Скачать или смотреть Tips for Your Winter Wellness by Herbalist Annie Fox at Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh

Winter Wellness

"Hi! As the season’s are changing, I’d like to speak a little bit on winter wellness. As you can imagine, this is a much broader topic than can fit into a short video, but I want to share a few key tips that can help you stay well this winter.

In the field of herbalism, we believe that preventative medicine can go a long way. This means that doing small tasks that benefit your immune system and overall well-being can go a long way towards preventing illness.

1) Drink warming teas

Although we all have different constitutions - as in we all have different innate body environments - we’re all affected by the seasonal shifts outside. In general, the winter tends to be dark, damp, and cold. During this season, we often spend more time inside and crave heavier foods, which can lead to sluggish digestion and dreaded “colds”. We can all benefit from warming herbs that help to keep our metabolism, or our metabolic fire, well stoked.

Some of my favorite warming plants and herbs are ginger, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and cayenne. These herbs can be added into meals, made into warming Chai tea, or (my favorite) added into hot cocoa for a warming and cozy drink.

2) Stress relief

There’s nothing that weakens our immune systems like stress, so this is another really important facet of wellness. Setting aside time for yourself to read, work on a craft, pet your cat, or drink some tea is essential to settling into your parasympathetic state, which is where restoration happens. Put down your phone, turn off the news, and let yourself disconnect from the craziness of the world. Some of my favorite herbs for unwinding and resetting your nervous system are Holy Basil and Lemon Balm. I also love adaptogens such as reishi and ashwagandha, which can be taken daily and help our body “adapt” to stress.

3) Get outside

It’s really important to stay connected to the seasons as they are changing, in both body and spirit. This helps to lessen the shock that we may feel as colder temperatures roll in - stepping outside of your temperature controlled home and letting your body experience the changing weather outside, even just for a few minutes, will help it acclimate. Gentle exercise, such as going on a walk, also releases endorphins, circulates your blood and life force and ultimately strengthens your immune system. Plus you get the added benefit of seeing all the beauty in the subtle seasonal shifts - autumn leaves, winter skies, the first snowfall. Nourishing the spirit in this way helps to prevent the seasonal blues as well.

4) Warm, cooked foods

Finally, a reminder to make yourself hearty soups, stews, porridges, and chilis where you can pack a lot of veggies and nutrients into an easy to digest, warming meal. You can add some of the warming herbs we discussed earlier, along with those awesome anti-viral culinary herbs like thyme, oregano, rosemary, and bay.

Again, these are very simple, basic tips that anyone can incorporate into their winter routine. If you’re curious about more specific ways you can support your unique body with herbal medicine this winter, please reach out!"


https://counselingwellnesspgh.com/

The Counseling & Wellness Center of Pittsburgh has 5 locations: Pittsburgh, Monroeville, McCandless, South Hills and Greensburg and offers online therapy as well.

Call us at 412-856-WELL

The Counseling & Wellness Center of Pittsburgh has 5 locations: Pittsburgh, Monroeville, McCandless, South Hills and Greensburg and offers online therapy as well.

Call us at 412-856-WELL