In comparison to the European winter Australia has mild temperatures but it also does get cold and damp especially in the evenings and mornings.
Because of the Ayurvedic rule that ‘like attracts like’ in the winter season Kapha and Vata dosha are likely to aggravate and often result in weight gain, depression, cough and cold, sinusitis etc.
To stay healthy it is recommended to have an Ayurvedic consultation to plan a tailored program to suit your individual needs to stay healthy so you are able to enjoy this season.
A few tips below to stay balanced:
Favour a warm, nourishing diet to pacify Vata without aggravating Kapha
We’re designed to eat a little bit more in winter. However, it must be the right types of foods to nurture whilst minimising congestion. Rice, barley, rye, healthy oils (ghee, linseed, avocado, hemp, olive), and seasonal root vegetables in soups and stews are all recommended.
Avoid Vata aggravating non-seasonal food, such as salads and raw food in general. Avoid refrigerated water, lukewarm water aids in digestion.
Have a warm breakfast (porridge with a sprinkle of Kapha churna and honey is excellent), steamed vegetables, rice with a little ghee for lunch and at night time try some hot milk with warming spices such as ginger, cinnamon or cardamon.
Try some Lemongrass Tea
Ingredients: 4 glasses of water, 6-10 leaves of lemon grass, 1/4 tsp grounded pepper powder, a pinch of grated ginger , 1 pinch of turmeric powder
- Boil the lemon grass in 4 cups of water
- add pepper powder and crushed ginger and turmeric
- let it steep for 2-3 minutes
- optional: add natural sweetener
Stay warm
An Ayurvedic oil massage followed by a herbal steam is excellent to ward off the cold or ground yourself with a daily self-massage with a warm black sesame seed oil followed by a warm shower/ bath to prevent feelings of coldness, and stiff, aching joints. Use aromatherapy oils that are warm, pungent and uplifting such as camphor, cinnamon, cloves, cedar and frankincense.
Favour clothes which are bright, cheery colours, such as reds and oranges. Finally, always wear a hat outside as 60% of body heat is lost through the head.
Excercise
Avoid day sleeping as this will diminish your digestive fire and will make you feel heavy and sluggish.
Be up by 6.30-7am at the latest and to do some vigorous exercise to get the lymph moving preventing congestion. Some Sun Salutations are ideal as they build up heat and work all the major muscles
Ayurvedic herbal supplements / winter essentials
- Chyavanprash, Amalaki Rasayana and Ashwagandhaleha are ideal over the winter month and will help to strengthen the lungs and boost the body’s immune system – preventing cough and colds.
- To help you get over a cough Sitopladi churna is a wonderful Ayurvedic formulation which is also liked and suited for children.
- Kapha and Vata churna – a warming spice mix which can be added to your meals.
- Vata taila, Kapha taila, black sesame oil – are wonderful oils to use for your daily self massage at home.
- Amalaki/ Indian gooseberry is the best source of Vitamin C and mostly beneficial during this season
- Try a stimulating Kapha tea in the morning and a Vata tea in the afternoon
For more information on winter health please contact info@lakshmiayurveda.com.au or call Karin: 0406810547
* 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘎𝘈. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘺𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯. 𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴.
