13/05/2025
How To Keep Those ‘Winter’ Bugs Away This Season
In Ayurveda, winter and early spring is known as Kapha season. Kapha combines the universal elements of Water and Earth and is responsible for stability and structure in our body, mind and environment. When water and earth are mixed together it becomes mud and these dense qualities are also represented inside and around us. Think cold, wet, soft, slow and heavy.
Imagine those qualities in the body for a second. They translate to congestion, sinus infections, coughing, asthma, sluggishness, excessive sleep, weight gain, high cholesterol, fluid retention in tissues (oedema), aching joints, poor circulation, migraines, sadness, depression, grief and unexpressed emotions.
The flu is a common one and will manifest in different areas of the body depending where it enters from. So, what can you do to help rid the flu faster? Well, firstly by following a healthy diet, lifestyle and taking herbs to boost immunity and prevent it happening in the first place.
REST
It’s always best.
Protect from cold and wind
Especially if you live and work out in the open or by the beach where the winds are higher. Keep your head, ears and neck warm and protected. Ear plugs, muffs and scarves are a great investment to keep warm.
Keep your environment clean
During winter, Ayurvedic hygiene emphasises keeping the home warm, clean, and fragrant with natural herbs like camphor and eucalyptus to balance Kapha and ward off seasonal ailments. Both camphor and eucalyptus offer respiratory support, purify the air, calming and balancing of the doshas and mind qualities.
Try oil pulling
Oil pulling is a popular trend for good reason. It is literally pulling out toxins, supporting oral health whilst also lubricating the whole neck, head and throat area. Try gargling with some black sesame oil twice a day for 3-5 minutes.
Drink only warm water or herbal water
Drinking hot water is something to get used to all year round to naturally aid digestion and flush toxins out of the body. It’s not about quantity, but more about frequency and ideally every 30 minutes you should take a sip. You can also try adding turmeric, black pepper, cumin and ginger to assist. Ice cold drinks (and foods) will put out the digestive fire and constrict the body's channels.
Avoid heavy foods especially in the evening
They will only make you feel worse. These types of foods to avoid are: meat, cheese, ice-cream, yoghurt, and fried food. Go for light, cooked and warm meals with plenty of seasonal vegetables, legumes and grains. Aim to have your meat and fish during the daytime for lunch so you can easily digest your food in the afternoon and have a lighter meal in the evening. Aim to finish eating by 7.30pm if you can. The rule of thumb for yoghurt is to have it during the day and to eat it alone (not with fruit) or leave it alone.
Steam
Try some good old fashion steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil or special medicated oil. Pop boiling water into a bowl, add a few drops, and start breathing it in. Or sprinkle a few drops on the floor of the shower and take a nice hot one and breathe in the steam.
Stay well
Lee Amaya
0410 371 402
info@anamaya.com.au
