12/08/2025
5 ways to Survive the Holiday Season:
Work, spending, care of loved ones (and sometimes running interference) ...the whole shebang.
It can feel like a LOT! (without considering the financial issues most folks I know are experiencing).
What to do?
1) TAKE YOUR TIME:
It may not seem possible, but it is vital. Less is More. Breathe. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself FIRST and FOREMOST. The rest will come easier, regardless. Try not to react if facing a conundrum of wills. Sleep on it, before responding. Sometimes I wonder, when did Christmas become about exhausting ourselves to the point of no return? Oh yeah, I remember,... marketing. Gah! There are herbs that help have been traditionally used to help us through anxiety: these include Damiana, Chamomile, Skullcap, Hawthorn, Milky Oats and Blue Vervain.
2) GET YOUR REST: Although this may seem a version of the first point, it is important. However, many of us (including myself) find rest and sleep difficult at the best of times, and more difficult during a stressful season. To this, I would say: Remember the Plants. They rest during the winter. All the energy that they needed was provided during the time of light. All we need to do is to honour that plant wisdom, and simply rest when we need to (and if that affects the other members of the family, so be it. Maybe they need to rest as well!).
On the herbal front, there are many plants that may help: They include: Skullcap, Ashwagandha, Chamomile, Passionflower, Hops (yes, the same ones in a good I.P.A.), Lemon Balm and Valerian. Of those plants, some are useful to some, but not to others. It does depend on what is causing one's sleeplessness and stress. On that note, there is a lot of data concerning using 'screen time' prior to sleep. I don't feel I need to add to that, except that it is truthful to me. Books trump Screens. Every time.
3) HYDRATE! Although we naturally crave cool drinks in the summer, sometimes we do without drinking enough water during the winter months. We need adequate hydration EVEN MORE during the colder season. Why? Because we are generally getting less moisture from fresh seasonal plants, because of the dryness associated with heating our homes, because of the lack of fluidity in our lives during stressful holiday times.
You can get your water content by drinking water and eating fresh produce (of course!), but also from consuming herbal teas or making broths that may help aid other areas of your health. For broths, consider adding Astragalus, Ginger, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Garlic, Rhodiola, and Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng). For herbal teas, the list is endless, but I tend to gravitate in the winter toward Holy Basil (Tulsi). Mint, Lemon Balm, Alfalfa, Oatstraw, Chamomile and Calendula.
4) STAY ACTIVE: The weather outside may be frightful, but staying active (as in a regular exercise you enjoy) has countless health benefits. The lure of the TV during inclement weather and shorter daylight hours may be strong, but anything you do that moves your body during the season is beneficial. Ideas? Dance, yoga, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, swimming (Aquafit has become especially helpful for me), walking a bit further rather than parking right by the doors to the stores...anything. It all helps. Benefits? Improved cardio (read: heart health and your heart rate), digestion, sleep, and a general feeling of well-being.
5) LIVER HEALTH: This one is a game-changer. Not only are we eating things we likely don't normally eat, but alcohol, higher fat and salt content foods, carbs, sugar and stress can wreak havoc on this most important of organs. Luckily, the liver is one of the body's organs that has the capacity to heal itself. Do yourself a favour. Skip the booze for non-alcoholic bevvies. If you can't or don't want to, or even "just because," consider including liver tonics in your diet like Milk Thistle, Mugwort, and roots of Dandelion, Yellow Dock & Burdock. It's interesting to note that taking care of one's liver often has benefits outside of digestion (such as skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acne, but also hormonal issues and sleep). Often these things take time. Herbs are not like drugs as they generally work much more slowly, with consistent and persistent life changes. Every person is different and we don't have to choose between being "all natural" and doing what we need to feel better.
If you have any questions, I do not charge $ for simple questions from local folks, but may take the time necessary to respond. I'll be closed for biz from December 21 thru Jan 1st.
Consultations are $45 an hour. Clients receive 20% off my products.
I will also be available at the following events:
Saturday, December 13: Penticton Farmers Market Winter Market at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre in Penticton. 9:30-3pm.
Saturday., December 20: 10-4. Held at the Gunbarrel Dining Room, .
