Autumn comes to a close as the winter season commences on the 21st December, the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. From then on the days will gradually become longer and longer preparing for Spring. Nature is resting in both the animal and plant kingdoms. This is a quiet time to reflect, relax, be peaceful, spend more time at home with our family and friends, keep warm, keep your energy moving and to get plenty of rest, sleep and good nutrition.
Our body fluids are thicker now so there is a tendency to congestion such as colds, sinus problems, ear and throat infections. Mucous producing foods such as animal milk, wheat, chocolate and sugar should be kept to a minimum at this time. Drinking plenty of hot water helps with the congestion. Home central heating can be very dehydrating to the body and skin so keep up your water intake preferably distilled and not below room temperature to conserve energy.
Winter is the season of the Water element and the organs associated with it are the bladder and kidneys which deal with the water in the body. To support the kidneys and give them warmth, drink root ginger tea with a pinch of cayenne pepper or lemon. Fennel tea is known to help with kidney function and digestion.
Eat what is in season, predominantly root vegetables at this time and follows on from the Autumn foods with the pumpkins, squashes, cabbages, brussels sprouts and chestnuts. Try root vegetables in soups, short grain brown rice, stews, warm or hot food. This will help with energy and temperature levels and metabolism. Adding garlic to food is a great anti-congestor, purifier and natural antibiotic, inhibits blood clotting, helps to lower blood pressure and bad fats (LDL). Fruits and food from the Southern hemisphere should be avoided as are challenging when our body fluids are thicker. It is best to eat food mostly in daylight hours as the body does not digest food as well when it is dark.
Continue to eat more food containing Essential Fatty Acids like some nuts such as walnuts, seeds such as flax and chia and oily fish and supplementing with oils such as Krill, Flaxseed should help to avoid depression and S.A.D.
Going out during the day for a walk when it is light will also help with S.A.D. even when its is overcast as some light will always filter through.
Skin brushing, alternating hot and cold water when showering and epsom salt baths, regular gentle exercise helps to reduce acidity and increase circulation in both blood and lymph. Yoga, T’ai Chi and Qigong would be good at this time of the year as they do not cause excess sweating which can create needless energy loss and more prone to microbes entering the body through open pores.
No detoxing until the Spring when our body fluids begin to thin!