This month Medical Herbalist Dee Atkinson MCPP, MNIMH is sharing her thoughts on herbal first aid and coping with icy blasts of winter.

Herbal First Aid for Coping with Extreme Weather

Winter is most definitely upon us with a vengeance this year with temperatures almost on a par with the South Pole! But how can we keep ourselves well and fight the elements?

In extreme cold many people suffer from sinus headaches, nose bleeds, sore throats and dry irritated skin, and I would like to share with you a few really useful simple herbal hints and remedies to help you combat these problems.

Firstly, when you go out into the cold, make sure you wrap a warm scarf around your mouth and nostrils to heat the air up, as this aids normal breathing.  Put a few drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil or Chamomile Essential Oil on your scarf. These oils have broad spectrum antimicrobial and antibacterial actions and will act as a protective barrier to germs spread by droplets.

Catarrh and Sinus Problems are characterised by nasal congestion, excess mucus, headaches, runny nose, post-nasal drip, sore throats and ear problems. These problems are often associated with upper respiratory infections such as colds and flu. I usually recommend the traditional licensed medicine Sage and Garlic Catarrh Remedy which has been a firm favourite for decades. Garlic has good antibacterial actions and will help the body to fight infection. It combines well with Sage which has antimicrobial and antiseptic actions. Sage will also ease sore throats and reduce inflammation in the sinus area. One of the special features of the Sage and Garlic Catarrh Remedy is that is also contains Liquorice which is an adaptogen tonic, which supports the body’s energy store as well as having an immune support action. You can alternatively make your own herbal tea combining sage leaf, crushed garlic and liquorice root.

Echinacea is, of course, one of our key herbs for the immune system improving our resistance to bacteria and infection. Napiers Elixir of Echinacea is a highly concentrated, potent formulation, enhanced by the addition of Wild Indigo and Fumitory. It is also effective for catarrh and minor skin conditions.

Not surprisingly, there are many herbs traditionally used to support the body and aid recovery from sinus and chest problems. To ease sinus congestion, and to back up the actions of Sage and Garlic we recommend Napiers Sinus Rub. This traditional warming and decongesting cream, contains Myrrh, Lobelia, Myrica and Lavender Essential Oil.

Using a vapouriser with a blend of invigorating oils at home can help relieve symptoms and ease breathing. Vapour Ease Oil a blend of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint and Pine helps clear airways and has both antiseptic and antiviral properties. If you don’t have a vapouriser or humidifier, a saucer of water placed on a radiator will help to put moisture back in the air and relieve the drying effect that central heating can have on the airways and your skin.

Winter is also a time when we need to feed and nourish our skin. Extreme cold and the contrast between the cold outside and the central heating indoors can dry out your skin.  Drink plenty of water to help rehydrate and regularly moisturize your skin. The appearance of the skin can also change. It can become rough and easily flaky and sometimes itchy. To protect and nourish your body from the outside I regularly recommend Starflower Cream. This is a popular cream for dry and irritated skin and can be especially useful if you are an eczema sufferer. Starflower cream is made from Borage oil which has similar properties to Evening Primrose oil, and is combined with chamomile and chickweed oils. It is wonderfully moisturising and nourishing on the skin, helping the skin to retain moisture. If you have very  delicate or sensitive skin try using the milder Infant Starflower Cream.

One of my favourite winter oils is Frankincense Essential Oil. This oil has a long history of use in skin care. It has even been shown in a clinic trial done in Italy, (using women in their mid 40s), that a cream containing Frankincense was shown to significantly improve the skin’s texture and appearance of surface lines.  I have used this oil in our Herbal Skin Nutrition Nourish Night Cream – a deeply nourishing and restorative night cream. In addition, I have also recently created a range of lovely body balm and massage sticks rich in coconut oil and cocoa butter (that melts on contact with your skin), as well as antioxidant oils and therapeutic herbs.

Wrap up warm, wishing you the best of natural health       Dee

(posted Jan 2010)

To Detox or not Detox?

It’s that time of year again! The papers are full of the best books to buy to help you detox, after the Christmas eating and drinking fest. But do you really need to detox?  How does detoxing help and why? And does it really have to be so demanding?

Detoxing is not a recent ‘new fad’. It is, in fact, something that we have been doing since the Middle Ages except we used to call it fasting! In the past, detoxing has always been at the end of the winter, the time to clear out your system, a time to help the body make the transition from winter into spring and then summer. Before we all had fridges and freezers, we tended to eat salted and pickled foods during the winter. There were few vegetables and people did much less exercise. The first new growth of the year in the garden – the “spring greens” – include many of the herbs used to detox the body;

Nettle ,  Dandelion and Cleavers also known as Goosegrass.

These herbs were traditionally used to help the body to recover from heavy, fatty foods. These spring herbs were also made into meads or weak beers, the drinks of choice in the Middle Ages. Country folk knew the benefit of herbs to encourage elimination and the herbs they used were often blood cleansers.

Detox does not have to mean fasting or going on faddy diets. It is a time for eating healthily, allowing the body to rest from excess (this is often alcohol, caffeine and fatty processed foods), and giving the whole body support. If you do this gently and follow a sensible plan you should quite easily achieve a weight balance, a reduction in fluid retention and puffiness, and a wonderful healthy feeling.

Following on from the herbal detox tradition I have designed the Napiers 10 Day Detox Plan to be effective and easy to follow, helping you to get into better shape for the year ahead.

FREE 10 Day Detox Plan

Click here to download your copy.

This gentle regime of herbs, diet, and exercise will help you break unhealthy habits and form healthy new ones that you can sustain throughout the year, bringing you optimum health, greater energy, clearer skin, balanced mood, and easier weight management.

The program supports your body’s natural detoxification processes using a diet of tasty, easy-to-digest and highly nutritious foods alongside the herbal Detox Formula and other ways to boost cleansing.

Getting Started

I recommend you download this FREE leaflet and read the information carefully. Start your detox on a weekend to give you time in the first few days to relax and get a good start on the Detox Plan. Ask a friend or family member to join you and make it a time of fun and discovery.

Keep Up The Good Work!

At the end of 10 days of detox you should be feeling fitter and healthier than you were 10 days ago. We hope you have discovered many new ways to help yourself feel great, that you will continue the new, healthier eating habits you’ve formed and that you will leave behind the unhealthy ones.

Remember to eat a variety of fresh and whole foods daily, never skip meals, limit tea, coffee and alcohol, and to take time out to relax and unwind.

Wishing you the best of natural health       Dee

(posted Jan 2010)