K E E P I N G · W A R M

Of course there are different ways to stay warm, clothing being the most obvious one, next to consuming warm drinks and foods. But how about using the properties or energetics of spices and warming the body from within?

In Ayurveda each food and medicinal substance is categorized according to taste, post digestive effect and in either having heating or cooling properties. Both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine use warming herbs to invigorate blood circulation, promote digestion, and bring warmth within the body. When you feel cold try using some warming herbs and spices like:

* cinnamon
* tumeric
* rosemary
* thyme
* oregano
* ginger
* black pepper
* garlic

Each of these have their own specialty. Like thyme, which has special affinity with the respiratory system, and is great for coughs. Or rosemary, which helps digest heavy meals, and is used for the brain’s cognitive function. Black pepper increases blood flow and the absorption of nutrients.

Next to eating these beautiful plants or drinking them as a tea, you can use some of them externally. Try a foot bath made of ginger tea and your entire body warms up. Or rub your feet with aromatic rosemary oil (see here in my shop); it’s smell reminiscent of pines at sea. Rosemary is known to rapidly reduce cortisol levels by simply just smelling it - alleviating stress in the body.

🌱🌿

images:
· circulatory system, drawing Katy Wiedemann
· a path surrounded by wild rosemary in Spain, image chala kala
· rosemary botanical body oil, chala kala
· wild rosemary in Spain, image chala kala