Hints and tips from Rossendale Practice : Rossendale-Practice.co.uk

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Hints and tips

Hints and tips

Winter

Now winter is here with its shorter days and cold, damp weather it`s important to make sure you are eating warming, nourishing foods to increase your resistance to winter infections.  A healthy diet can also be helpful to ward off the winter blues and reduce the effects off stress that can often accompany the busy Christmas period.

• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Eat lots of garlic - nature`s own antibiotic
• Start the day with a bowl of porridge - oats are a wonderful tonic for the nervous system
• Drink elderflower tea every day - it tones up the mucus membranes so you produce less phlegm and are less likely to get colds
• For dry skin, increase your intake of nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and avocado
• Go for a brisk walk at lunch time
• Keep warm - wear warm socks, gloves, a warm hat and a vest.

If you get cold hands and feet, try drinking ginger tea every day.  Add half a teaspoon of dried ginger or about three-quarters of an inch of grated ginger root to boiling water.  Add honey and lemon to taste.

If you work outdoors or get chilblains, dust the inside of your socks with a mixture of talcum powder and a little cayenne pepper - NEVER do this with broken chilblains.

On broken chilblains use marigold oil or squeeze the contents of a vitamin E capsule over them.

How to make a herb tea 

If you have a teapot, warm it.  Add a couple of teaspoons of the selected dried herb or herbs and cover with boiling water.  Allow to brew for 5-10 minutes then strain and drink.  You can also use one teaspoonful for a mug and cover with a saucer whilst brewing.  Tea balls are available in most health food shops and are an easy way to make individual cups of herbal tea.

If you are concerned about your health or are taking medication and are unsure about following any of the advice given, please contact us for further guidance or talk to your GP or pharmacist.

Last updated 18th December 2007.