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Beat the winter blues - Advice From Dee Atkinson

The excitement of the festive season is over and the nights are long and dark and the winter really sets in. This is often a time of year when people start to feel a little down. This is not a new problem, for centuries people have felt low energy and low mood in the winter months. This was especially so in our northern climates, with long nights and the sun low in the horizon. Now we have a modern name for it Seasonal Affective Disorder or (S.A.D.)

Over half a million people suffer from this each year and the majority of them are in the North of the country. S.A.D. can happen from Sept to April, with January and Febuary being the worst months.

Often people don’t even know that they have a problem, sufferers just seem to be a bit down and fed up, and their nearest and dearest often bear the brunt of the problem. Symptoms can vary from sleep problems, lethargy, anziety, over eating and even a weak immune system that means you catch lots of colds and feel run down. As the days get longer, sufferers will either gradually start to feel better, or they will have a few weeks burst of almost hyperactivity and suddenly they are back to normal. It can take years for suffers to recognise a pattern and to realise that they have S.A.D. There are also degrees of SAD, you could have a few of the symptoms occasionally or have them all most of the time.

Traditionally herbalists have made up lotions and potions to keep the spirits up, Herbal Tonics, Uplifting Oil Blends and comforting drinks. Herbs such as

• Scullcap, used for centuries to relieve anxiety and moodiness,
• Passionflower to aid sleep and uplift the mood
• Lemon balm can be drunk as a refreshing and uplifting tea.

In Scotland, Oats were used, both as a food (porridge) and as a medicine. Oats act as a tropho restorative to the nervous system. This means that they help to restore back to the original state. Your daily bowel of porridge for breakfast is one of the best self help measures.

One of the best known herbs to beat the winter blues is St Johns wort. Clinical trails have shown that this herb relieves mild to moderate depression. Available in tincture (liquid) and tablet form this herb has become one of the UKs best selling herbal products.

You could also try:

• Vitamin supplements can also help. I recommend a Vitamin B complex, this is the vitamin that the body needs in times of stress.
• Essential oils that uplift the mood, especially Bergamot, Lemon, Orange. These can be used in the bath or in an oil burner.
• Light Boxes. You can use special light boxes to simulate daylight. This will have an action on the levels of Melatonin the body produces, as well as affecting adrenaline levels and the autonomic nervous system that affects such things as your mood, emotions and eating and sleeping patterns. If you buy a light box, make sure it is one that emits 10.000 lux as this is as near as you can get to daylight.

Other tips: Begin each day by standing in front the lightest window in the house and allowing the as much light as possible to reach you. Get out at lunch time each day and have a half hour walk. This is when there is the most light available and you can get maximum benefit.