Did you know we spend more time preparing our home, our car and our office for winter and forget about preparing ourselves?
Here are some simple ways to look after yourself during the colder, darker, winter months.
- Change what you eat to more warming foods rather than salads. Think about adding more root vegetables, onion, leeks, garlic, cinnamon and turmeric into your diet.
- Drink warmer drinks and less iced drinks to keep your core warm.
- Wrap up and don’t get cold (yes, just like your granny told you to!).
- Wear a hat to keep your body heat in.
- Bring some fresh air into your warmer work space.
- Exercise to help boost your immunity.
- Supplements – consider taking Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Zinc, Magnesium, Echinacea, Astragalus, Black Seed Oil. Get advice to find out which ones are most suitable for you.
- Address any stress you are under if possible. Stress lowers the immune system so consider how you might deal with the mental/emotional stress to help stay well.
- Cut down on sugar/caffeine/alcohol/dairy. Dairy can increase the amount of mucus you produce so cutting down when you have a cold is a good idea.
- Essential oils can be helpful either in a vapouriser or used directly on the skin. Again, consult a practitioner to help with which oils might be suitable for you.
- At the first sign of a cold increase your intake of Vitamin C to help reduce the severity and length of infection. In our house we also make onion soup with lots of onions and garlic – delicious, easy to swallow and helps fight infection.
If you do get a cold or flu then here are some homeopathic remedies that might be helpful:
Aconite – symptoms start quickly after being chilled, out in the wind or after a shock; give in early stages of a cold; shivering; much sneezing; pains are unbearable; dry throat, cough or fever around midnight, barking cough. Worse – evening, night, touch. Better – fresh air, rest.
Allium cepa – thin nasal discharge that burns top lip; red runny eyes; catarrhal headache; pain in larynx on coughing; cough worse in change of temperature; voice hoarse. Worse – stuffy room, evening. Better – cold room, open air.
Arsenicum album – watery burning nasal discharge alternating with dryness; violent sneezing; restlessness/can’t keep still or in one place; feels chilly and shivery; burning red eyes; cracked lips; eyes sensitive to light; breathing worse after midnight or lying down. Worse – change of temperature, cold and damp, after midnight, being alone. Better – heat, warm applications, warm bed, hot drinks, lying down.
Baptisia – rapid onset; stupor as if drunk; delirium; flushed dark face; headache; sore throat and body; sensation as if bruised all over; tongue has brown strip down centre and feels burned; great thirst for water; difficult breathing better for open window; high temperature with occasional chills; profound weakness especially of lower limbs; bleary eyes; nightmares. Worse – humid heat, indoors, waking, walking, open air, cold wind. Better – rest, warmth.
Belladonna – sudden onset; high fevers with glassy eyes; burning heat; one cheek red the other pale; throbbing headache; frequent sneezing with nose bleeds; dry mouth; loss of taste and smell; thirstless. Worse – bright lights, noise, getting chilled, getting head wet, cold winds, being jarred, touch, 3pm to midnight. Better – resting, dark room, warmth.
Bryonia – slow onset; has to sit up when coughing; holds chest with cough; wants to be very still with shallow breathing; headache; wants to be left alone; irritable; dry mucous membranes; tickling in larynx; thirsty for large quantities of cold water. Worse – least motion morning, 9pm, dry heat or dry cold, eating, touch, hot weather. Better – pressure, rest, cold things, cool air, quiet.
Euphrasia – copious bland nasal discharge; frequent sneezing; burning tears with red eyes; chilly; burning throat. Worse – evening, light, lying down (although cough is better). Better – daytime when up and about.
Eupatorium perfoliatum – chill followed by fever; shivering; chills in back; influenza with pains everywhere; bone pains; eyeballs aching; moaning; thirsty for large quantities of cold water; cough worse 2-4am; restless; sneezing; gastric flu with vomiting. Worse – movement, 7-9am, tight clothing, cold air, sight/smell of food. Better – cold drinks, cold foods, ice, sweating, vomiting, conversation, lying on face, on hands and knees.
Ferrum phos – take in first stages of a cold; feels heavy and weary; eyes feel gritty and are hot, red and inflamed; blood streaked mucous; flushed face; rapid pulse. Worse – quick movements, cold air, 4-6am. Better – resting, cold applications.
Gelsemium – slow gradual onset; feels dull, sluggish; heavy eyelids; flushed face; chills up and down spine; sneezing; thirstless; burning nasal discharge; heaviness with trembling limbs; burning throat. Worse – damp weather, change of weather, exertion, 10am. Better – after urination, stimulants eg alcohol, resting, open air.
Lycopodium – Chills with shaking before fever; fever alternating with chills; dry burning heat on one side of body; pale or red face. Worse – 4-8pm, warm room, cold damp air. Better – warm food and drinks, fresh air, cold applications.
Nux vomica – shivering and sweating; aching in limbs; hot externally but cold inside; goose pimples; nose is stuffed up at night but runs during the day; cold or flu with stomach upset; itching inside ear; much sneezing with blocked nose; alternate blocked nostrils; watery eyes; raw, rough throat; eyes sensitive to light; thirsty. Worse – alcohol, coffee, lack of sleep, tobacco, cold wind, waking, movement. Better – heat, lying down, hot drinks, sleep.
Pulsatilla – symptoms changeable, move around the body; emotional, clinging, weepy; dry mouth but no thirst; bland, thick and yellow/green nasal discharge; frequent sneezing; low grade fever; dry cough; skin is red, dry and hot alternating with paleness; throbbing headache; loss of smell or taste. Worse – hot stuff rooms, evening, night, becoming heated, lying down, warm covers. Better – fresh air, cold applications, uncovering, washing.
Rhus-tox – flu from damp cold weather or after anger; headache, brain feels loose; scalp sensitive; sneezing; tip of nose sore; red triangle on tip of tongue; sore throat with difficulty swallowing solids; swollen glands; unquenchable thirst for cold drinks; dry cough; chilly as if cold water were poured over them; easily chilled; restless; stiffness. Worse – mid morning, evening, after midnight, rest, sleep, cold or wet weather, night, first movement, overexertion, autumn, uncovered. Better – warm dry weather, heat, change of position, continued motion, warm applications, warm drinks, warm bed, stretching limbs, rubbing.
Hopefully you won’t need any of these but if you do become ill and you aren’t sure which remedies are suitable then get in touch and we will help. Call us on 07818 048978.
“Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”
Charles R. Swindoll
