How to Stay Healthy this late Fall & Early Winter๐๐๐๐
In Chinese Medicine, we encourage patients to reconnect with the Earth and it's cycles in order to achieve balance physically, mentally and spiritually. One of the best ways to do this is to allow your body to experience the changing temperatures. Consider allowing your house to be cooler in the Fall and Winter and warmer in the Spring and Summer. This may sound obvious, but many of us avoid feeling the change in temperature by turning up the heat and turning down the AC to feel 72 degree temperatures year round. According to the ancient wisdom of Lao Tzu, author of Tao Te Ching:
"There is a time for everything...Everything under heaven is a sacred vessel and cannot be controlled. Trying to control leads to ruin. Trying to grasp, we lose."
We could say that controlling the temperature then, leaves us susceptible to illness, ie "ruin". This Fall and Winter, instead of cranking up the heat- try dressing in layers, adding extra blankets to your bed and even keep some snuggly blankets around the house for lounging.
In addition, get plenty of sleep; keep getting vitamin D from the sun and nourishing yourself well with warm wellcooked veggies, proteins and lots of broth. Take a lunchtime stroll if you can, and stretch your aching muscles as often as it feels necessary. Remember to make time to receive massage therapy and Acupuncture to alleviate tension and stress. Book with me using this link: https://www.sallyraspberry.com/book-online
In addition from that tried and true advice you've already heard, I'll share a crazy but super healthy concoction I've started drinking every day to boost my immunity and protect my body from unwanted pathogens:
๐ฅFire Cider ๐!!!!
It takes 4 weeks for it to come to maturity on your counter top so get started asap and it'll be ready for sippage before the end of November! If you drink an ounce of this daily, you'll experience numerous health benefits to your gut flora, immune system, brain, skin and muscles. Recipe is as follows:
Ingredients
1 medium organic onion, chopped
10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped
2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped
Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon
1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root (or organic ginger root powder)
1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root (or organic horseradish powder)
1 Tbsp. organic turmeric powder
1/4 tsp. organic cayenne powder
2 Tbsp. of dried rosemary leaves
organic apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of raw, local honey, or to taste
Cut up all the solid ingredients and put them in a 16-32oz jar, add the honey, spices and herbs, then pour ACV over it all! Place a piece of parchment paper inside the lid so you can shake the mixture vigorously every day without getting your metal lid rusty. After 3-4 weeks it's ready to sip straight from the jar (pucker face) or add to some hot water with honey and drink as you would hot tea!
Thank you for allowing me to share this recipe and tips with you! Blessings to you for a beautiful season full of purpose, true connection and plenty of self care!
