Fighting back against seasonal stressors from holiday hangovers to flu bugs and stress often means a bit lying low for a while. Unfortunately, taking a little well-earned rest isn’t always enough. Luckily, Bowen has a wide variety of health practitioners that can give you the boost you need.
Courtney Morris provides healthcare through acupuncture, homeopathic remedies and supplements.
Morris has straight-forward advice. For flu-fighting, “have a bath in Epsom salts.“ The salts help to restore minerals through absorption of magnesium and sulfate and a warm bath helps induce relaxation and sleep which help to restore wellness.
Morris advises “nourishing the body with Vitamin C and D. ‘D’ is responsible for thousands of functions in the body and we can’t get enough of it in the winter.” Morris has studied herbs and health in her travels and has learned a lot during her time working with Finlandia Pharmacy and Natural Health Centre in Vancouver. The best approach to keeping on track is “getting some rest along with some vitamins.“ She suggests that a good tool to keep on hand is the herb astralagus. “It’s a herb that is a good general tonic that is helpful for raising your “chi,” or energy.“ Another suggestion she has for island carnivores is “bone broth soup. It’s a really good elixir and Joy Jubenville at Alderwood farm makes one that is so good for you. “ If you are flying off to be with family over the holidays, Morris has a tool for fighting jet lag that you may not have thought to try. “I used it to get over jet lag coming back from India and it worked right away,“ says Morris. She is referring to yin yoga which “adds stress to your body by having you hold a pose for a prolonged time. It gets everything moving from really deep within. Great for jet lag.”
The herb Arnica, often used to heal bruising and reduce swelling is another suggestion for jet lag. It’s sold in a variety of forms from a gel to a capsule.
The best approach to all the stresses? “It’s prevention.“ However, since it may be too late for prevention and if you can’t slow down, take warm baths, get lots of sleep or avoid horrific eating binges, “just try to practice deep breathing,” says Morris. Long, deep breathes on a regular basis. You are probably feeling better just thinking about it.
Courtney Morris has an office next door to The Undercurrent.
