Fight the Winter Blues with Traditional Remedies

When you observe cricket on the hearth, early departure of geese and ducks, heavy winds with dry air, heavy fog in the mornings, hair fall, and skin rashes- understand that it's time to welcome winter. They say- dark mornings, darker evenings, and chilly grey days in between mean winter is here- and with the coldest season come the winter blues!

Do you agree? I know, you do!

What winter means to you? For you, winter means a time to sip hot tea by the fire while reading, maybe! For some, it may be cosy evenings, soft sweaters, and vacation time with family and friends, but for some, it’s a months-long sadness and lethargy.

Some people feel sad, unenergetic, less interested, sleepy, and down than usual during winter and it is termed as “winter blues”! It is not a discrete medical condition. In some people, this situation may worsen and lead to seasonal depression which is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

In India, more than 10 million people suffer from SAD. It is crucial to observe the symptom triggers of SAD. The only thing different about this type of depression is that it is recurrent, and occurs every season throughout the year in the same pattern. But no worries! It is completely treatable just like other types of depression.

The best way to combat winter blues or SAD is to find out ways that help us stay healthy throughout. Here is your guide to keeping your health top-notch this winter.

Make lifestyle changes

• Being active physically keeps anxiety at bay.
• Daily exercise supports your body to produce good hormones and to maintain body heat.
• Practicing meditation is a key to control your mind and thoughts.
• Following a simple bedtime routine with fixed sleep/wakeup time is critical in winter.
• A few deep breaths help to maintain circadian rhythm. 

Incorporate therapies in winter

• Sunbath: Make it a mandate to go out and soak up the sunlight at least for an hour. You can also sit in the locations where you can get direct sunlight such as balcony, window, kitchen or terrace.
• Light Therapy: Consider sitting close to light box in the morning for 20-30 minutes.
• Aromatherapy: It involves the use of essential oils to alleviate anxiety and its symptoms. Place few drops of oils on the wrist and neck area. It usually involves lavender, ylang-ylang, grapefruit, and bergamot oil.

Regulate body temperature

• The pressure of weighted blankets keeps the body warm and prepares to sleep into rest mode.
• During winter your body gets tired easily. So, drink warm water.
• Consume hot beverages such as tea, coffee or soups with your meals.
• Layering your body with warm clothes helps.

Maintain hair and skincare routine

• The dry air and low temperatures can avenge your scalp and hair.  Massage with coconut or curry leaves oil can save you from hair fall, dullness, breakage, and dandruff. An argan oil, shampoo, and conditioner can smoothen and protect your hair from winter damage.
• Make lukewarm baths, a part of your winter routine. Oil-based cleansers and cleanser balms, both good to use to remove dirt and pollution from your skin during winter. It keeps your skin hydrated. Apply an adequate amount of moisturizer. The skin of the lips is the thinnest part of your face. Occlusive ingredients such as lanolin, white petrolatum or beeswax keep the skin away from dryness and inflammation.

Keep diseases away

• Relief from joint pain: There is no explanation to why low temperature affects joint pain. Unfortunately, winter makes us aware of every twinge and ache.
  • Massaging your joints for 15-20 minutes with herbal oils gives relief from joint pain in arthritis, bursitis and sarcoidosis patients.
  • Try the 10*10*10 plan: Divide your walk or workout into 3 sections- morning, evening, and night, with a set of 10 minutes.
  • Warm baths and soothing scents can relive body pressure and relaxes your muscles.
• Respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, common cold, sinusitis, whooping cough, etc. are more prevalent during winter. Apollo Pharmacy provides you with medicines, inhalers, and hot water vaporizers.
  • Wearing warm clothes, gargling with lukewarm salt water, use of humidifiers and steamers can help to boost immunity and hence, keep you away from respiratory diseases.

Healthy balanced diet

• Include Vitamin C-rich fruits like lemon, oranges, and guava.
• Increased use of raw, crushed garlic.
• Consume hot beverages like tea, coffee, soups etc.
• Cut back on dairy products like milk, curd and buttermilk.

By taking all the necessary precautions, it is easy to prevent the occurrence of respiratory illnesses, joint pain or throat infections during winter. Get ready to fight with winter, like a pro!