“Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws, which otherwise would have been hidden from us forever.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
We cannot allow the winter blues to diminish our joy and the vision of beauty surrounding us. Of course, grey sky, chilly wind and rain can affect us, but let’s use our inner strength and ability to adapt to the winter’s conditions, without complaining too much!
In winter, Nature uses its energy to reinforce the roots of plants and trees by reducing the lymph towards the branches. Exactly the same happens to us: we are more prone to reduce our external activities and use our energy to plan ahead our future, especially in December when we look back to see what we have achieved.
During the cold season our metabolism slows down, withdrawing the energy (blood supply) from the skin to better feed the internal organs: the result is that the skin becomes drier, pale, sometimes flaky and arid. Indoor central heating contributes to make the skin unhappy in reducing the water in the air contributing to the loss of skin moisture.
With my holistic hat on I suggest we act on three different levels to face the winter and adapt to it: seeing the beauty in everything and everyone is the first and main remedy for being happy … even under a grey sky. This positive attitude will nourish our spirit and smooth our reactions reducing inner conflicts which are often the cause of our ailments.
Take Vitamin D3 to compensate the lack of sunshine and light and increase your intake of Omega-3 and Omega 6 and Vitamin E: take organic flax seed oil or organic cold pressed sunflower oil daily by adding a tea spoon to your cereal or vegetables. Drink a small glass of fresh org. carrot/apple juice: the high content of beta-carotene (Vitamin A) will protect your skin as well as all your internal mucosae.
Choose oil based skin products, rich in anti-oxidants oils and vitamins: Inlight Line Softener (with macadamia, shea butter and bilberry extract) in the morning is ideal to face the aggression from the elements and pollution; Inlight Daily Face oil (with jojoba oil and rose extract) will keep the skin well moisturised both when you are in and out, and Inlight Night Balm, rich in carrot oil (Beta-carotene), will carry on the job in the late evening and during the night.
All these little tips will help you to overcome the Winter Blues and will manifest, as Goethe said, the secret of natural laws… in and on you!
Have a joy-full and beauty-full Christmas Season!
Dr Mariano Spiezia