Health store help

Looking for advice on natural health and wellbeing? Your local independent health stores can offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise. This issue we speak to Lara Jonasdottir, a medical herbalist with the Dr Clare Clinic and Apothecary in Galway

After what has no doubt been a very busy year for many, the Christmas season is once again upon us in all its glory! Ideally this is a time to relax and unwind, catch up with friends and family, and basically rejuvenate ourselves heading into the new year. Amidst the joys and festivities, though, there can also be many stresses and emotions, including grief felt for those who are no longer with us. With all the hustle and bustle and price tags it is important to take the time to reconnect with ourselves and those around us. This means devoting enough time to what really matters and the things that we can control in our lives. It is worthwhile remembering that many great things remain free or achieved with minimal expense and that our physical, mental, and spiritual health can benefit from having a simplified and less cluttered outlook.

Listen to your body
As a medical herbalist, I see daily how valuable the cultivation of good habits is, and this includes listening to your body and trying to maintain virtuous cycles of health. Important questions include: Do you feel energised in the morning having had a sound sleep? Are you eating healthily and is your digestive system functioning properly in the process? Do you experience pain, fatigue, or any of a broad range of other debilitating symptoms on an ongoing basis? Herbal medicine offers many positives in addressing issues under these and other headings and mild herbs can be initially taken on a try-it-and-see basis.

An all too common Christmas example is that heavy feeling we experience after eating lots of rich food. This year why not try some gentle herbs like Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) and/or Globe Artichoke Leaf (Cynara scolymus) to assist the digestion process? These can be taken before the meal in either tea/decoction or tincture (herbs in alcohol base) form. They may also be combined with Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) which supports the liver in its wide-ranging metabolic role. Other commonly used herbs such as Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Lavender (Lavendula spp.) can help to alleviate digestive problem symptoms, while Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis) is widely employed to address heartburn.

Recharge your batteries
Without a healthy combination of stimuIation and rest, our internal states can drift out of balance and establishing proper sleep patterns is particularly important for coping with stress and anxiety. In this context, Christmas time might offer a much-needed chance to recharge the batteries, but social and economic strains can also feel overwhelming at times.

Revitalising ourselves includes engaging in rewarding activities like walking in nature, going to yoga or t’ai chi classes, swimming, and reading a good book. These can all help to clear the head and should be followed by a good rest also. Herbs such as Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Lavender can offer support for relaxation and sleep, whilst herbs such as Rose petals (Rosa spp.) and Linden flowers (Tilia europea) can offer additional emotional support. Some may benefit from taking supplements such as magnesium and certain B vitamins (particularly B6) to assist with ongoing stress/tension and sleep disturbance. Remember to seek additional support from a professional if the above are not helping while also being proactive in maintaining your own health.

As a final word, make the most of the social engagement opportunities that this time of year brings, while balancing out any overindulgences with a recuperation period incorporating proper rest and a healthy diet.