Beat the Winter Blues

Feeling gloomy? Don’t despair - there are things you can do and herbs you can take to bring some sunshine into your life.

January is meant to be the gloomiest month of the year but sometimes feelings of doom and gloom can drag on into February.  Short dark cold days have little to commend them but there is light at the end of the tunnel – spring is just round the corner.

If you start to feel down it may help to remember that you are not alone. As many as nine out of ten of us get a touch of the winter blues, while three per cent suffer from the more debilitating wintertime depression known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. As lack of light is thought to be a major factor in SAD, spending at least 30 minutes outside can be beneficial as can light therapy. Meanwhile, there are several herbal remedies that can help to perk things up whether you are suffering from SAD or an attack of the winter blues.

St John’s wort

According to a study carried out last year by Dr Klaus Linde from the Centre of Complementary Medicine Research in Munich the herbal supplement St John’s wort can help to improve mood, In a review of 24 studies he showed   that it can be as effective as Prozac in treating depression . It is not known exactly how it works but the thinking is that it boosts and helps to maintain levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin in the brain.

Rhodiola

If you are feeling stressed, tired and low in energy, rhodiola may be the herb for you. Like St John’s wort it helps to increase levels of serotonin in the brain, which in turn helps to improve mood and increase feelings of contentment.

Panax ginseng

This herb belongs to a group of herbs known as adaptogens, which are thought to help strengthen the adrenals and balance the system generally. Siberian ginseng is especially good for boosting vitality and energy both of which are generally at low levels in SAD sufferers.

HELP YOURSELF

• Go for foods that as well as making you feel better are good for you. Warming stews and vegetable soups are ideal.
• Avoid sugary foods if you can. They may give you an instant lift but it won’t last.
• Essential oils used in a burner or dropped in the bath can help. Go for sunshine oils such as grapefruit, orange and bergamot. Rosemary, basil and peppermint also have up uplifting properties.
• Join a support group. Sharing experiences with like –minded people can be very therapeutic.
• Consider a holiday in the sun credit crunch permitting!

Rhodiola is found in Vitano - A traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress such as fatigue, exhaustion and mild anxiety based on traditional use only.