Colds - Prevention Tips
Author: Linda Sinden Date Posted:6 May 2019
As autumn is giving way to the increasing coolness indicating winter is on the horizon, it’s timely to consider what causes colds and what you can do to stay strong and prevent them...
Ayurvedic understanding - What Causes a Cold?
It is more common to have a cold during the cooler months, especially during winter and spring. The familiar symptoms of runny nose, cough, mucous, headache, aches and pains point mostly to an imbalance of Kapha dosha.
Due to the colder weather the cool and moist qualities of Kapha increase within us. If we are eating a large quantity of food in the evening meal, or taking heavy foods like cheese and meats or fried foods in the evening meal, or taking cold food and drinks, have become over-tired or stressed, are sleeping poorly or have been overworking, then the change in season along with these lifestyle factors can cause the moist qualities of Kapha to increase further. When they become aggravated or increased beyond what is comfortable within you, they can give rise to mucous congestion and a runny nose.
At the same time Vata is often imbalanced too, causing reduced or irregular digestive fire - agni. This leads to feeling cold or chilled where the appetite is diminished or irregular, causing poor digestion, resulting in the build up of impurities from partial or incomplete digestion. This then sets the scene for an infection to arise.
What Can I do? Life happens!
Yes, I understand, sometimes the pace of life can make it hard to move with the seasons by adjusting our eating habits and food choices as we move into the colder weather. Plus the recommendation out there that raw food is best no matter what time of the year, can also be confusing! It’s not always easy to have the main quantity of food at lunch when others don’t and the tempting, rich dessert at dinner can be hard to resist, especially when you are feeling tired and worn down and feel like you need a lift of energy! So sometimes we just have to deal with the consequences of a cold! But as the saying goes, prevention is worth a pound of cure!
For Prevention
Why not have a helping hand this winter by taking the following herbal products to help your body stay strong and prevent the onset of a cold. These herbals are designed to help maintain immune strength, minimise the load on your immunity from poor digestion and provide extra ‘umph’ to maximize your energy resources during winter.
- FluCol Defence helps bolster the body's natural defences. Take 1-2 tablets twice daily 30 minutes before breakfast and evening meal.
- Energy Plus supports mental and physical energy, strength and stamina. Take 1 tablet twice a day 30 minutes before breakfast and evening meal.
- Digest Tone helps keep your system free of toxins, is antioxidant rich, supports uptake of nutrients and healthy elimination of impurities. Take 1 tablet before breakfast and lunch and 2 prior evening meal.
- Throat Ease are tasty refreshing lozenges that promote fresh breath, a powerful and clear voice, help soothe a dry or irritated throat. Take these when you throat feels dry or scratchy or if you have to talk a lot.
Also aim to get adequate sleep (8-9 hours a night) be physically active while staying out of the cold weather, favour warm, seasonal foods that are freshly cooked and taken at regular intervals with hunger, for optimal nourishment. Drink 1 cup of Sniffle Free Tea daily. If your digestive capacity needs further help take Digest Plus 1 tablet 20 minutes after each main meal.
Wishing you the bliss of balance as Autumn draws to a close and Winter beckons.
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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