As the world is starting to experience new waves of positive Covid-19 cases, it is an important time as ever to focus internally on your own health and the health of your loved ones. Let’s be honest with ourselves, we’re all extremely fed up with coronavirus and miss our old lives pre-pandemic. There is no field guide laying out the proper steps and protocol of how to deal with life under these circumstances. We know that care and healthy living looks different for everyone, but we also wanted to provide some tricks and tips we’ve developed in our studies of holistic health in case they might help during these times.
PUT GOOD INTO YOUR BODY
Certain natural ingredients can do wonders to boost your body’s immune system. Look for teas or recipes that include these ingredients or if you’re feeling crafty, we’ve included a recipe of our favorite immune boosting tea that you can make yourself.
Cardamom – Cardamom is packed with powerful antioxidants including vitamin C and manganese. In traditional medicine Cardamom oil is used as a warming agent to the body that relieves pains, uplifts the mood, improves digestion, and improves mental clarity and memory.
Turmeric (curcuma) - Turmeric contains potent antioxidants known to protect against environmental stressors, due to its powerful anti-carcinogenic compounds. It is anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiseptic, and helps improve digestion, skin conditions, and coughs.
Ginger Root – Ginger root is known to boost the immune system and help clear the lymphatic system, both vital systems that are often attacked by viruses. It is also known to help relieve sore throats.
Cinnamon – Loaded with powerful antioxidants, cinnamon outranked even known “superfoods” such as garlic and oregano in this regard. It also has been linked to reducing blood pressure and can help fight bacterial and fungal infections.
Raw Honey – Definitely a staple for cold relief, raw honey is an anti-inflammatory and cough suppressant ingredient (that tastes great too).
Garlic – Garlic is a powerful antibiotic with compounds that fight all sorts of undesirables in your body. It may give you bad breath, but your body will be better off with it.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar – Packed full of good bacteria, ACV improves overall gut health and feeds your white blood cells to boost your immune system.
TAKE TIME TO CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
The strain that is being put on our interpersonal health right now is not something to merely brush off, as social isolation has been linked to serious health issues in humans. We need to get creative with our friendships, partnerships, and relationships to one another going into this unique holiday season. Card games like We’re Not Really Strangers and the Skin Deep allow to you take a deep dive on your current relationships, near or far, no matter how much you think you may already know about them. Free group online games such as All Bad Cards, skribbl, or Spyfall give new life to social distanced or virtual gatherings.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
Being in touch with your inner well-being through mindfulness is ever important when the world seems to be demanding so much of your energy. Take moments to breathe deeply and imagine your thoughts are like passing clouds – acknowledge how you are feeling and don’t place any judgement on those feelings. This is a simple way to check-in with yourself and reset. Feeling frustrated in what feels like your zillionth zoom meeting? Hit the mental pause button and focus on your breathing. Is your partner getting on your nerves lately? Acknowledge the swell in feeling that arises in your body and let it pass without acting on anything. Meditating even for just a few minutes each day has been proven to improve mood by bringing mental clarity. Our favorite way to meditate is to go on slow walks through our garden, taking notice of nature and observing wildlife. If you live in a colder area, try bundling up and taking a walk outside or do an indoor activity that doesn’t require much thought or energy for you.
A LITTLE SELF-CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Perhaps our favorite way to destress, especially during the holiday season is to pamper ourselves. As the days become shorter in the winter months (farther away from the equator), it becomes easier for our self-care routines to slip away from us. Keep a sacred block of time in the morning and at night dedicated to properly cleansing, applying serums and creams, moisturizing, and massaging your face and décolletage. We love to incorporate aromatherapy into our self-care and use either relaxing or invigorating essential oils like lavender or citrus to enhance our space.
The circumstances we find ourselves in presently effect everyone differently – there is no roadmap for the struggles you may face. It is up to us to decide how we deal with the situation we’re dealt in whatever way is healthiest for us. Stay healthy, stay safe, and don’t forget to take time to care for yourself.
KICK-ASS TEA (MAKES 2 CUPS)
This is one of our favorite teas at Tierra & Lava - in part because of the fact that is uses some of our more potent ingredients for your insides rather than your outside.
Feeling Under the Weather or like you’re coming down with something? Get it before it gets you! Make a large batch of this (double the size) and sip throughout the day. It really does kick the ass of general cold and flu symptoms amongst others and is incredibly comforting.
The tea helps ease coughs and sore throats. It is also anti-inflammatory and is potently antibiotic. Parsley and lime are extremely high in Vitamin C and the Raw apple cider vinegar adds friendly gut-bacteria to give you that extra immune boost.
RECIPE
4 inches fresh organic ginger grated
1 inch of fresh organic turmeric grated
3 medium cloves of garlic
1 large handful of fresh organic parsley
3 cups of water
Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes
To add:
1 Lime /Lemon
1 Tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Raw Organic Honey (to taste)
Pour some into a mug with the juice from 1 lime, plus raw honey (to taste) and a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar. It kicks ass, but it is SO good!