DR. SHELLEY’S CORNER: Winter
-----Dr. Shelley H. Lane, OMD, L.Ac, NTP, has been practicing acupuncture since 1984 in the Santa Barbara area and became certified as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner in 2014
Winter is a time to nourish your deep reservoirs through meditative time, slowing down and getting lots of rest (like bears hibernating). Keeping journals, catching up on reading, and tapping into dreams and sentimental journeys bodes well during these winter months.
Reduce chilled and raw foods as well as cold drinks to help maintain a strong yang force within.
When engaging in outdoor sports, dress appropriately. Avoid stripping down while sweating to avoid a chill while your pores are open. There are also many ways to exercise indoors during inclement weather.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be extremely helpful in improving your immune system and dealing with the stresses and health challenges of the winter months. Adding cod liver oil to your diet boosts vitamin D and A levels to compensate for reduced sunlight.
Protecting our reserves. During this party season, late nights combined with excess sugar and alcohol can disrupt our “hibernation time.” So have fun, take it easy, and be sensible.
