs. Vitamin D is essential for immune health. When these levels don’t meet the increased demands of our immune system we’re left open to coughs, colds and flu.

Low vitamin D can also lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder or ‘SAD’ which causes seasonal depression and low mood.

Vitamin D is difficult to source from food. While you’ll find some in sardines, salmon, mackerel, cod, and eggs most is produced by your body from exposure to sunlight.

Zinc

Is your diet lacking in zinc?  Zinc is essential for a number of life-sustaining functions, including strong immunity to help prevent coughs, colds and flu.  This important mineral triggers approximately 160 different reactions within the body including immunity.  Unfortunately about 83% of Australian women are deficient in zinc.

Continue reading…

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Seasons & Universal Cycles, Self Care, Stress & Overwhelm

5 Great Self-Care Practices For Autumn

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As Autumn settles in it’s time to treat yourself with compassion.  Be conscious this is the season to be gentle, and wrap yourself with TLC.  If you are someone who is constantly there for everyone else, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others.  It is only by first caring for your own needs that you can adequately care for those around you.

Although we know that self care is so important it can be difficult to know how to start.  Self care begins with self love.  Self love has nothing to do with being selfish.  Rather, it’s about attending to your needs not about putting yourself before others.  It is a vital step on the pathway to Soul Empowered Wellness.

how to practice self care

If you wish to grow in consciousness and walk a path of integrity and authentic power, one of the most fundamental steps is to attend to your self-care.  It all begins with self-love, the simple act of honouring yourself with kindness and respect.  Practicing self care requires you tune into your body, your emotions, your mind and your soul and attend to what it is you really need and desire.

Silence Your Inner Critic

In order to care for ourselves we must first recognise and banish the inner critic.  That inner ‘mean girl’, ‘critic’, ‘judge’, ‘saboteur’ or whatever you call it, (I call mine ‘The Committee’) serves us at certain times in our life.  But at others it undermines our dreams.

This is that voice that always casts doubt on your inspiration, your actions or even just you.

There are times in our life we really need that inner voice.  It is the voice of caution that pops up to keep us safe.  But it is also the voice that keeps us small, limited, and unfulfilled.

In the interests of self-care it is at these times that you need to reclaim the control to direct your own life.  When you don’t do this your inner voice will keep you restricted with old stories and belief systems that don’t support your personal growth.

The second part of the process is to attend to your needs.  A lot of people think this is about pampering but it is much more.  While pampering can be a part of self-care it’s not the crux.  At its centre self care is about tuning in to your body, emotions, mind and spirit and addressing what it is you need on all these levels.

It can be hard to know how to begin the process of self care.  Here are five suggestions.

Guide To Self Care

1. Shut Down Your Inner Mean Voice

I began the process of self-care by dealing with the voice of my ‘Inner Committee’.  The very first step was to recognise it when it very first showed up and stop it dead.  I used strong language first and then spoke back to it.  I reminded it that I was the driver on our life journey; that it was welcome to come along for the ride, but I was in charge.

Continue reading this article…

“When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver.”                           ~  Brene Brown

Disclaimer
All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation with your health care provider.  Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition.  Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication.  Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Seasons & Universal Cycles

End Of Year Release Ritual

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END OF YEAR RELEASE RITUAL

 

2016 is coming to a close and it’s naturally time to reflect back on the year… and start to look forward to 2017. It’s been a heavy year of releasing for many people, a year of endings. As we enter the countdown to 2017 many of us are still holding things that no longer serve us. In order to make the quantum leap into the New Year and the new cycle filled with awakened potential it’s essential to release these in the next few weeks. A 2016 releasing ceremony is the perfect way to weeks to round off the energetic cycle of 2016 and make the transition into 2017.

release ritual

2016: End Of A Cycle

 

2016 is the final year in a nine year cycle of growth. As it winds down spend time to acknowledge how far you’ve come over the last 9 years; reflect on your lessons and new awareness; embrace wisdom gained and re-remembered and be GRATEFUL for all the joyous moments in your life.

Many people start off their New Year by making a list of resolutions. Many also don’t reach any of their goals. Often they make the same resolution year after year without achieving it!

Trying to set achievable goals to reach your dreams without first firming a solid foundation is like building a home over a sink-hole. Without firm footings it will collapse. The footings you need in order to create achievable goals are found by getting really clear about where you’re starting out from. The 2016  Releasing Ceremony does just that by highlighting both the journey you traveled and the lessons and achievements you encountered along way.

2016 has been a difficult year for many. It was filled with difficult challenges that provided great opportunity for personal development and spiritual growth. Many of these challenges revisited familiar life lessons. Lessons that repeat over and over, spiraling back upon themselves. Each revisit brings a variation of the core lesson providing the opportunity to reach a deeper awareness of both the lesson and yourself.

Coming at the end of a nine year cycle the lessons of 2016 are the culmination of this spiraling awareness and deepening consciousness. It’s essential to now finalise them or they will be carried into the new nine year cycle to be repeated yet again.

Bear in mind that the significant aspects of 2016 will be those that bring these nine year long lessons to culmination.

Are you enjoying this article? Read more to discover the 11 steps to create your own release ritual…

 

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Seasons & Universal Cycles, Uncategorized

Best Tips For Spring Health And Wellness

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BEST TIPS FOR SPRING HEALTH AND WELLNESS

 

After a long cold, wet, winter we’re all quite ready to bid it farewell! Spring has blossomed bringing the reminder of youth, and the promise of new beginnings. We’re ready to shrug off winter, stretch and expand our energy up and outwards. Spring is the time of transformation and growth. Spring’s the time to renew your energy and change your life. These top tips for Spring health will launch your momentum to rise to your fullest Summer potential.

As the days warm and lengthen in Spring you’ll start to feel lighter, both emotionally and physically.

 

best tips for spring health and wellness

 

AWAKEN

Get outside. Play, socialize and have fun just as a child would. The sun is up earlier and staying later. Join him and get outside to watch the dawn. Even if you wake grumpy give yourself the opportunity to get out, feel the earth under your feet and soak in all the benefits of grounding.

 

MOVE

Instead of letting restlessness irritate you in spring use it to kick-start your exercise program.

Spring is a great time to overhaul – or begin – your exercise routine. Walk faster, join a dance class, try yoga or tai chi, even join a hiking group or cricket team. Honour your body by not overdoing it, and remember to keep hydrated or you’ll become fatigued very quickly.

 

RELEASE

If you want to bring the new into your life you must make space for it. Whether it’s a new spring wardrobe, new habits or new thought patterns, if you want it to create a new you, you need to de-clutter first. The first step is to release everything that no longer serves you.

Spring offers a great opportunity to clear the mind and get rid of thoughts that undermine our self-esteem or are toxic to relationships. Once you clear out old toxic thought patterns you can start planting positivity seeds to create a life you love.

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Natural Remedies & Homeopathy, Seasons & Universal Cycles

Natural Remedies For Hayfever Relief

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Spring Has Almost Sprung and that spells bad news for anyone who suffers from hay fever as it means it’s ‘Sneezing Season’ again. Unable to get out and enjoy the beautiful Spring sun, seasonal allergy sufferers following the conventional path can only look forward to being housebound for even longer or taking medications with side effects that really knock them about!

Natural Cures For Hayfever Relief

Hay fever results from exposure to pollens released from grasses and other plants, carried through the air, which cause inflammatory reactions on the mucous membranes and affect the immune system.

With sneezing, itching, runny nose, coughing and congestion, hay fever (or seasonal allergic rhinitis) is enough to ruin anyone’s day. It can affect any of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, sinuses, throat and palate, or all of them at once.

But it doesn’t have to be like this.

There are many natural remedies including herbs, vitamins, kitchen cures and my favourite, homeopathy, that can effectively knock the symptoms of hay fever on the head by providing natural antihistamines.

In addition to actual treatments some precautionary practices can minimize the effect of the allergen on your system. Gifting your liver a Spring clean can lessen the allergic effect. Here are tips to help you gently detox your liver without ‘doing a detox’.

Dandelion seeds

Some Natural Treatments

Supplements can improve your response to allergens. Vitamin C and the bioflavonoid quercetin have an antihistamine effect, while vitamin A helps maintain healthy mucous membranes. Studies have shown a link between low zinc intake and higher allergy risk so a zinc supplement may help anyone who falls into this category,

It’s important with any aggravation of the mucous membranes to reduce the amount of dairy food you eat as it increases the production of mucous and exacerbates congestion. Eat less milk, cheese, ice-cream, cream, yoghurt and butter during hay fever season to keep you better prepared. And watch for “milk solids” often added to processed foods.

Refined starches also stimulate mucous production and limiting bread and other baked goods can reduce the severity of your symptoms.

Increasing your intake of omega 3 fatty acids over the season can help decrease the incidence of hay fever as they help lower the amount of inflammatory chemicals produced when you are exposed to an allergen.

While many alternative treatments, including nutrition and supplements, can alleviate hay fever by strengthening the immune system they don’t always give immediate relief in the moment when symptoms strike. Some can reduce symptoms when taken in mega dosage but often need to be taken in combination with others.

Air filters can make a real difference by keeping the air inside your home pollen free especially when placed over windows and doors.

Steaming is an age old practice for breaking up congestion. Add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a bowl of steaming water and with a towel over your head breathe in the eucalyptus-rich vapour to loosen mucous and clear air passages. Tea tree is another suitable essential oil.

Many herbs including chamomile, stinging nettle, ginger, and butterbur can block histamine and relieve symptoms, but often their effect is limited to just some of your symptoms or they can take time to have an effect.

In someone already highly oversensitive to plant material herbs may not be a great choice, and may even exacerbate the symptoms. Stinging nettle is one herb commonly used for it’s antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effects. But when I take it internally it causes itching and swelling on my skin. The crude nature of herbs may actually be too harsh for these highly sensitive individuals.

Homeopathic Ideal Of Cure

Homeopathy

Homeopathy can be used for hay fever either preventatively or as a treatment. It has a great track record for the treatment of hay fever with symptoms being switched off almost immediately when the correctly matched remedy is used. I can personally vouch for this.

In France the most commonly prescribed treatment for hay fever by medical doctors is a homeopathic remedy just because it can be so effective and fast.

I’m going to introduce you to some of the more commonly used homeopathic remedies for symptomatic relief. These remedies activate the body’s own system of healing. They’re excellent for quickly relieving the symptoms of acute bouts of hay fever when they’re selected to closely match the individual symptoms being experienced.

Use remedies in 6x, 6c, 30x or 30c potencies, taking one dose every few hours for up to 3 doses. With the right remedy symptoms should improve after the first or second dose. If symptoms haven’t improved after the third dose it means you’ve selected the wrong remedy, so go back and again match the remedy picture to your symptoms for a closer match.

Pay particular attention to what makes your hayfever symptoms better or worse – these are important pointers to the right remedy.

As always with Homeopathy the remedy picture must match your symptoms for it to work. If none of these remedies match visit a homeopath who can select the right remedy for you from the hundreds of possibilities.

Allium cepa

Perhaps the most commonly used remedy for hay fever is Allium cepa (red onion). Use this when sneezing is prominent along with watery eyes that burn and smart. The tears here are non-irritating but the copious watery discharge from the nose is acrid and irritates the skin between the nose and upper lip which becomes red and sore. The nose feels blocked and the sense of smell is gone. The voice may become hoarse. When Allium cepa is called for the symptoms improve outside in the fresh air or in cool air.

Arsenicum album

This remedy is very commonly used for hay fever with burning and itching in the throat, nose or eyes. The discharges burn and redden the skin. This person will feel cold and although they want to be rugged up their head clears in cool fresh air. They are sensitive to light.

Euphrasia

Euphrasia is needed when the eyes feel swollen and gritty. The copious watery tears are acrid, unlike Allium cepa, and they irritate and burn the skin around the eyes and even the cheeks. There is a watery discharge from the nose which is bland and non-irritating. There may be much sneezing. Symptoms are worse outside in the open air, and also worse from heat or wind. (Notice how the symptoms of Allium cepa and Euphrasia are opposite to help you distinguish which is a closer match)

Nat mur

Violent sneezing is a symptom that may call for Nat mur, particularly when it is accompanied by itching and tingling inside the nose. There may be a watery or egg-white like nasal discharge, although not usually at the time of hayfever onset. These symptoms get worse after being out in the sun. Taste and smell are lost. Cold sores may occur at the same time. The person needing Nat mur may feel sad or sorry for themselves and want to be alone, and they feel better outside.

Nux vomica

Sore, smarting eyes that are light sensitive call for Nux vomica. The nose feels stuffed up making breathing difficult. There may be a streaming discharge through the day even though the nose feels stuffy. At night the nose dries up. This person feels irritable, even nasty, and chilly. Other people can really annoy them. They may have a headache with the stuffy nose which is made worse from stooping. Their symptoms are worse in dry air and better when the air is damp. These people have a tendency to over work, and may crave coffee to keep them going.

Pulsatilla

Congestion is the hallmark of a Pulsatilla picture with thick discharges that are bland (non-irritating) and yellow or yellow green. While there is much nasal discharge in the morning the nose is dry at night. This person feels much better outside in the cold fresh air and considerably worse in a warm stuffy room. They also feel better when they keep moving about. They may be weepy, and children whiny or clingy.

Sabadilla

Eyes that water with red burning margins of the eyelids, and lots of watery nasal discharge indicate the need for Sabadilla. There is much sneezing which occurs in spasms, one sneeze after another, and is caused by a tickle in the nose. The sneezing causes the eyes to water. This person is very sensitive to the smell of flowers which may exacerbate the sneezing. The tickle in the throat may be relived by warm drinks. This person feels very chilly, and the symptoms are worse in the open air and better in a warm room.

Wyethia

Extreme, even intolerable itching in the nose and throat calls for Wyethia. This is the remedy for severe itching of the upper palate, where the person tries to “scratch” it with their tongue. Often the throat feels swollen, dry or burning, causing a constant need to swallow to moisten it.

These are just a few of the hundreds of homeopathic remedies used for treating hayfever. If you can’t match one to your symptoms consult a professional for the remedy you need.

Hay Fever Prevention

Homeopathic treatment is very effective for preventing, as well as treating, hay fever attacks but it must begin well before the hay fever season. If you’d like to diminish your hay fever in the future begin by selecting the remedy that matches your current symptoms most closely and take it whenever you have an acute attack this season. In about six months visit a professional homeopath who will treat you to improve your resistance to allergens and prevent, or reduce, further attacks in the future.

I experienced terrible hay fever when I was younger with red, burning, itching, watery eyes. But I haven’t had any for many years after taking preventative homeopathy one winter years ago.

If you’d like to learn more about using Homeopathy to treat your family’s acute and first aid illnesses why not join my HOMEOPATHY @ HOME Course designed especially for the home prescriber. This fun and information-packed course is totally empowering, and enables you to be ready with the right homeopathic treatment for you and your children need whenever you need relief from an acute illness.

How do you manage your hay fever? What are your favourite natural remedies for hayfever?

I hate pollen brooke novak

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Source articles

http://www.naturalnews.com/035367_hay_fever_seasonal_allergies_remedies.html#
http://homeopathyplus.com.au/hay-fever-help-homeopathic-treatment-and-other-self-help-tips/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2157014/The-hayfever-treatments-really-work.html
http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=117

Seasons & Universal Cycles

Living With The Seasons – Summer

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Consciously living in harmony with the world around us supports our body, our emotions and our spirit. Within that consciousness we need to be in harmony with the greater cycles of life. When we tune into the passage of time by living with the seasons our energy synchronises with universal and earth energies to bring balance.

Living with the seasons

I’ve been luxuriating in the relaxing space between work finishing before Christmas and now, the New Year, doing very little and simply enjoying the summer. This two week period included the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and the day when the sun shines the longest and the night is shortest.

I make it a practice to live in sync with the seasons, emotionally as well as in the basics like what I eat or wear. But slowing down over the Summer Solstice flies in the face of this practice. The energy of Summer Solstice is intense, joyous and one for celebration and partying. Taking it slow isn’t what’s called for but this year the seasonal energy called for rest.

The ancient teachings behind Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are perhaps where we see the theories of living with the seasons at its strongest in our modern world. This ancient discipline examines the effects that emotions and foods have on the different organs of our body. It provides guidelines about which organs of the body are most significant in each season and the steps needed to support the appropriate organ and create harmony within.

The steps of TCM are based on many aspects of diet including the quantities of food eaten, time of day, even your state of mind while you eat.

But living with the seasons requires more, it requires an wholistic approach.

Getting sufficient exercise, sleep, and clean water; reducing stress, anxieties and toxin exposure are equally essential to living a balanced life, in tune with the rhythms of the earth and the seasons.

Living With Winter

The natural way for your body as a whole to respond to the seasons is to ‘close down’ over the winter and to ‘open out’ over the summer. During the cold, dark winter months you need and want more sleep, your activities slow and quieten, your body requires external warmth from fire and warm, nourishing foods. Even emotions can close down and it’s not uncommon for depression to surface during the depths of winter, partly due to the lack of sunlight and associated decreased Vitamin D intake.

Living With Summer

During the warmer summer months, when the days are longer, the body requires and benefits from, less nourishment. It doesn’t need extra kilojoules to keep itself warm, you feel more energetic and your natural instinct is to get out, socialize, and be much more active.

Rise early and face the sunrise to benefit from the rays.
During summer rise early and face the sunrise to benefit from the rays.

Take a moment to think about how much easier it is to go out to a party on a warm, balmy summer night than it is on a cold, dark, rainy winter one, when all you want to do is curl up with a book or movie, or simply sleep. Think of how much easier it is to diet and exercise during the warmer months when your requirement is for lighter foods.

As more and more of us grow our own veggies and shop at Farmers Markets we are becoming increasingly aware of which foods are in season at any time, and beginning to direct our food choices towards only those foods that are in season. Obviously we don’t need watermelon in the winter when it doesn’t grow. Instead, we look for stews made from warming meats and root vegetables in season at that time.

Seasonal Wellness Books

Summer holidays are the time when many catch up on their reading. There are a few books I love that you might like to take a look at,  which are useful guides towards living in tune with the seasons.

One is a cookbook appropriately named Eating For The Seasons by Janella Purcell, an Australian Naturopath, Nutritionist and Cook. It’s a great book with tips and recipes carefully selected to benefit and support to your body in each of the four seasons.

Another book I love is Ancient Healing For The Modern Woman by Xiaolan Zhao. This book looks at the ‘seasons’ of a woman’s life, rather than the seasons of the year, and offers wonderful ways to naturally remedy problems like PMS, symptoms of pregnancy, menopause, and breast health. It contains lots of great, simple tips taken from the authors personal experience of Traditional Chinese Medicine used by her family in China. She is a doctor of both TCM and Western Medicine in Canada,  and her advice is very soundly grounded in both modalities.

If you’d like something a little more hefty you may prefer Healing With Whole Foods by teacher and nutrition researcher Paul Pitchford, a very comprehensive guide to Chinese Medicine. This book also contains lots of information about nutrition and diet, as well as a cookbook. There are sections on the Ayurvedic principles of food-combining, treating disease with foods, plus much more. As I say, detailed and comprehensive.

Living In Tune With The Summer Season

Early and Mid Summer

living with the seasonsAccording to Chinese Medicine, summer is the season of Yang (masculine energy), and during early and mid-summer the heart and small intestine come to the fore. The emotions associated with the heart are joy and playfulness. Mental acuity is also associated with the heart in TCM, so memory, thought processes, emotional well-being and consciousness, as well as sleep also belong to this time.

When the heart is balanced the mind is calm.

Early and mid-summer is a time for celebrating and partying, as well as balancing that with enough rest and sleep.

When the fire element is out of harmony, so too is your experience of joy. You feel either depressed with too little fire, or joyous chaos with too much.

When your fire is unbalanced you experience associated symptoms that include agitation, nervousness, high blood pressure, heartburn, irregular heartbeat and insomnia.

Imbalance of the heart, governed by fire, can lead to confusion, crazy or no laughter, a very red or very pale face, stuttering, verbal diarrhoea, memory loss, mental illness or an aversion to external heat.

Late Summer

In the late summer (the fifth season in TCM) it becomes the time of the spleen and stomach. Overworked spleen and stomach is associated with worry and obsessive thoughts. Spleen is associated with damp and problems may kick in if the weather is humid.

The summer season is ruled by fire. Life and energy is at a peak.

 

Align With Summer Energy

The aim during Summer is to let your energy flow ‘out’, to get rid of the heat stored in the body over winter.

  • Eat spicy foods to induce sweat, it helps rid the body of heat
  • Rise early to benefit from the rays of the sun.
  • Go to bed later. Rest at midday if you need more sleep.
  • Drink plenty of clean water (water is the opposing element of fire), take cool baths, seek shade. Watermelon juice, an old remedy for dehydration, cools the body and cleanses the system.
  • Add pungent and strong flavours to your diet
  • Avoid drinks full of sugars and chemicals which don’t actually relieve thirst, but do bring toxins into the body which then have to be cleared out.
  • Refrain from anger, keep calm.
  • Green-vegetablesEat more cooling, hydrating yin foods to balance the fire heat of summer – raw foods, salads, seafood, legumes, sprouts (especially mung-bean), zucchini, cucumbers, kelp, and fruits like watermelons, apples, limes and lemons.  Cooling foods tend towards the green foods – lettuce, cucumbers, watercress. Very few vegetables are warming. Fish and seafoods are cooling but most meats are warming. Be careful not to eat too much raw or cold food though as it may ‘cool’ your digestion too much – you want to achieve balance in all things!
  • Bitter yin foods are associated with the heart and small intestine. They reduce the heat and drain dampness. Foods such as celery, dandelion, endive, watercress, quinoa and rye. But be careful not to overdo bitter foods, unless you have lots of fire in you. Asparagus and lettuce are both bitter and sweet.
  • Later in the summer add the sweet yang flavours of complex carbohydrates, legumes, nuts, oats, rice, peas, peaches, avocado, kiwifruit, cucumber and raw honey. These build and strengthen the spleen and thus the whole body. The spleen is the most important organ of the immune system. They also slow and relax an overactive heart and mind. But don’t have too much!
  • Eat foods that promote energy and activity. Use hot spices such as fresh (not dried) ginger. Black pepper, cayenne and horseradish will induce a sweat. Cardamon is a useful spice as it clears the digestive system of blockage caused by heat.
  • Eat in moderation. Keep your food light and simple. Indigestion, sluggishness and even diarrhoea can easily occur in the summer. It’s healthier for you, and it gives you more time to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.
  • Avoid heavy or salty foods – meat, excess grains, dairy, oil and eggs as they will make you feel sluggish during summer.
  • Avoid cold foods in early summer – iced drinks and ice-cream (they hold in the sweat and heat)
  • Focus on changes in your life related to joy, growth and spiritual awareness. With the predominant nature of Summer being Yang, related to excitement, assertiveness and exuberance, it is the perfect time to take action to make positive change.

 

The Key To Living With The Seasons

If you remember that the human body is simply a microcosm of the universe, the macrocosm, it becomes easier to understand that the same imbalances that occur in the environment are mirrored in the human being. By keeping this relationship with nature in mind we can become more conscious of keeping the rhythms  of life in harmony, of living with the seasons.

living with the seasons summer

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue. 

Source articles:

Purcell, J, Eating For The Seasons, Allen & Unwin, 2011

http://www.chinesemedicineliving.com/blog/nutrition/seasons/summer

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Summertime!+Chinese+Medicine+and+the+Summer+Season

http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/454-traditional-chinese-medicine-summer-tips.html

http://straightbamboo.com/articles/how-to-stay-healthy-in-summer/

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Seasons & Universal Cycles, Stress & Overwhelm

The Twelve Top Tips For a Happy Healthy Christmas

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With December arriving so quickly the festive season is all around us. Follow these twelve top tips to stay healthy in the holiday season so you can reach New Year in your best state ever, without having to lock yourself away to keep out of temptations reach.

12 Top tips for a happy healthy Christmas

Research shows that the three biggest stresses for most people around Christmas are: weight gain from overindulging, financial strain from overspending, and anxiety from having to spend time with people they prefer to avoid.

According to a recent Australian study by Roy Morgan Research, around 60 per cent of Australians dislike Christmas shopping (I’m one!). But instead of devising a shopping strategy about 20% head out to shop without any plan of action, and most (75%) come home without buying anything at all.

Instead they DO get to stand in queues, hunt-the-parking-spot, surround themselves with crowds of stressed people and ramp up their own stress, frustration and anxiety levels.

12 Top Tips For A Happier Healthier Christmas

Top tips to stay healthy at Christmas

 

Use this list of Twelve Tips to enjoy Christmas this year, instead of simply surviving it.

1.      Stress

Shopping – whether it is standing in long queues, finding space to park, or trying to hunt down a desperately desired gift, many people find Christmas shopping the most stressful part of the season. Wherever you go you will encounter tired, cross irritable people.

It is good to remember that stress and anxiety are quite normal at this time of year. When one family member is under stress, other family members are likely to feel stressed too, aggravating the situation and making life even more difficult for all.

There are many different natural ways to deal with the stress. The simplest of these is without a doubt the flower essence, Bach Rescue Remedy.

Rescue Remedy has been around for over 60 years and was created to help people cope with everyday stressful situations. Its effects are calming and centering. It is suitable for stressed children as well as adults. Carry some with you or keep it in the car so it’s handy when you need to de-stress.

Get it from the Health Food shop or your natural medicine practitioner. Keep one in your bag, your car or your office, so you have it on hand whenever you start to feel stressed. It is available in a number of different forms now – drops, spray, gum, cream, even pastilles and is easy to use. You can take it as often as you need.

2.      Water

This might seem a no-brainer, but it is one that is easy to forget. The reality is that dehydration is a greater problem when you are drinking alcohol. Have two glasses of water before you go to any function. Alternate alcoholic drinks with cool clear water or soda water when you are out socializing. Adding a slice of lemon or lime to the water is even better. Carry a water bottle when you are out shopping.

Remember to keep hydrated.

Photo credit: Evan Courtney
Photo credit: Evan Courtney

3.      Family Conflict

Family tensions seem to surface at this time of year, especially if your relationships are a little strained normally. If you struggle to interact some of the family normally then Christmas is not likely to be any different.

Rather than self-medicating with alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs in order to cope, you can again use the Bach Rescue remedy to help you get through difficult events. If you are able to identify triggers for the conflict, and consciously avoid them you may find it easier to cope.

Christmas gatherings are frequently the place where family dynamics replay just as they existed back decades ago. It can be difficult to be treated as the vague child you once were, when you in your everyday life you are a capable, competent and responsible adult with many skills and abilities.

Involving the family in a group activity after lunch can help keep conflict at bay. Backyard cricket, swimming if you have a pool, or charades if the weather turns nasty, will help lighten the mood.

And if it is still too much, then politely but firmly decline invitations.

4.      Sleep

It is far too easy to lose sleep during December, with busy calendars, lots of socializing, and preparations for the big day. Aim to get seven to eight hours  sleep each night.

We all know that sleep deprivation can cause foggy thinking, slow reactions and irritability. But insomnia can also increase your risk of depression and anxiety, or contribute to obesity. With stress and anxiety already a problem for many people adequate sleep is essential to help keep it at a minimum.

If you are tired, don’t go out. It won’t hurt to miss some parties.

There are a number of herbs that aid sleep. Lavender is very effective and can be used in the form of an essential oil in a burner or diffuser, in your bathwater, or in carrier oil rubbed on the skin. Chamomile, Californian Poppy, Passionflower or Hops are others to help insomnia. Many herbal formulations to aid sleep are available as teas and are simple and lovely in the evening before going to bed. Children can also drink many relaxing herbal teas such as Chamomile.

5.     Avoiding weight blow-out

Going to parties hungry, anticipating lots of yummy Christmas treats is a recipe for disaster. When you are hungry it is difficult to resist eating anything offered to you and you are likely to overindulge.Avoid weight blow out in the holiday season

Finger foods are high in kilojoules, as well as fat and sugar. Opt for low-joule options like vegetable crudités, hommus or fruit. Eating smart when you are out partying is the way to stay on top of excessive weight gain. Limit temptation by eating regular nutritious meals and avoiding Christmas goodies like chocolates, pudding and shortbread throughout the whole season.

Keep up your regular exercise program, and keep in mind it takes many hours of exercise to burn off the extra kilojoules gained at two or three parties.

 6.      Purpose

Finding some ‘purpose’ to Christmas may be a way to help you cope better. There are plenty of ways in which you could volunteer your time. As well as benefiting others, contributing to your community may create feelings in you that make you feel happy. If you find experiencing Christmas Joy difficult this could be a way to get in touch with it again.

7.      Finances.

Credit card blowout in January can be devastating, often taking many months to pay off. Paying for gifts, as well as your celebrations, with cash means you will know whether you can afford the purchase or not, and avoid the financial headache in January.

Rationalize who you will buy gifts for and consider whether you can gift with your time, or something you have made yourself, instead if finances are tight.

If you are hosting the Christmas meal, avoid the temptation to over-cater. You don’t need more food than you would on any other day. You will be thanked when your guests do not feel awful after eating too much.

8.      Breathe

Incorporate the practice of mindful breathing into your daily habits every day through December, if you haven’t already. Simply spend thirty seconds to take slow deep breaths. Do this a few times a day. It is a great way to reduce stress. The simple relaxation technique of focusing on your breath helps to relieve tension and anxiety.

Alternatively you could meditate – there is no need to be scared of this, it is not about becoming a yogi, simply the practice of drawing focus and reducing stress.  Here are some fun, light, easy ways to spend just a few minutes in meditation.

Christmas is about giving, but it is also the time to allow you to receive the gift of relaxation from yourself.

Relax in a bath with hand made natural products to sooth away stress
Relax in a bath with hand made natural products to sooth away stress

9.      Relax

It’s easy to say take some time out for yourself but often we feel there is no time, especially in busy December. However setting aside a relaxing night in to create a home spa experience, followed by a good book or DVD and an early night, could be the answer to getting through Christmas and the New Year and soaring into the New Year.

Run yourself a soothing bath if you have a tub. If not sit yourself in a comfy chair with a relaxing foot bath and a ‘renew you’ herbal brew for about twenty minutes.  Add essential oils to the water to help you relax.  Follow with some nourishing cream on your skin before you curl with your book or movie.

10.      Loss and loneliness

For many people the Christmas Season is one when feelings of loss for a loved one who has passed are magnified, especially as they are surrounded by others celebrating with their families.

For others who are single, whether they are young or elderly, it can be a time of great loneliness. Those far from home can feel overwhelming homesickness. When emotions become overwhelming Homeopathic remedies can be of great assistance. There are a number of excellent ones to help with grief, such as Ignatia, Nat-mur or Causticum. Homeopathic Nat-mur, Capsicum, Phos-ac or Ignatia are just some of dozens of remedies that help relieve homesickness. But Homeopathic Remedies need to be well matched to your own individual experience, or symptoms, of homesickness or loss, and this is best prescribed by a professional Homeopath, who takes many things into consideration before selecting the remedy best suited to you.

If you have decided to add purpose to your Christmas, including someone on their own, far from home in your celebrations is one way to achieve this.

11.  Embrace your inner child

Children look forward to Christmas with enormous excitement. They pour love into cards and gifts made at school. They marvel at the Christmas tree and street lights, rip open presents, pop crackers and join in the Embrace your inner child at Christmas and resolve to have funtraditions with absolute exuberance. They keep going all day because they stop before they have overeaten and don’t need to lie around to recover. They live every moment of the day before falling into bed at night to sleep soundly.

Approach Christmas with the resolve to have fun.

12.  Alcohol

Start the practice of alcohol-free days each week.

Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Limit the number of drinks you consume and alternate them with water or soda water. Be aware that many restaurants use over-sized wine glasses that contain much more than normal serving sizes. Also watch out for top-ups.

Drinking alcohol in the evening interferes with sleep. While you may fall asleep easily, it leads to disturbed sleep later in the night, possible waking you for long periods, or leaving you exhausted in the morning.

If you do overdo it help reduce a hangover with Vitamin C on the day after and Vitamin B Complex both BEFORE and AFTER the big night. It’s a much better combo than Berocca and is minus the aspartame which Berocca contains.

Many people find Homeopathic Nux-vomica, taken in accordance with Homeopathic prescribing guidelines gets rid of the headache and nausea very quickly.

Chlorella has been shown in studies to reduce hangover by 96%. It’s a green sea algae and available from health food shops. Buy a reputable organic brand – very important!

Coconut water is rich in electrolytes to help cleanse and antioxidants. Drink it through the day before you head out as well as before you go to bed to help offset some of the damage caused by the alcohol.

Dandelion root tea helps detoxify the liver and can be drunk before you go out as well as the following day.

Very Important –  What Not To Do

Finally these are some things that you should NOT do if you want to easily sail through into the New Year.

  • Don’t start a new diet, there’s time for that later.
  • Don’t add the expense of sending out cards to people you see all the time.
  • If your kids are scared of Santa, don’t force them onto his lap just to get the cute picture.
  • Remember, you don’t have to find the ‘perfect’ gift. Fundamentally a gift is a token that tells the recipient that you have had them in your thoughts, nothing more. It does NOT have to be big, or expensive, or just what they have always wanted. It is A TOKEN of the feelings from your heart.
  • Do NOT stress about being the ‘perfect’ Mum, partner or friend – most people close to you will understand.

And finally don’t become a slave to any list – gift, card, menu, parties, or even this one. Stay flexible, honour what your body tells you is needed the most, and enjoy the Christmas Season.

keep calm it's only christmas

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue. 

Source articles

http://www.myspringday.com.au/wellness_centre_details/top_5_tips_to_stay_healthy_during_christmas/302?id=302

http://www.drjoe.net.au/dr-joes-diy-health-guide-to-christmas/

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Christmas_tips_to_reduce_the_stress?open&utm_term=Christmas_tips_to_reduce_the_stress&utm_source=&utm_campaign=newsletter

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-christmas-not-to-do-list/00010228

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