The days are getting shorter and the nights chillier. The cooler months are almost upon us and having a healthy winter is a priority for many of us who don’t have time to get sick! This winter instead of flooding your system with unnatural chemical medications, look to the ancient practise of Ayurvedic medicine to help prevent and treat those winter ailments.
How Can Ayurvedic Medicine Help You Stay Healthy?
Ayurvedic medicine focuses on natural ways of boosting the immune system and flushing out illness inducing toxins. One of main principles in Ayurvedic practices is ‘food as medicine’. This means Incorporating immune-boosting, nutrient dense ingredients into your diet in order to give your body the tools it needs to fight infection and illness naturally.
Foods help you stay healthy include brightly coloured fruits and vegetables such as oranges, blueberries, sweet potato, carrot, spinach and broccoli which are loaded with vitamins and minerals, garlic which has antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties thanks to naturally occurring compound called ‘allicin’, ginger which contains potent anti-viral phytochemicals and mushrooms which are loaded with immune boosting vitamin D.
Herbs are also part of the Ayurvedic medicine cabinet, particularly turmeric, black pepper, cardamom, clove and cinnamon which all have potent anti-inflammatory benefits and can be added to your cooking.
Drinking a warming cup of chai is another beautiful way to include these herbs in your diet. The spicy organic chai from Mayde Tea is one of our favorites.
We also love the Tumeric capsules from The Tonik.
Gargle with Salt Water
Salt water helps kill the bacteria in the throat that causes illness. It also loosens excess mucus, and clears out the system. All you need to do is gargle ½ tsp sea salt in 1 cup warm water, 3 times a day.
An American Journal of Preventive Medicine study found that people who gargled 3 times per day saw nearly a 40% reduction in upper respiratory infections.
Nasya Therapy To Knockout Colds
Nasya therapy is an Ayurvedic speciality that allows you to manually flush out your sinuses with a saline or specially prepared solution. Research has suggested that Nasya can help ease cold and flu symptoms like congestion, facial pain and pressure and infected or irritated sinuses.
The therapy involves specially formulated herbal oil being applied to the nasal passages by an experienced Ayurvedic practitioner to remove congestion and debris and promote a clear head and balanced constitution.
You can also do this at home with a simple saline solution and a netti pot which can be easily found online. We love this biodegradble netti pot
So instead of relying on unnatural chemical medicines this winter, let nature lend a hand and stay healthy through the use of these Ayurvedic principles.
