Snap out of your winter gloom
Take a leaf from the Vikings’ book for a herbal helper to lift February moods
Scandinavian winters are long and irrefutably dreary, so their traditional herbal remedies for the endless dark days have to be effective. While I’m not ready to discard my thermal shreddies just yet, the shortness of Cyprus winters is something for which I am truly grateful. On the other hand, I do find it difficult to be enthusiastic about February!
Which brings me to the winter blues remedy from Viking times: rhodiola rosea. Of the approximately 50 species of rhodiola, it’s the fragrant root of the rosea species that has long been used in traditional medicine for fatigue, nervous system disorders and infections: all the things that overtake the human body in winter. That said, rhodiola is fairly new in the modern herbal pharmacopeia, possibly due to conflicting evidence (depending on intake amount) as to whether it has a stimulating or a sedating effect on the central nervous system. The higher the dose, the more the sedating effect kicks in, so if it’s just energising you need, one capsule daily of Viridian Nutrition’s high potency rhodiola, (with a standardised root extract providing three per cent rosavins – one of the active ingredients) should do the trick. Research also suggests that rhodiola improves thyroid and adrenal function, protects the nervous system, heart and liver, not to mention having antioxidant and anticancer properties. In total, just what we all need!
Rhodiola is also said to enhance physical endurance. This, if it persuades you out of winter hibernation, is a definite plus. I was interested to hear Carole Caplin – the UK’s erstwhile ‘health guru’ to the first family of British politics – on the radio ten days into the New Year, mooting that while it’s acceptable, and probably beneficial, to allow yourself to be sluggish in January, come February it’s time to get the body ready for action. personally, I’ve just turned to Simon Brown’s nifty handbook The Energy Booster Workshop (www.gillmacmillan.ie), which promises on page 8 to make me feel: “a buzz of energy… lighter, freer, more flexible and stretched out.” I can hardly wait!
Nutrition and hydration are also of the utmost importance: the number one trigger of daytime fatigue is lack of water and yet few of us drink sufficient plain water in cold weather. It’s also time to get rid of all the junk food in your winter diet: I have a great spring eating plan for anyone interested.
Finally, a growing number of studies support the fact that scent has a profound effect on the emotions, particularly in women. Lavender is wonderful for depression and its balancing effect calms uncontrolled emotions, removes indecisiveness and emotional conflict.
Aromatherapy oils should not be taken orally or used directly on the skin but Tigon (see letter) have just added a medicinal-quality oil of wild lavender to their range; this can be taken by mouth or rubbed into the skin. A viable option for mild cases of the winter glooms.
If you have any queries contact 22 818585 or 99 170406 or [email protected]. Find Viridian Nutrition rhodiola rosea mail-order from www.nutriglow.com or call 0044 1273 721758. Nikki’s column appears every four weeks.
Your questions answered
I’ve had eczema since relocating to Cyprus. My skin is itchy, sore, occasionally ‘weepy’ and hasn’t responded to long-term antibiotics or steroid creams. What can you suggest?
Mrs TR Limassol
Without seeing the lesions I can’t confirm it’s eczema, but there are several things you can do to help any chronic skin problems.
The onset being linked to your relocation could suggest an allergy or intolerance to new foods, food additives, household cleaners or toiletries. If you can simplify your diet down to plain fruits, vegetables, small amounts of meat and fish, you will stop overloading your digestive system, ease up stress on your liver and maybe isolate the allergen – if it is food. Cut out all processed foods including bread and dairy products. Avoid coffee: if you just started to drink Cyprus coffee, this could really be the cause. Always wear gloves to wash up, clean, shampoo your hair. Invest in toiletries with no harsh chemicals (www.anousta.co.uk).
If antibiotics were ineffective, they may also have been harmful. The most common prescribed for eczema are Keflex and Augmentin; long-term use can lead to dysbiosis, or unregulated overgrowth of the body’s natural yeasts. Horrible! If this were my condition, I’d immediately start a course of Eden Olive Leaf Extract and Oreganol Oil of Oregano: I’d also support the body’s good bacteria with HealthBac (all from Tigon – www.oliveleaf.co.uk or call Derek on 0044 116 235 5020). Protocol: take two Oreganol gelcaps and two Eden capsules three times per day for 10 days. Then, reduce the dose to two, twice daily for 15 days. Take the HealthBac as directed. This regime may in itself clear up the skin problems. Topical preparations that may help include Tigon’s P73 cream and Oil of Wild Lavender, or Linda Anousta’s hand cream (above).
Finally, think about hypnosis. Trials suggest it helps with stress management (due perhaps to your move?), relaxation and sleep disturbance. I highly recommend Lorna Firth as a wonderfully experienced therapist: call 26 934319 or email [email protected]
