Happy, Healthy Fall and Winter

By Tracy Soltesz, LAc, MAc

You may think it is too soon to begin thinking about the winter holidays, but now is the time to begin prepping for a healthy and stress free winter season. According to Chinese Medicine principals, the winter season begins October 31st.

This makes sense when we ponder what is occurring in nature. By solstice, the longest night of the year, which typically falls about December 21st, the animals who migrate south have long since left us, and those remaining are deep in their winter hibernations allowing their bodies plenty of rest to replenish before spring. Slowly losing natural sunlight since September, the plants have gone into a state of hibernation and are conserving resources until the renewed light of spring allows them to grow and produce again.

Take a tip from nature when learning how to stay healthy during fall and winter. In recent years, with the ability to artificially extend daylight hours coupled with the constant push to fit more holiday festivities into our hectic schedule, it is no wonder we have seen a rise in seasonal stress related illness like seasonal affective disorder, cluster headaches, migraines, and chronic lung or sinus infections throughout the colder months.

To preserve health during fall and winter, first prioritize and make decisions based on this. Feel guilty saying “no” to the five different holiday parties happening every weekend? Chances are if you are skipping much needed sleep to cram everything in, you'll be too exhausted or ill by the end of the season to be truly present at any event.

Be certain to add natural sunlight hours into the day by planning a walk or meditation outside. Many seasonal illnesses are a result of not enough natural sunlight for the brain to produce the proper hormone balance it needs to stay well, and most indoor lighting does not have the full spectrum that the brain needs.

Lastly, find time to plan out restful activities, rather than simply trying to plug them into your jam-packed schedule. Did you know that without enough dormant time at low temperatures, a bulb will not be able to produce a flower come spring? Apply this same concept to your winter by scheduling in “downtime” like reading a good book, relaxing in the bathtub, and doing meditation or slow movement exercises like Tai Chi and Qi Gong.