Stay Warm this Winter
5:16 AM Posted by jo
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I wrote these suggestions on Jo's Health Corner's facebook page last winter when people experienced extreme weather conditions around the globe. I live in California but I was born and raised in Sweden so I have had my share of cold weather. I actually feel colder here. Well, back home in Sweden the houses were warmer inside, and I was better dressed for winter. Here is a picture of my daughter when we lived in the foothills of the Alps. She loved playing in the snow and she was dressed for cold winters. A few years later she and her brother enjoyed some snow play at the grandparents house in Oregon.
Being cold is not fun at all. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep the body warm when at home or leaving the house. It might even be a way to keep the electricity bill down.
1.Eat to stay warm
Eat plenty of good quality protein to increase the metabolism and to burn fuel. Eat soups, and stews since comfort foods will aid in keeping you warm from the inside. Spicy foods like chili, salsa or other food with hot peppers increase the body temperature since it makes your body run hotter than normal.
1.Eat to stay warm
Eat plenty of good quality protein to increase the metabolism and to burn fuel. Eat soups, and stews since comfort foods will aid in keeping you warm from the inside. Spicy foods like chili, salsa or other food with hot peppers increase the body temperature since it makes your body run hotter than normal.
2. Herbals
Capsicum ( Cayenne) taken internally or externally has the ability to increase the heat in your body. It has the ability to increase the circulation to all parts of the body which will aid in keeping your warmer, and it has gained the reputation as a cure-all. Read my post about capsicum
Cinnamon and ginger also have the ability to increase the circulation and can be used as a tea. My children always add cinnamon on their hot cereal.
3. Essential Oils
Essential oils may be used to increase the circulation to keep the body warm. You can blend the oils in some massage/vegetable oils and apply before you are going outside, or if you are cold inside. A warming foot bath may be easier than taking a bath when cold, add 4-6 drops of essential oils to a small tub and soak your feet. Dispersion is important because most essential oils will float on the surface and may burn the skin. Here are more ideas on how to use essential oils.
Suitable oils are bay, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, eucalyptus, pine, rosemary, thyme, peppermint. Black pepper and cinnamon should be used in low dilutions only and eucalyptus should not be applied to the face of children.
Chilblains
Chilblains are reddish, blue discolorations of the skin and accompanied by swelling affecting parts of the body exposed to cold. Children are more prone to chilblains on their feet in winter. Poor circulation increases it.
According to Battaglia, rubefacient oils will help stimulate the local circulation and can be used if the skin is unbroken. Battaglia says the most effective oils are ginger, nutmeg, black pepper and Spanish marjoram. Use a 3% dilution and massage the affected area. These oils are stronger and caution must be used.
Baths and massage with lemon and rosemary are also recommended.
Stay warm!
Before you leave:
I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.
Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.
Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
- Topical Application
- Inhaling Essential Oils
- Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
- How to Dilute Essential Oils
- Vita Flex Technique
If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.
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