Winter advice
Heading away for a much-deserved winter break? Perhaps
you are making for colder climes and a spot of skiing or
jetting off to a tropical island in search of warmth. Here
are a few suggestions regarding winter body care whether
at home or abroad.
The skin is our largest organ; it forms a vital barrier
between our inner organs and our environment. Related directly
to the immune system, the skin is a reflection of our health.
Some of you may be suffering at the moment with Chilblains,
a common winter ailment, they occur on the hands and feet
or very occasionally on the ears. They can become terribly
painful when the affected area gets cold. Miranda Castro
best selling author of “The Complete Homeopathic Handbook”
gives some helpful dos and don’ts.
DO:
• keep affected limbs warm and dry.
• take regular exercise to improve circulation.
DON’T:
• subject your feet/hands to extreme changes in temperature,
for example putting icy feet into hot water.
• expose the hands or feet to unnecessary cold.
Agaricus Muscarius (Agar.) is the number 1 homeopathic
remedy for chilblains where the symptoms are worse for cold
and chilblains are burning, itching and red. Symptoms for
Petroleum (Petr.) are chilblains on feet, hands and toes
that become inflamed. Feet become cold and ‘fall asleep’
easily, and the hands become cold and chapped. These chilblains
are painful and itching and occur in winter during cold
weather. Pulsatilla (Puls.) is another remedy that may also
be indicated where chilblains on feet, hands and toes are
inflamed and itching.
Cold sores are another common blight at this time of year.
They generally pop up when you are under stress or have
been overdoing things, so think of them as a little red
warning light reminding you to slow down and take more care
of yourself.
Natrum Muriaticum (Nat. Mur.) is the major cold sore remedy.
A Nat Mur person will often produce cold sores after a disappointment
or a grief that they weren't able to express, or even after
over-exposure to sun (skiers are particularly prone to this).
The sores are usually sited around the mouth on the lips
and will often be found at the corners of the mouth.
Rhus Tox and Sepia are also recommended where sores appear
on the lips. As a general rule a homeopathic medicine is
more likely to be effective if it matches other aspects
of the person. For example, those needing Rhus tox, may
also be prone to joint pains and stiffness, whilst Sepia
types often feel worn out, dragged down and very prone to
hormonal mood swings.
If chilblains or cold sores persist, it is always worth
having a full consultation with a Homeopath. Constitutional
treatment strengthens your overall well being, making unpleasant
symptoms like these much less likely to occur.
Every individual is unique and responds differently to his
or her environment and so does their skin. Even though you
may be sallow skinned, don’t be fooled, your skin
still needs protection from the sun and other elements.
While most of us are pretty good for taking care of the
skin on our faces, when it comes to our bodies most of us
don’t think about skincare until the warmer weather
and our summer wardrobes come round again. So even though
it may seem early to be discussing this, it is important
to be aware that whether you’re in Austria, Allicante
or Adrigole your skin needs some form of protection and
nourishment all year round.
We all of course need sunlight, without its rays there
would be no life on earth. The sun lifts our spirits and
activates the vital production of vitamin D in the body,
so heading away on a sun holiday is a great idea at this
time of year.
On the other hand, the sun’s ultra violet rays are
what cause our skin to burn. Young skin, in particular,
is especially delicate and develops sun damage very easily.
Experts believe that having sunburn during childhood can
significantly increase your risk of malignant melanoma and
research shows that 80% of all skin damage has already occurred
by the time we are 18 years old. It is difficult to over-state
the importance of protecting yourself and your little ones
when on a sun holiday.
After sun exposure the skin requires special care, while
sunburn is always better prevented than treated Mary Aspinwall,
Registered Homeopath advises the following for those of
you who haven’t been careful enough.
• When sunburned try to keep the skin cool by applying
tepid compresses or taking a tepid shower, do not have the
water very cold though as this can cause shock to the skin.
• Drink a glass of water with half a teaspoon of salt
added to reduce the risks related to dehydration and keep
out of sun until healed.
• Use one of the following remedies to treat the condition,
the correct homeopathic remedy can eliminate the pain within
minutes and erase the redness within just 24 hours.
Cantharis is the No.1 remedy for the intense pain of burns.
Use this when the pain is cutting and burning, where the
patient has a burning intense thirst, but are worse after
drinking (especially cold drinks). Better: cold applications;
Worse: touch.
Arsenicum is another good remedy to choose for sunburn when:
Better for warm applications; there is blistering. Repeat
remedies if there is an improvement followed by a relapse.
Belladonna is indicated for sunburn with sunstroke, where
the skin is red, hot, throbbing and may be accompanied by
a throbbing headache. Sunstroke can be fatal, so begin rehydration
and seek professional medical help immediately.
For those of you wishing to take the necessary precautions
I’d recommend the Dr Hauschka Holistic Sun Care range,
which is free from synthetic sunscreens, fragrances and
preservatives. They have chosen a mineral pigment found
in nature, titanium dioxide, which acts as protection against
the sun’s harmful rays by reflecting them away from
the skin. Unlike synthetic sunscreens, mineral sunscreens
begin protecting immediately upon application to the skin
and are ideal for children because there are no irritating,
synthetic chemicals to disturb a child’s delicate
skin. The range contains a children's sun spray with an
SPF of 22, suncreams with SPF's of 20, 15 or 8 are also
available as is an excellent SPF 30 suncare stick ideal
for sensitive ears, lips, cheeks and noses when skiing.
Applying a good quality lotion after sunbathing, such as
Dr Hauschka’s After-Sun Lotion, is also very important,
to stop the skin from drying out.
If you're staying in Ireland, you probably won’t
be needing sunscreen just yet, but your skin will reward
you later if you give just a little TLC now. Using body
oil regularly is a good start; plain oils such as almond
or wheat-germ will nourish the skin. Massaging while you
apply, can improve the circulation and texture of the skin.
You may like to treat yourself to an oil that has that little
“something extra”. A good winter oil is Dr Hauschka's
Rosemary oil, with its intensive warming properties and
refreshing aroma; it enlivens the senses, helps reduce the
appearance of cellulite and invigorates the body. Another
oil beneficial for this time of year is Dr Hauschka’s
Blackthorn body oil, like the rosemary oil this too is very
warming, but the blackthorn also has extracts of St John’s
Worth and birch, so that it envelopes the body with a protective
feeling during what can seem a bleak time of year. The toning
properties of the blackthorn oil make it good for refining
stretch marks as well as smoothing and toning mature skin.
In the last issue I mentioned dry skin brushing and that
suggestion still applies. Get a routine of skin brushing
going, showering then massaging your chosen oil into the
body. It may seem like an effort, but once you start it
really takes very little extra time and you’ll feel
so much the better for it.
© Mary Aspinwall
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Magazine Articles
by Mary Aspinwall
