“What is an oxymel?” This is always the first question I get when I mention oxymels. An oxymel is an ancient type of herbal remedy or tonic. It features an herb or blend of herbs, vinegar, and honey. It takes a while to make (4-6 weeks) as the liquids slowly extract the properties from the herbs.
Oxymels are my favorite way of using herbs for medicine or health tonics. Because they’re a long extraction they contain much more of the herbal constituents than a cup of tea. I find the blend of sweet and vinegar irresistible so even if the herbs taste like medicine the sweet tart flavor helps take the edge off.
I like to mix my oxymel into club soda, sparkling water, juice, or a cup of hot tea. Sometimes if I’m in a hurry I just shoot it down and chase it with water. You can also use them in salad dressings to infuse herbal flavors to your salad. They can be used as a preventative, to support or bolster your system after an illness, or when you feel something coming on. Dosage for each goal is highly personal and you should talk to an herbalist if you want to use oxymels for health purposes.
What Kind of Herbs Do You Put in an Oxymel?
I don’t know of any herbs that don’t go well with oxymels, but I try to be strategic. If I have some herbs that I want to try in an oxymel, I’ll make one and try it. But, if I have a specific system that I want a bit of extra support for I’ll select a specific herb that is good for that type of support. Some herbs that I find great to use in an oxymel and try to keep on hand are below.
Elderberry
Elderberry has been shown to be a powerful anti-viral herb. I like to keep some on hand for immune support throughout cold and flu season. Here in the U.S. it has been enjoying a resurgence of popularity over the last few years, but some people still find the flavor off-putting as it tends to be a bit more earthy than most fruit flavors we are exposed to. Thus, I like to introduce friends and family to elderberry with a sweet-tart oxymel or a sweetened elderberry syrup.
Bee Balm
Bee balm, sometimes called monarda or wild bergamot, is a member of the mint family. But before you think it’s like our comforting little cup of mint herbal tea, know that it smells and tastes of very strong oregano. I use it often as an oregano substitute, but being so strong I feel it’s better suited for plant medicine. It’s easy to sip in a sweet oxymel straight or with a little water added. It does wonders for a gassy belly and is a versatile herb that can stand in for many remedies and deserves it’s own article.
Sage
While a cup of sage tea is really nice and reminiscent of Thanksgiving, I find the herb itself very helpful in cough and throat remedies. In an oxymel the combination of the acid and the honey help clear phlegm and then soothe the throat. It also helps keep your remedy non-alcoholic with similar benefits to the old Appalachian cough remedies my uncles make which feature whiskey, honey, and lemon. Delicious, but not for everyone.
Words of Caution
Oxymels contain honey and should never be given to infants under the age of one year. Please consult with your doctor to determine when honey products are safe for your baby.
We also want to be very careful about the herbs we use in our oxymels. You should ensure you’re not allergic to the herbs used to make the oxymel. Because the process of extraction brings out the essential constituents of the plant, it can and often does bring out the constituents people find allergenic. The solution is to pick another herb. There are lots of perfectly acceptable substitutions when working with herbs.
I know I talk a lot about warm drinks and how helpful they can be during times of sickness or when you need to hydrate mucous membrane tissues. Warm beverages are very comforting during the colder months, but with the extreme heat we experience in an Alabama August, it’s really difficult to get on board with hot beverages. I still have my morning cup of tea or coffee, depending on my mood, but through the rest of the day in this heat I want something cool and refreshing. A summertime cooler is always in my fridge these days so I thought I would share a recipe.
There’s a lot of stuff on the market that fits the bill for cool and refreshing. Everything from sodas to fruity kids drinks to adult beverages. And while there’s a place for all of them for different folks, some of it is too taxing on our system for day-to-day consumption.
For a healthier option, I look to herbal coolers. They’re customizable to your taste or herbal needs, they can be really easy to make, and you are in complete control of what’s in them. Here’s a simple and delicious summertime herbal cooler recipe just for you!
Mint+Hibiscus Summertime Cooler Recipe
A super simple mint hibiscus cooler can be made with tea bags you can get from the grocery store.
What you’ll need:
– Hibiscus herbal tea bags – Mint herbal tea bags or 2 tsp. fresh or 1 tsp. dried from your garden – A quart jar or pitcher – Boiling water – Sweetener of your choice
How to do it:
Plop one of each tea kind of tea into the quart jar
Carefully fill your quart jar almost full of boiling water
Steep for 5-10 minutes
Enjoy the beautiful color development from the hibiscus
Remove the tea bags, strain out any loose herbs if necessary
Let the tea cool completely
Sweeten to taste
Pour over ice, garnish with fresh mint if you have it and enjoy!
Who knew a couple of tea bags, some boiling water and a little bit of time could create such a cooling and enjoyable experience? Want to take it a little further? You can always make your tea then freeze it in icepop forms for a frozen treat.
It’s best to enjoy herbal teas within 48 hours of brewing so turning your leftovers into icepops or even ice cubes are a great way to lengthen it’s benefits if you don’t have time to consume it all right away.
Why does it work as a cooler?
Hibiscus
In addition to its sweet-tart astringency, it’s packed with Vitamin C, minerals, and antioxidants. Ayurvedic medicine considers hibiscus a cooling herb and cultures around the world have long used it to normalize body temperatures. Studies in recent years have identified cardiac health and blood sugar regulation benefits. Those taking medications for cardiac or blood sugar issues should consult with a health professional or pharmacist before consuming large amounts of hibiscus.
In addition to this tea’s taste, nutrients, and other benefits, it’s one of the most beautiful teas. You’ll enjoy watching the water turn a lovely garnet color while brewing with hibiscus.
Mint
Mint is a classic cooling herb in the southeastern united states. We all grew up with the iconic expectation of family on the large, shaded front porch, rocking the afternoon away while sipping a condensation-covered glass of iced tea with a fancy sprig of mint garnishing the glass. The scene is so often repeated in movies and television that we all think we grew up that way. We didn’t, my family’s house faced west, it was more a stoop than a porch and it sure wasn’t covered, but I have an image in my head. One that I’ve been fortunate enough to create on my own adult front porch that I sometimes use to sip teas and mint-infused adult beverages while visiting with friends.
But what does all that have to do with mint? Well, tradition teaches us a lot about herbs and their uses. Old wives’ tales, while rooted in tradition and not so much science has so much more to offer the way we care for ourselves than doctors and lawyers would have us believe. Our native peoples have a whole system of using herbs and foods as medicine.
Physically, though, consuming mint makes you sweat which has the effect of cooling the body down. It also feels cool to the skin which is why so many muscle rubs and creams contain menthol (the active cooling ingredient in mint). Mint toothpastes and mouthwashes have antimicrobial properties which is why it’s used so often in the mouth. It’s also good for tummy issues as it helps relax the smooth muscle tissue providing relief for gas, bloating, and indigestion.
Mint is a powerhouse of an herb and is gentle enough for everyone, even kids! If you want to start trying herbal teas, mint is where it’s at.
So there you go, a simple and tasty summertime cooler. I hope you try it and if you do I hope you let me know how you liked it!
Interested in more summertime cooler recipes? Let’s talk about putting a tasting together!
More than once in the past few days I’ve seen people on social media desperately trying to scrub something off of another human’s face. In each of the videos the scrubber was going to town on their kids face with a dry Kleenex. I’m still cringing thinking about how painful it seemed to be. Lots of crying kids…
As I’m feeling sorry for these poor kids who have markered up or smeared lipstick across their entire face, I’m wondering why their adult doesn’t know about using oil to take all sorts of things off human skin.
Have you ever heard of oil cleansing? It works on the simple concept that like dissolves like. So anything that is lipid-based or oil-based should take off most skin-safe products that are on the skin or in the hair. There’s a lot of information online about oil cleansing along with what products to use as a skincare routine, this is not what I’m talking about here.
I’m talking about using oil to clean up the occasional skin-based messes. Makeup, stage makeup, Aunt Myrna’s lip prints on your forehead, grease smears from fixing the kid’s bicycle chain that keeps falling off, adhesives, tree sap…anything that has oil in it should respond. And because our skin has a layer of oil on it, even messes that don’t have a lot of oil content might come off (at least partially) as the cleaning oil combines with the oil on the skin. Depending on what you’re working with will depend on the time and number of applications required to remove it.
What Kind of Oil Should You Use?
For skin-based use, I usually opt for a food grade oil. I think using an oil you can eat is going to ensure safety overall and it reduces the chances that you may have a reaction. If you can eat it with no problem, you should be able to tolerate it on your skin for a short period of time.
Coconut oil is probably going to be the most economical option. You just need to let it warm in your hand to use if it’s still solid. The downside of coconut oil is that it’s a drying oil. Sounds counterintuitive, but it’s best to try one of the others if you already have dry skin.
Olive oil is also a great option. The molecules are large, and they float across the skin making this a better choice if you’ve got a big mess on your hands (or face). Olive oil will stay active long enough to dissolve the mess and give you the opportunity to wipe and then wash your skin clean. I once used olive oil to remove adhesive from a wood floor. It worked perfectly leaving the floor pristine.
Avocado oil is a good option. It’s a little on the expensive end of the spectrum, but it’s really nice for the skin. The molecules are smaller than olive oil and depending on your skin may absorb rather quickly not staying open long enough to clean up without having to reapply.
Non Food-Based Products
Jojoba oil (ho-ho-bah) is an excellent option for skin but is a specialty oil that is harder to obtain in many areas and much more expensive ounce for ounce. Also, it’s not really an oil, but a wax and it’s best to not to eat it as it is non-digestible to humans. That being said, I’d probably opt for one of the above oils for cleaning and reserve the jojoba for an after-cleansing moisturizer. You would choose jojoba if you’re sensitive or allergic to the others. Jojoba is one of the very least sensitizing products we have available for skin-based use.
You could also use a made-for-skin mineral oil or oil-based cream if you prefer. These are definitely not safe to use as food though.
How to Use Oil to Clean Your Skin
Gather all your supplies:
oil of your choice
cotton balls
paper towels
facecloth
your everyday facial cleanser or soap
Set up your cleaning station near a sink or tub. When you’re ready, start by brushing off the big chunks. Next, use as many cotton balls as necessary to dab a liberal amount of oil onto the soiled areas or for large areas just pour some oil in your hand and rub it on. Depending on where and what you’ve got going on you can gently rub the oils around to lift and dissolve the grime. Once the gunk starts to move around, use a paper towel to gently wipe it away. When you’ve got most of it off you can wash with soap and water. Rinse and repeat the oil application and the washing until you’re as clean as you want to be. Don’t forget to follow up with your favorite moisturizer or rub a few drops of oil onto your skin.
Caution!!!
You may be tempted to just get in the shower and do this, but oil on a shower floor is extra slippery so I don’t recommend it. Do all your oil-based cleaning first, then get in the shower. And there’s always the risk of clogging up pipes with an oil that solidifies when not warm. It’s best to throw as much oil in the trash can before rinsing it down the drain.
If you’ve never used oil to clean your skin before and it sounds like something you’d like to try, take a minute to consider any allergens or skin sensitivities you might have. The last thing you want is to irritate the skin further than it might already be. Select an oil that you know you’re not allergic to. I mentioned earlier how I like edible oils for this job. That’s because I know my chance of reaction is low if I already eat the oil.
Also, consider what kind of product you’re trying to remove from your skin. Makeups with glitter or reflective particles may be sharp and a dab, wait, dab technique might work better than rubbing. I once bought a specialty lipstick for a Mardi Gras party that finished with a glitter application. That stuff was like glass and was not only unwearable, but ruined my lips trying to get it off. Tree saps and adhesives can also be difficult to remove. No matter what method you try to remove stuff from your skin use your best judgement to not damage yourself.
I’ve not tried this method on fabric, only skin, glass, and finished wood. Fabrics will definitely absorb the oil and you may never get it out. Other surfaces may also not react well to this method. Take care not to damage your treasures.
A Word About Essential Oils
Essential oils are a different beast, and though we have all seen how they can be used to clean everything under the sun, I never recommend using an undiluted essential oil on the skin. This can cause skin-based reactions on many people. Always ensure the essential oil you’re going to use is safe for skin-based use, then dilute your essential oils before putting them on your skin for any reason.
Okay, I hope this has been helpful. Mostly just remember that like dissolves like and if you’re looking for a safe and gentle cleaner for your skin, oil may be just what you’re looking for.
I suppose it’s never too late to incarnate and transform. Just look at the lowly cicada bug. They spend 13 or 17 years (depending on their genes) lying about underground nibbling at roots before they emerge from their subterranean den, immediately molt their exoskeleton, and head off in search of a partner with which to reproduce. They’re not particularly attractive unless you’re a bug expert and they don’t seem to have any type of baggage keeping them from their mission.
It’s cicada season in Alabama. We have the 13-year variety and this year is one of the big waves. We get a few every year because some get confused, but this year there’s more than I’ve ever seen. They’re currently crawling out of the ground across the yard, porch, my laundry room. I can’t step outside without stepping onto their molted exoskeletons. They leave their creepy husks on the porches, hanging from the plants in my garden and the exterior walls of the house and shed. Some are even molting in the grass and clover. My dogs have taken to snacking on the larvae as they crawl through the yard, but they just keep coming. I am beginning to wonder if the whole swarm of locusts thing wasn’t cicadas.
My mom’s favorite weatherman, James Spann, has become the clearing house for people showing their favorite cicada-based dishes. I think that’s a little too close to crickets. No thanks. Yuck!
Fun Fact!
Cicadas are arthropods and in the same phylum as shellfish. So, if you have a shellfish allergy, best to avoid them. How do I know this? Facebook. Specifically, two really smart guys I went to high school with. One learned the shellfish fact from one of the science teachers he works with. The other one confirms that they taste like a cross between shrimp and crawfish. Being deathly allergic to shellfish, I will take their words for it.
What do cicadas have to do with massage? Well, hopefully not a lot inside the treatment room, but they do seem to be causing quite a bit of stress in my area so that could be a tie in. I find them somewhat inspirational. Stick with me. I think we could all be a bit more like the cicadas, sitting in the top of a tree screaming about what we want and ignoring all the haters.
Do something new, it’s good for your mental health! Just do it inside if you don’t like big, red-eyed flying bugs. Eek! And if the screaming is wearing on you as much as it is on me, why not try some binaural beats music to drown out the noise.
Cadaver studies have never been my thing but working with the human body for the last 15+ years has apparently tempered my squeamishness into curiosity. What an amazing experience and such a gift getting to learn from people who have donated their bodies to science. The reverence Gil has for the people and their families is so heartening and gives me hope that the best of humanity is still out there waiting for us to find them.
Can I say that there was one particular thing I learned that will translate into my work that you’ll recognize as immediately different? No, maybe not yet, but it’s actually the most thorough exploration of the nerve bodies I’ve ever been exposed to. It was amazing how he was able to show the nerves where and how they presented physically inside the body and then tie them to movement, sensory, and even emotions. My explanation doesn’t even do justice to his presentation, you just have to experience it for yourself.
As far as layering this into my current work, it will be another body of information I have access to sift through when making decisions about appropriate treatment strategies. This class also gives me a reference point as to where to start looking with certain issues. Hello, sciatic nerve! And again, this is the most thorough education I’ve ever been through for the nervous system. It’s something I’ve been actively missing and trying to fill in for years. We’ll see how it manifests together.
For Bodyworkers
If you’re here looking for more information about Gil, he was everything I’d hoped for and probably more if I’m being honest. Warm, funny, witty, and of course so, so intelligent. This is not a class I’ll forget any time soon and to be honest, I’ll probably take it again when it’s available on the website. If you’re thinking of taking it, do it! No regrets!
Back in February I arrived home from work one evening and was greeted by a really stinky house and the news that the stove tried to self-immolate while I was gone. It seems the broiler wouldn’t turn off and had to be killed at the breaker. After a bit of troubleshooting and testing the broiler continued to not want to turn off and we decided to unplug Old Crusty forever leaving us to a life with no stove.
He was over 26 years old and had served us well for many years. He helped feed our family breakfasts, lunches, suppers and snacks not to mention other friends and family through countless meal trains, holidays, church suppers, and parties. Old Crusty was a faithful servant. I felt a little bad about his demise.
Technology Changes Were Shocking
When I started shopping, I was surprised to find the dramatic changes in cookstove technologies. It took way longer to research and decide on a new appliance. I thought the job was done when I finally ordered the unit, sight unseen, because no one was carrying the one that would best fit our needs.
That’s when we got slapped with delivery a month out from the order date. I panicked a little, but immediately started planning on how we could do this without a fully functional kitchen for a month. It would be a learning experience, I reasoned, and possibly fun in a stressful sort of way. Being fortunate, we have access to a microwave, hot pot, coffee pot, electric griddle, a grill, an Instant Pot, Crockpot, a steamer, a toaster, and a toaster oven. Surely, we could make this work.
The decision fatigue was the first thing that hit. How to boil an egg with all of these small electric appliances? The answer, not very easily. And so it went for every meal, decision after decision after creative problem solving session. After a couple of days, the depression started to set in. I don’t do well with constant change. I need a stable, repeatable environment for certain things. Food seems to be one of them.
Then while we’re still struggling, trying to establish some repeatable processes that will help us put food on the table in a reasonable time frame, I receive another email stating that not only would we not be receiving our new stove as promised, they were estimating a new delivery date six more weeks out from the original delivery date. Some tears were shed over that one.
What I’m Learning
We are eating out way too much from sheer fatigue
The quality of foods we are eating at home has decreased and are by far much more processed than our normal diet because they are no-cook or don’t require an in-depth cooking process
We are generating much more garbage
We are generating next to nothing for the compost bin
Our food budget has increased dramatically while nutritional value has tanked
You can use a steamer to “boil” a lot of things. Rice, eggs, veggies, etc.
Safety issues with small electrics increase the chance of accidents and injuries
I have a perpetual stomachache, brain fog, low motivation, and am overall more emotional than normal
How Do You Deal With the Stress?
So, as you may have guessed by now, this not having a stove thing is turning into quite the catastrophe. The effects of not being able to feed myself and my family in the manner we’re accustomed is turning into a larger discussion in my household about food insecurity and the lack of access to the equipment needed to prepare healthy foods. How do people do it? I literally threatened to build a fire in the backyard at one point just so I could boil a pot of water.
I’ve learned how to use a toaster oven and am happy to say I have a better idea of my strengths when it comes to cooking. I did finally break down and purchase a hot plate because I am primarily a stovetop cook for satisfying the day-to-day nutritional needs of the family. The hot plate eliminated a lot of stress because I could finally cook in a way that made more sense to me than trying to press a bunch of small electrics into a job they really weren’t designed for. It also gives everyone a tool that is familiar enough that I’m not having to do all the cooking.
Through this exercise, I have also learned that I have way too many tools in my kitchen arsenal that I won’t use, even in this semi-emergency situation. I’ll be doing a cleanout of those soon though I will probably wait until the new stove eventually arrives. Just in case…meanwhile I’m trying to manage the stress of a sub-functioning kitchen while dealing with sub-optimal nutrition. It’s a lot.
Have you ever dealt with a lengthy repair process? What kind of stress did you experience and what helped? Drop a comment and let’s talk about this.
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m not much on the ooey, gooey, lovey, dovey stuff on Valentine’s Day, but I thought I would drop an herbal Love Potion here for your tasting pleasure!
In our recent Love Potions: An Herbal Exploration for the Heart class, we made and tasted this heart-warming elixir that you can make at home any time. It’s a lovely pick me up, sans caffeine, warm and comforting with a little bit of spice to add interest.
Cacao & Roses
A Love Potion for the Heart
1 tsp Cacao Powder 1 tsp Rooibos (a teabag works too) 1/8 tsp of Ground Cardamom ½ tsp of Rose Petals Cream or Coconut Cream (optional) Honey, Stevia, or your Sweetener of choice
Drop the first four ingredients into a brewing vessel (I like a glass jar or single-serve teapot) and top with 8-12 oz. of boiling water. Steep for 5-10 minutes, strain, sweeten and enjoy.
I find this tea creamy and chocolatey all by itself, but some warm cream takes it from lovely to decadent. And if you’re feeling like an extra fancy treat, garnish with a few rose petals.
I hope you love this heart-warming Cacao & Roses Love Potion as much as I do. If you’re interested in a tasting or learning more about ways to use herbs to help support your heart, shoot me an email.
♥
THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
My friend goes on to talk about how to make winter a bit easier on extroverts. I was inspired by her post and here for your reading pleasure are my completely unsolicited ideas about how to make friends with the cold, dark, and rainy/snowy season.
First, we need to appreciate that in order to have the light, we must also have the dark. We experience this daily as the earth turns us toward the sun and then toward the moon. The arc of the year gives us warm weather and then the cold.
The earth needs to rest and replenish, cold stratification is essential for the germination of many seeds that grow and nourish us during the other seasons. We also need the rest. Our bodies and minds need to slow down, just like the earth does. We need the dark and solitude to germinate the ideas and joy that nourish us as we move forward in our lives. We can’t just skip the hard parts.
Angela’s post put me in mind of the hygge movement we’ve been seeing the last few years, but with a twist. As an introvert, I don’t think of having to make friends with January and the darker, shorter days. I like the concept of hibernation. If I experience stress over it, it’s because the weather is getting bad and I’m not already at home in my safe, warm spot. My friend very directly guided me to think about how this isn’t the case for everyone. I am biased towards winter and everything it stands for because of my deep introversion. So, I stepped back and thought about self-care for someone who struggles through this season.
So…let’s talk about how we make friends with these darker, wetter, more solitary days.
Full Spectrum Light
Get outside first thing in the morning. When I get up, I open the back door and outside I go with the dogs. If it’s sunny or even cloudy I step out from under the porch and face the sun letting it shine on me. If it’s rainy, windy, or just generally nasty, I stand on the porch and look towards the sun for as long as I can stand it. The light is delicious to your eyes, there’s actual science behind the light. The light our sun provides helps regulate the hormones that drives the circadian rhythm and sleep readiness. And by now I think we all know that if you’re not sleeping well, you’re not living well.
If it’s chilly outside, the morning ritual of greeting the sun can be a nice wake up call. Only stay as long as you’re comfortable, but while you’re out there take a moment to appreciate the world around you even if it is sleeping.
What if you can’t get outside?
Many craft lights are now full spectrum. These can be helpful in the afternoon and early evening for extending your exposure to full spectrum lighting. I spend many hours during the winter with mine. I don’t have a diagnosis for Seasonal Affective Disorder, but occasionally suffer the blues. My full-spectrum, craft light helps even if I’m just watching television or reading. I do have to be careful to turn it off a couple of hours before I plan on sleeping as I’ve noticed that it affects my ability to fall asleep.
Warm Drinks
Warm drinks can be really helpful during the winter. Tea, coffee, hot lemon water, cacao, whatever works for your personal taste. When I’m cold or bored or just in the ‘searching for something I can’t identify’ mode, I make tea. There’s comfort in focusing inward to decide what kind of warm drink I want and then appreciating the ritual of making myself something nice, just for me. And then when it’s ready, you have a warm mug to hang onto and sip from.
Visceral Entertainment
Books, puzzles, movies, games, crafts… I’ve seen pictures of some younger people’s homes lately. They struck me as odd and I couldn’t figure out why until I realized, they don’t have books, bookshelves, games, puzzles, physical movies, etc. Everything is virtual for the younger generation. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but I’m suggesting taking an actual book out of the library. Something made of paper that you hold in your hands, something you can smell and touch and feel. Same for puzzles and games. Yes, I’m suggesting you get off the internet. Set down your screen-based entertainment and set yourself up with a visceral experience. You’ll still be using your eyeballs, just in a different way and you just might find unexpected changes occur when you spend some of your day offline.
Hygge
I’ve already touched on this, but if you don’t already have a cocoon, make yourself one. Go find a deliciously soft, warm blanket and find your spot. Put the blanket on your spot. Warm up your toe beans and throw it in with the blanket. Change into your most comfy pajamas. Put your books, glasses, phone, journal, pen, a cup of warmth and your companion or pet next to your cocoon, crawl in, snuggle up, and enjoy.
Curate Your Atmosphere
Make a simmer pot that smells like comfort to you. In addition to combating the dry nose most folks get when the heat is blasting, you’ll have a passive comfort in the air. Design your atmosphere to calm and uplift you with every breath.
Learn Something New
Learn something new, whether it’s a class that is primarily book learning or something visceral and touch-based like knitting, painting, or whittling. Learning something new can help the brain stay engaged and focused on a new and exciting experience rather than grinding on about how miserable the weather is. Think about using actual books you can hold in your hands, smell, and flip pages or a sumptuous yarn to run your fingers and hands over. Or enjoy the earthy scent of the wood as you work. Make your learning a multi-sensory experience.
Take a Walk
Get outside in the cold and weather. Don’t spend too long, some places are dangerous in the winter without proper preparation. Here in the southeastern U.S., it’s usually pretty mild so when I’m feeling really out of sorts and overwhelmed, I just go outside and be in it. I revel in the cold as it seeps through my clothing and hair to press its ambient weight against my skin. This last winter solstice I went out barefoot and danced on the soft, moist earth under the moon. I was frozen when I came back inside, but the joy of just experiencing the weather as we turned toward the light again was so uplifting and energizing.
January Journaling
This is probably the part of my friends Facebook post that spoke the loudest and what ultimately led me to write this tome on making friends with the dark. Find a journal, use it just for January, write in it every day for thirty-one days, then put it away. Next January, take out your January Journal and read it. Remember how you felt and know that you lived through it feeling perhaps the same way you’re feeling currently.
For those of you who don’t write or journal, it can be as simple as writing down the best thing of the day, the worst thing of the day, and something you want to remember or appreciate about the day. Even if you’re not a writer or journaler, this is a totally doable project. And when you’re finished not only do you reap the psychological rewards of journaling, but you now have a resource to help you through future winters.
If winter is hard for you, design your environment to passively support you. Work on your mindset and keep your mind busy. Reach out to a friend if you need human contact and can’t get out of the house. Most of all take care of yourself, stay warm and hydrated. If you use any of these techniques, I’d love to hear how they worked out for you. Drop a comment and let me know what you think.
THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Shampoo, dish soap, lotion, cosmetics…we are constantly bombarded with chemicals that saturate into the air, our skin, or both (don’t get me started on what they’re doing to the food chain). Some chemicals are safe, like water, yes, it’s a chemical called H20! Others, like many found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets, not so much. The only way to avoid the bad and questionable stuff is to be extra aware of the products we are using in our homes and on our bodies.
It Was Time for a Change
In order to practice what I preach, I made some changes I want to tell you about. You might not know, but I do all the laundry for my massage practice. It’s a cost issue as well as a control issue. Because so many people have so many allergies I try to keep the detergents effective as well as allergen-free. In my travels I have also learned that the chemicals that make up fabric softener are really not the greatest thing for us to be rubbing against our largest organ (the skin) all day long. So I quit using it years ago. In its place I sometimes do a white vinegar rinse, but I found something that works even better and in the long run is way cheaper than even vinegar.
In the winter, while pulling flannel sheets out of the dryer I noticed that there was a tremendous amount of static electricity and the shocks were getting uncomfortable from the sheer force and frequency. I started looking into natural methods I could use to reduce the static. Dryer sheets were out because even though they smell amazing they are notoriously bad for polluting the air in your home.
Enter Wool Dryer Balls
I decided to try wool dryer balls. I had seen them several years ago, but just couldn’t believe that something like this would work. After reading some reviews from other massage therapists who had tried them I went to the craft store, bought some wool yarn, and promptly made my own. There are lots of tutorials online that show you how to make your own. I don’t recommend the pantyhose in the washer method…just trust me on that.
Then I bought some wool dryer balls. I’m currently running 6 wool dryer balls to a load and just that has drastically decreased the amount of static in the sheets. It is also cutting 5-10 minutes off the drying time for every load, which doesn’t seem like much until you consider that I average 9-10 loads of laundry per week. 45-100 minutes of drying time adds up! I don’t have to pay for so much electricity AND the sheets are softer than when I used fabric softener in the wash. Win, Win!
Small Changes Add Up!
While it doesn’t seem like much, these are the small kinds of changes that can add up to help you achieve bigger wellness goals. Switching to wool dryer balls has not only cut out dangerous chemicals from rubbing against our skin, but it’s helped to clean up the air inside my home and the water that flows out to my septic tank. It also reduces our collective carbon footprint by reducing energy usage.
And remember, there’s no judgement here. I’m just giving you information on small changes that might make an impact. Not everyone is ready for change when I write about it, but it’s here when you need it.
Psstttt… I’ve recently seen suggestions on social media about further reducing the static in your dryer by putting safety pins in your wool dryer balls. Please don’t do that, it will put holes in your clothes!
I don’t know about you, but I get a really dry nose at the beginning of winter. Every year when the heat kicks in full time, my nasal passages dry out and start causing a lot of discomfort. When I was a kid, it was a surefire recipe for a sinus infection.
The mucous membranes in your nose are designed to trap environmental dust, debris, and pollens and keep them from reaching the lower respiratory tract and lungs. When you have dry sinuses, the potential for those molecules to reach the lungs increases. Not to mention, dry sinuses can crack and tear making another entry point for infection into your body.
As I’ve gotten older and learned a bit more about taking care of myself, I’ve figured out a thing or two about how to keep the sinuses moisturized until my mucous membranes adjust to the new environment. Read on for five tips on how to help your sinuses feel better naturally!
Check Your Beverages
The first tip I have for you is to check your drink. Are you drinking enough to keep yourself hydrated? And, please don’t hate me, are you drinking a lot of caffeine? Caffeine is a diuretic (it’s dehydrating) so it can be difficult to adequately hydrate if you’re having more than a token cup in the morning. I love black tea in the morning so I know how hard it can be to give up your morning ritual. Try to cut back until your body adjusts to the lower humidity caused by the heat.
As far as tasty herbals that might be helpful, I find red rooibos comforting as well as energetically moistening to the system. It’s also naturally decaffeinated and hosts more health benefits than I have time to list here.
Add Steam to Your Environment
A lot of people use vaporizers. I’m not a fan. A hot shower can be helpful, but at 3 gallons of water per minute, plus a water heater that takes money to run and probably won’t keep up well after a while it can get expensive.
I prefer simmer pots. Have you ever done a simmer pot? Do you know what a simmer pot is? A simmer pot is a big pot of water you put on your stove. If you’re old enough and lucky enough to have known your grandparents, you may have seen a large pot sitting on their wood stove. That was a simmer pot.
At a minimum, it’s just a pot with water on low heat that is sending moisture into your environment. You know I can’t leave anything alone, so I like to add herbs, spices, and sometimes fruit to make the house smell yummy while raising the humidity levels. What you add (or don’t) to the pot can be strategic. Maybe you just want the house to smell good, maybe you’re also suffering with some congestion.
I recently read about someone starting a simmer pot that ended up being an immune boosting, scratchy throat relieving tea. The whole house was sick with a respiratory bug and instead of mom-ing everyone individually she told them to hit the simmer pot for a cup of wellness. I thought that was brilliant! Unfortunately, I can’t find the article anymore…
Simple Simmer Pot Recipe
Water Orange Slices, dried or fresh Rosemary Sprigs or a Tablespoon of dried rosemary Place water in a pot over a low heat, add in orange slices and rosemary and wait for the steam.
Enjoy! And remember to turn the stove off before you go to bed. Safety is important!
Steaming Your Sinuses
I’ve already mentioned taking a big inhale of the steam coming off your soup or tea, and who could resist a good sniff over a simmer pot, but we can be a lot more intentional by creating a steam inhalation station for a specific treatment for your dry sinuses. It’s a pretty simple setup that you can do with things you already have around the house. Find a heat friendly bowl (think a big soup bowl), boil some water, and grab a bath towel. Place your bowl on a heat safe surface, pour in some boiling water, bend over the bowl with your face close enough to feel the steam (but not burn), drape your head and the bowl with a towel and breathe in through your nose. You could add moistening or demulcent herbs appropriate for helping ease the nasal dryness.
Herbal Neti Rinse
Do you use a neti pot to rinse your sinuses? It’s a pretty polarizing piece of equipment. Most people love it or hate it. For nasal dryness I find the neti pot to be an essential tool. Especially since I started integrating herbs into my neti rinse. Mullein tincture + saline water = almost immediate relief from dryness (for me) in a sinus rinse. Check the Helpful Articles section for more information on selecting herbs for nasal dryness to use in a neti rinse.
What if you don’t have herbal tinctures? I’ve brewed teas and used those diluted in my sinus rinse for different things. I don’t recommend getting wild and crazy with what you’re pouring up your nose without further study and some experience actually using a neti pot. If you do want to use a neti pot just getting the saline solution into your sinuses can help and the herbs aren’t required.
Fun fact about saline
Saline is a salty water designed for use internally or on/with mucous membranes. The salt used in saline water can be very drying to the skin. But used in a neti rinse it can actually help moisturize the mucous membranes in the nose. If you wear contacts, you probably have a bottle of saline contact solution in your bathroom cabinet that you use to maintain your contacts and moisturize your eyes when they get dry. And if you’ve ever had surgery or spent any time in the hospital it’s likely you’ve been given an IV drip of saline to combat dehydration. Also, those hydration powders everyone seems to be dumping in their water bottles right now are full of salt. So, salt is good for hydrating internally, but is drying externally.
Dry sinuses can be aggravating and painful and I hope this gives article gives you some simple techniques to add to your arsenal of self-care tricks. Drop a comment if you have other suggestions for simple, at-home techniques to relieve dry sinuses.
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