Home Remedies

Winter Warmth

Winter can be a time when circulation problems arise, often showing up as cold fingers or toes. There are many foods in our kitchen cupboards that we can use to improve this as they act as circulatory stimulants. Foods to increase in the diet include garlic, ginger, hawthorn berries, and cayenne. To aid in blood building, also increase foods rich in iron like chickpeas, blackberries and avocado. Foods rich in Vitamins C & E are also of benefit because they maintain blood vessel integrity and strength. Think of green leafy vegetables, kiwifruit, citrus, guava, buckwheat, potato, and wheat germ.

You can also decrease things in your diet and lifestyle that are congesting in nature, like dairy foods, or are generally taxing on vitality, such as coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, and stress.

Exercise is great to stimulate circulation and can take many forms. Perhaps look at hiring a treadmill or other exercise machine so you can exercise inside in winter, or join the gym.

Hot drink to warm the cockles

¼ tsp ginger powder or fresh chopped root
Juice from ½ a lemon
1 cup hot water
A pinch or cayenne pepper can also be added for an extra kick.

Steep for 10 minutes or simmer on the stove. Add ½ teaspoon or honey on serving.

Circulation boosting bath

100gm baking soda
1 cup Epsom salts
2 teaspoons dried ginger

Add all ingredients to a bath with hot water and relax for 15 minutes. Epsom salts baths are best kept to this time frame for drawing out of toxins. You can then take a shower to rinse the salt from your skin.

Massage with warming oils

Add essential oils to a massage that have specific therapeutic benefits for improving circulation. These are called rubefacients. When mixed with a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil and applied locally on the skin they stimulate capillary dilation. This brings blood, and so warmth, to the area. Essential oils that used for circulation include black pepper, marjoram, rosemary, and ginger. Mix 5 drops of essential per 5ml of carrier oil for use. Ensure they are not applied directly to the skin undiluted or on broken skin.

Enjoy the warmth indoors and the slower energies of winter.