12 Common Sense Steps To Prevent/Minimize The Flu and Alleviate Winter Depression

1. Strengthen your immune system with regular sleep and good nutrition
2. Wear socks and hats to preserve body heat and the body’s ability to burn-up toxins.  Avoid being chilled and damp.
3. Epsom salts baths help drain toxins and relax the body.  Add baking soda; a great skin softer.  (If there is a high fever, follow doctor’s instructions on bathing temperature.)
4. Consider simple broth, soup and juice fasts to rest the digestive system and stimulate it. Warm foods are best. If your cold or flu is trying to expel toxins from your system, it is not in intake mode. (Always check with your doctor.  No drastic fasts are needed.  Consider Chai with non-dairy almond, rice or soy milk and pureed soups. Chicken soup can relieve colds in two ways:  speeding movement of mucus and reducing the time that viruses have contact with the nose--Nebraska Medical Center study.)
5. Eliminate mucus-producing foods:  Dairy, sugar, sweet breads, cakes, etc.
6. Drink pure clear water-hot, warm or lukewarm.  Avoid ice water.
7. Warm salt water gargles help relieve sore throats.
8. Wash your hand frequently, rub for at least 10 seconds.  Keep hands away from the face.
9. Do jala neti (Sanskrit for cleaning with water) or salt-water irrigation to remove airborne viruses, pollution, bacteria,etc.  Neti keeps our sinuses from becoming an attractive environment for flu viruses. The salt water irrigation also massages and soothes the nerves that govern the senses, giving one an immediate feeling of clarity and freshness. Check with your health professional for any contra-indications.  Contact me for tips and tricks for success.  Jala neti is a yoga practice!
10. Yoga:  See article below for winter asana tips.  If you have a fever or exhaustion, lay in bed and sleep or practice shavasana. Listen to peaceful music that is soothing.
11. Journal:  Clear the mind of clutter and emotional baggage.  Examine your beliefs.  Re-visit your dreams to raise your mood and stimulate your desire to get well soon.
12. Clean the house, change the sheets, clean out computer and email files. Put away everything you can to create a calm environment with less stimulation.

Alleviating Winter Depression 

In winter, nature slows all outward growth; the earth contracts, stops producing, and pauses to replenish its inner energy reserves. Our inner world also slows down with this contracting cycle of nature. Extra effort is required to maintain digestive fires and a sunny disposition.

Movement during this stagnant season--sun salutations, rhythmic flows twists, side bends, inversions and fold--promote circulation and emotional well-being while encouraging spinal fluidity. Chest-openers such as Dhanurasana (Bow), Setubandasana (Bridge) or Ustrasana (Camel) and arm balances energize and open the heart to playfulness and courage.

Bhujangasana (Cobra) provides back-bending benefits without requiring flexibility in shoulders and thighs. It stretches the abdominals and stimulates the thyroid, kidneys and adrenals. It breaks up tension in the back, shoulders and neck while opening the chest and expanding the rib cage.

Downward Dog is a therapeutic remedy for sinusitis by assisting sinus drainage.