In the Autumn, many people suffer from allergies, sinus infections, and bronchitis. As I have mentioned before, these problems are related to the dryness of the season. There is less moisture in the air and we feel it! Most of us notice that our skin is drier, but did you know that dryness begins inside your body?
Inside the respiratory system, the membranes of your lungs and sinuses need to be moist to function well. Inside the digestive tract, the membranes that form the walls of the small intestine and colon must also be moist in order to work properly.
When the air turns dry, if we are continuing our summer habits, our bodies will begin to dehydrate, from the inside out. For example, eating salads and raw foods during summer provides balance by decreasing moisture in our bodies. When we are sweaty and overheated, we will crave things that balance us through their cooling and/or drying actions. As the weather turns cooler in the fall, we need the balance of warm and grounding foods, with generous amounts of healthy fats like ghee.
By the time your skin becomes dry, your gastrointestinal tract and sinuses have been dried out for awhile. The body tries to correct dryness by producing mucous. The body produces mucous to protect the sinuses...the mucous provides a lovely, moist home for bacteria to stick and grow...and bam! Sinus infection!
Prevention of autumn dryness and sinus infections begins with digestive health. Here are three easy ways to help prevent dryness from the inside out:
-Drink plenty of warm or room temperature water throughout the day. A good guideline for how much you need is 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water daily. If this amount is much more than your current intake, increase gradually by setting a water goal. Get a water bottle that holds 16 ounces and make a goal to refill it 3 times per day.
-Irrigate your sinuses with saltwater daily (use your neti pot). Use distilled or filtered water to avoid introducing microbes into your sinuses. If any of you would like instructions on how to do neti properly and safely please email me: [email protected] and I will send you a free handout.
-Add 2 to 3 drops of Nasya oil to your neti pot. Nasya out oil contains sesame oil to moisturize the sinuses, herbs to calm the nerves and promote mental clarity, and Eucalyptus to open up the airways. For those in the Baltimore area, I have Nasya oil for $11 in my store:
Health Revolution Ayurveda in Ruscombe Mansion (http://ruscombe.org/index.php). Call 703-475-9642 to order by phone or to arrange pickup.
Check out my post called Grounding Vata for more tips on staying healthy during the season change.
Inside the respiratory system, the membranes of your lungs and sinuses need to be moist to function well. Inside the digestive tract, the membranes that form the walls of the small intestine and colon must also be moist in order to work properly.
When the air turns dry, if we are continuing our summer habits, our bodies will begin to dehydrate, from the inside out. For example, eating salads and raw foods during summer provides balance by decreasing moisture in our bodies. When we are sweaty and overheated, we will crave things that balance us through their cooling and/or drying actions. As the weather turns cooler in the fall, we need the balance of warm and grounding foods, with generous amounts of healthy fats like ghee.
By the time your skin becomes dry, your gastrointestinal tract and sinuses have been dried out for awhile. The body tries to correct dryness by producing mucous. The body produces mucous to protect the sinuses...the mucous provides a lovely, moist home for bacteria to stick and grow...and bam! Sinus infection!
Prevention of autumn dryness and sinus infections begins with digestive health. Here are three easy ways to help prevent dryness from the inside out:
-Drink plenty of warm or room temperature water throughout the day. A good guideline for how much you need is 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water daily. If this amount is much more than your current intake, increase gradually by setting a water goal. Get a water bottle that holds 16 ounces and make a goal to refill it 3 times per day.
-Irrigate your sinuses with saltwater daily (use your neti pot). Use distilled or filtered water to avoid introducing microbes into your sinuses. If any of you would like instructions on how to do neti properly and safely please email me: [email protected] and I will send you a free handout.
-Add 2 to 3 drops of Nasya oil to your neti pot. Nasya out oil contains sesame oil to moisturize the sinuses, herbs to calm the nerves and promote mental clarity, and Eucalyptus to open up the airways. For those in the Baltimore area, I have Nasya oil for $11 in my store:
Health Revolution Ayurveda in Ruscombe Mansion (http://ruscombe.org/index.php). Call 703-475-9642 to order by phone or to arrange pickup.
Check out my post called Grounding Vata for more tips on staying healthy during the season change.