Winter Wellness

The cold and damp times of the winter season are looming, and now is a good time to consider our ability to stay well during these health-challenging months. First and foremost, keep warm. A particularly important area to protect is the kidney region (put the crop tops away!), and of course the throat area. The throat and upper respiratory area are the doorway that pathogens use to enter our systems and make us sick, and the kidney area maintains our vital forces. Certain winds will create susceptibility in individuals, the southwesterlies which drag polar air with them creating an internal chill, and the northerlies which are drier and cause mucous membranes to dry out, allowing easy passage and adhesion of germs.

Foods for winter include any in season vegetable and fruit, particularly those high in vitamin A, such as pumpkin, carrots and other orange vegetables (organic of course!), kumara (high in iron), garlic, silverbeet and yummy yams later in the season. Vitamin A is very protective to mucous membranes and iron is essential for the function of the immune system. Nature provides us with vitamin C-containing fruits in winter including feijoas, mandarins, oranges, lemons and pears. Make the most of these when they are in season.

Prevention is always better than the cure. Warm up the system with ginger, cayenne, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg. Have a chai or kawakawa tea in the morning to get your metabolism going and to get a warm start to the day. Cinnamon is particularly useful for the immune system, and daily use can be a flu preventer. Don’t give up on your exercise regime in winter, it may just need tweaking If the weather prevents running or walking, join a yoga or pilates class and keep moving, especially if you have a sedentary job.

However, if you succumb to the winter cold or flu, we have a range of products to suit every individual and budget. At first sign of cold or flu (sneezing, sore eyes, sudden fatigue, aching limbs etc) try homoeopathic Aconite 30c. Then get on to Vitamin C, at least 3000mg per day for an adult and 500-1000mg for a child (check with your naturopath). Nature’s Way Systemwell, or MRI Immunomax will also be useful in early stages of illness to reduce longevity and severity of symptoms, and to prevent secondary infections which are common with the influenza virus. Lots of fluid is very important. A good juice to take when congested is pineapple (diluted) as it contains bromelain, which is effective at breaking down the protein molecules in mucous. Orange juice can be very mucous forming in many people, so is best avoided when congested.

Upper respiratory congestion can be relieved with herbs such as horseradish, eyebright and ginger. Fenugreek tea (made from the seeds) is a powerful decongestant and can break up tenacious mucous. Lung congestion can be relieved with kumerahou tea or fluid extract, elecampane, marshmallow, white horehound, mullein, golden seal and other herbs. Malcolm Harker makes a very good Lung Elixir, and we have many different cough medicines available. Ask the naturopath for advice or to make you up a special formula for your symptoms.

Anti-viral medications may be required to assist in recovery. Colloidal Silver is very effective, safe and easy to take and great for treating children. Good Health Viralex (an olive leaf formula) is available for children and adults in a liquid or tabletted form, and don’t forget Echinacea, available as a fluid extract, alcohol free, children’s strength, teas, tablets and drops. There are also homoeopathic and anthroposophical medications available for symptomatic relief, and many teas to support recovery.

We wish you well this winter, and will always do our best to help you and you loved ones recover if you get sick.
Lynda Earl, BHSc(complementary medicine), ND, DipMedHerb