Autumn is the start of the dry season in Wisconsin. Colder weather means that the air can hold less moisture. Home heating systems take in this dry air, heat it and use it to warm the house. This dries the inside of the house as marked by an increase in static electricity. Physically this dryness affects some people more than others.
Dryness is a stress to the body. If the body is unable to counteract the dryness of the environment then the patient my develop symptoms such as nasal clogging and stuffiness, dry cracked skin, sneezing, watery eyes, and breathing difficulty. In severe cases there is dry constipation and signs of dehydration. The mucosal membranes of the nose, sinus and lungs are the first line of protection against cold and flu viruses. When the body is unable to properly nourish those tissues and keep them moist, then a person is more susceptible to catching a cold from those around them.
People who should be especially aware of these situations are those people who naturally “run dry”. This would include people who normally have dry skin and hair. Also those people who have allergies are more likely to be affected by the dry weather. Post-menopausal women also have a tendency to be affected by dryness in their environment.
There are herbal formulas specific to helping patients who have problems dealing with the dry weather. See a herbalist to find out what is right for you. Many people can keep dryness problems under control by helping their bodies to stay hydrated
- Drink lots of water and increase the use of classic winter foods like soup, stew and chili.
- Increase the oils in the diet. (vegetable, olive and nut oils). Oil helps nourish the skin and seals the skin against moisture loss. Oil also helps lubricate the bowels so that stool is less likely to dry out and cause dryness related constipation.
- Use skin cremes and bath oils to seal the skin against the drying affect of the winter air.
- Use a humidifier in the house, or a vaporizer if your sinuses are particularly dry. A moist hot towel over the face or neti pot can loosen dry, clogged sinuses.
- Avoid dry dusty environments (ex. now is not the time to clean a dusty attic)
These simple things can help make the dryness of winter easier to deal with. If you found this advice helpful, please check out other articles in this series and subscribe above.
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