Celebrating the Holidays with Health and Simplicity in Pandemic Times

Winter is setting in, Christmas is approaching, and the current situation suggests that the holiday season will be quite different from what we're used to. Of course, as an ambassador for natural health, we suggest that you support your immunity more than ever in a variety of ways to get through the holidays and winter serenely and in full health.

This exceptional situation will be an opportunity to revisit our traditions and our values related to the festivities: going back to basics, being grateful for what we have, inspired by the Hyggethe Danish art of living. Here are a few inspirations for a holiday season that may be different, but that could prove rich and gentle on the soul.

Celebrating the holidays with health and simplicity in times of pandemic: Supporting the immune system

"The microbe is nothing, the terrain is everything" said Claude Bernard, a physician of the 1800s. So we can support our immune system by supplying the body with these key elements: vitamin A, D and Cthe magnesiumand zinc and copper. Add to this probioticsbecause a healthy microbiota is the basis of good immunity.

Essential oils can be diffused to purify the air and create a festive atmosphere. Choose citrus (lemon, orange, tangerine), coniferous (fir, pine, spruce), eucalyptus, ravintsara or this blend. Fresh air from Now.

Phytotherapy is an incredible tool for supporting our immune system. We use immuno-toning plants to encourage the body to increase white blood cell production, so we're ready to attack in the event of viral, bacterial or other intrusions. The formula Deep immune de St-Francis is an excellent immune-boosting herbal complex that can be taken year-round.

Visit immune-boosting plants help the immune system to defend the body against pathogens at the onset of symptoms, or to prevent them. These plants are taken over a short period of time, so as not to exhaust the system. Echinacea, elderberry, usnea and goldenseal will shorten your colds and flus.

Celebrate in and simplicity in times of pandemic: Improving our ability to relax

Human beings are creatures of habit, but also of ritual. The current situation will offer us a minimalist version of what we usually know as celebrations. Perhaps we'll find some advantages. Perhaps, too, it will be more difficult for many of us not to be able to get together as our traditions dictate. If we're feeling stress, anxiety and accumulated fatigue as winter and the holidays arrive, it may be worth supporting our adrenal glands and nervous system naturally. This will have a positive impact on our natural immunity.

• Adaptogenic plants support the work of the adrenals in their main functions of stress and energy management: ashwagandha, holy basil, rhodiola, Siberian ginseng and panax, maca, medicinal mushroomsetc.
• Calming herbs help lower high cortisol levels, resulting in acute stress, nervousness, hyperactivity, insomnia and anxiety: catnip, flowering oat, lavender, skullcap, passionflower, liquoriceetc. The formula Calmix formula or the LTO3 from Herb-e-Concept.

The serenity formula formula and the Chill pills formula offer a combination of adaptogenic and calming herbs for complete support. Don't hesitate to ask our consultants for advice on which formula is right for you.

Celebrate with health and simplicity in times of pandemic: Lifestyle habits

The holidays are often synonymous with overeating, sugar, alcohol, coffee, lack of sleep, stress and overstimulation. Taking care of our health is all the more important right now. Our bodies are intelligent, and by listening to our body's signals and responding to them with kindness, we can apply healthy gestures that are not insignificant for our health.

Hygge to get through winter and celebrate the holidays

The term Hygge (pronounced "hoo-ga") is actually a survival strategy for the Danes to get through the winter. In fact, the Danes are said to be among the happiest people in the world, despite their gray, rainy weather and long winters. Author Meik Wiking, director of the Institute for Happiness Research in Copenhagen, explains in Le livre du Hygge, mieux vivre, la méthode Danoise, that this art consists of "enjoying those you love by spending time with them, with that feeling of being at home, safe and secure." Visit Hygge evokes notions of "comfort, togetherness and deep well-being".

Being grateful for what you have

This Danish art of living invites us to find comfort in what we simply have. Conversely, modern celebrations encourage over-consumption (abundance of gifts, food, alcohol, parties, etc.). And for many of us, the holidays are also synonymous with stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, weight gain, compromised health, and sometimes even holes in our finances. This pandemic could be an opportunity to experience the holidays differently, in simplicity, comfort and minimalism. Celebrate love, our connections, our roof. This philosophy of life puts the spotlight back on the quality of time spent with family, on our connection to ourselves and to others. For holidays that are sweeter, rejuvenating and closer to our values! Why not!

Celebrate with and simplicity in times of pandemic: Create a warm atmosphere and take a break

Visit Hygge invites us to feel good by creating a warm atmosphere in our cocoon, to appreciate the warmth of home when it's cold outside, and to share moments of conviviality with our loved ones. These small, simple but oh-so-precious moments in life are often the ones we cherish most:

• Drinking a hot chocolate (with reishiwith our children wrapped in a blanket
• Listening to a good film while eating a popcorn seasoned with nutritional yeast (rich in B vitamins), turmeric (anti-inflammatory) and olive oil
• Dress comfortably in our favorite wool socks & laze in front of the fireplace
• Listen to Christmas music while doing a puzzle alone or with the family
• Read a good book wrapped in blankets while drinking tea
• Take a hot bath in the beeswax candles

Let's use this time of celebration to re-evaluate what's consistent with our values, our health and our joie de vivre.

We wish you a sweet, warm and healthy holiday season!

About the author

Naturopaths of La Boite à Grains

Team of licensed and certified naturopaths (ND) in Gatineau, Outaouais.

Original article written by Laurence Couture-Dubé, Naturopath

References

• Céline Arsenault, Natural Care Guide for the FamilyÉditions Le Dauphin Blanc, 2003

• Michel Turbide, L'aromathérapie, Huile essentielles du Québec et du monde, applications thérapeutiques, Édition Santé-Arôme, 2015

• Mike Wiking, Le livre du Hygge, mieux vivre, la méthode DanoiseFirst Editions, 2016

• Elisabeth Simard, Vivre simplement, sortir du chaos moderne et s'offrir une vie plus douce, Éditions Guy Saint-Jean, 2018