Please enjoy Earthen Apothecary's first newsletter, full of advice and information for a happy and healthy winter 2016! Thanks for reading! Jennifer

With daytime temps now in the 30s and 40s, we can say that winter has finally arrived in the Lowcountry! Winter can be wonderful due to the crisp, fresh air and the draw of cozy nights by the fireside. We can finally trade out our tanks and tees for cowl-neck sweaters and warm woolen socks and hats. According to Ayurveda, winter is kapha season, as the weather is often cold, cloudy/overcast and heavy- all of which are qualities of kapha dosha. Therefore, if we want to stay balanced and healthy, we should try to keep these qualities in balance by cultivating their opposites. Keeping warm in winter is most important, and can easily be accomplished by dressing in warm layers; eating warm foods like oatmeal, soups and stews and by drinking warm drinks such as mulled wine, herbal teas and warm apple cider. We can massage ourselves with warm sesame oil and put drops of medicated oils (nasya) in our noses to prevent dryness and cracking. Hot baths and saunas are also great in winter! Daily cardiovascular exercise (preferably indoor!) will counteract the heavy quality of winter, so that we don't get too sluggish. However, a little of the slow kapha quality is good, and can be cultivated by embracing a calm and introspective demeanor in the time where the vital energy of plants and animals also goes deep within. Lastly, we can avoid internal cloudiness through yoga and meditation, spending time with uplifting friends and family or by simply reading an inspiring book! 

Winter is not a great time to eat large amounts of raw or cold foods. Our digestive fire is stronger in winter than in other months as the heat in our body moves from the periphery to our core. As a result, our appetite becomes stronger in winter. Now, heartier and spicier foods are better for us, as they keep our inner fireplace stoked and strong. 

Here's a great recipe for getting our veggies in in the wintertime:

Slow-Roasted Root Vegetables

Ingredients:

- 1-2 parsnips

- 1-2 turnips

- 1-2 rutabagas

- 1/2 bag of mixed color baby carrots (can substitute 4-6 medium carrots)

- 1 container of mushrooms (any type)

- 2-4 cloves of garlic, minced

- 1/4 cup of EVOO

- 1/8 to 1/4 cup of white wine

- Fresh thyme to taste

- Salt and Pepper to taste

(Note: You can add other vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets and all winter squashes)

1) Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.

2) Wash, peel and cut the parsnips, turnips and rutabagas into small pieces/cubes. Halve the baby cut carrots. Wash and pat dry the mushrooms, then slice them. Place all together into a large bowl.

3) Add the garlic, EVOO and white wine. Toss well.

4) Spread the vegetables evenly on a large roasting pan. Sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper.

5) Roast for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes or so until the vegetables are cooked through and browned.

An Ayurvedic Daily Routine for Winter (can be abbreviated to fit a busy workday!)

- Rise arond 7am.

- Rinse your face and mouth with cool water to wake up.

- Scrape your tongue with an Ayurvedic tongue scraper to remove dead bacteria and clean your mouth.

- Brush your teeth with toothpaste made from warming herbs, such as cinnamon or clove.

- Drink a cup of warm water to stimulate a healthy bowel movement. 

- Do a self-massage with warmed sesame oil- good for all constitutions in the wintertime. 

- Rub nasya oil in both nostrils to clear and moisten nasal passages (can get online from Banyan Botanicals or The Ayurvedic Institute).

- Take a hot shower.

- Do some form of cardiovascular exercise such as yoga or indoor biking/brisk walking/running. If at home, you can do 6-12 sun salutations to raise your heart rate. Yoga practitioners can follow this with alternate nostril breathing. 

- Meditate or engage in a similar contemplative activity.

- Have a nice warm breakfast, such as oatmeal with nuts, fruits and cinnamon.

- Around noon, eat a warm and hearty lunch, such as a soup or stew with whole grain toast and ghee (clarified butter). If you eat meat, winter is the best time as the digestive fire is at its strongest.

- From 5-7pm, have dinner.

- Go to sleep between 10-11pm.