HouseFinder Magazine is a practical home-and-garden-magazine. We feature a selection of properties for sale and rent from leading real estate agents in Namibia and deliver in-depth articles and expert insights on property trends and news.
“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation” – Paul Theroux
Research shows that winter often makes us feel sleepier and in greater need of rest. With less sunlight, energy levels drop and motivation can fade. Cold weather can slow circulation, leaving us feeling chilled, achy and stiff. At this time of year, our bodies naturally call for stillness and reflection. We are wintering.
Our minds and bodies are asking for quiet and recovery and ignoring those signals can leave us more vulnerable to colds and flu.
Warmth, cozy spaces and a slower pace can calm the body and reduce stress. Rest also supports immunity and making time for deeper recovery can strengthen immune resilience during the colder months.
Here are a few natural ways to stay well:
Prioritize sleep. While you sleep, your body produces virus-fighting antibodies and carries out important repair processes. Quality sleep supports adaptive immunity and helps reduce inflammation and infection.
Manage stress. Emotional and physical stress can trigger inflammation, which may weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to illness. Ongoing stress also raises cortisol levels, which can disrupt immune responses and reduce the production of beneficial prostaglandins that support immune function. Aromatherapy can be incredibly helpful for supporting stress.
Exercise. A sedentary lifestyle may weaken immune function. However, overexercising can place extra stress on the body, trigger inflammation and suppress immunity. It is best to ease into any new exercise routine.
Hydrate. Drinking more water and less caffeine and alcohol, both of which can be dehydrating, helps the immune system function well. Good hydration helps the body remove waste and toxins and assists the immune system in fighting infection.
Eat well. Limiting processed foods and eating more fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants can help support immune health. Too much sugar may reduce the ability of neutrophils, the immune cells that are often first to respond at sites of inflammation, to attack bacteria effectively.
Remedies to support a cold
For a sore throat, drink warm water with fresh lemon and raw honey (not for children under 12 months). Add ginger to help ease inflammation.
For an earache, place a warm pack on the ear. Apply diluted tea tree, lavender and copaiba oils behind the ear. Never put essential oils inside the ear canal.
A sinus steam bath can help with colds and sinus congestion. Add 1 drop of eucalyptus, tea tree or lavender oil to a bowl of hot water. Lean over the bowl with a towel over your head and shoulders for 5-10 minutes. Keep your face at a comfortable distance, close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply.
| Immune roller Targeted, short-term remedy to apply to temples and the soles of the feet at night after a sensitivity test. Avoid the sun for 12 hours afterwards. In a 10ml roller bottle, add the following essentail oils: | |
| Adults | Children (12+ yrs) |
10 drops Thieves* | 10 drops Thieves* 4 drops Lemon 4 drops Frankincense 2 drops Oregano 10 ml carrier oil (jojoba or olive oil) |
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*from Young Living Recipe sourced from www.thehomemadelife.com
