Here’s an easy guide to enjoy a cozy winter season in Germany. These are practical tips distilled from my five years here! You have come to the right place to save your skin 😉
I recently figured out that a mixture of JOJOBA OIL and BABY ALMOND OIL, is the perfect oil to apply on the hair and body after a shower. It has no strong smells and is quickly absorbed into skin too! Also, HIBISCUS OIL applied on semi-dry or dry hair makes the hair super soft.
For a universal and inexpensive hair pack, apply CURD with SUGAR to hair for 5-20 mins before rinsing off, to have really soft and shiny locks. Curd when used in face packs also helps shrink pore sizes for a smoother finish.
My favorite home made body scrub consists of SEA SALT+SUGAR+OLIVE OIL+TURMERIC POWDER+FRESHLY CUT RIPE FRUIT (eg; Avocado, Papaya, Strawberry or Cucumber extract). Olive oil is one of the best moisturizing oils like coconut oil (although both have a strong innate smell). Jojoba oil is a great oil, quick absorbing, although expensive, but a completely non-smelly option!
The LIP BALM sticks are best applied to lips after exposing them to warm air (say from a heater blower), so that they spread more generously on the lips. Jojoba oil, Vaseline and Melkfett are also great for the lips.
For a running nose do the simple “JAL NETI” technique for instant clearing up of nose and sinuses and immediate relief from the most complicated cold situations. (Fill up a bottle of water with luke warm water and a pinch of salt. Tilt your head over the sink towards one side and let the water from the bottle pour over the nose from above. It will automatically clear the passage through the sinuses and nostril and flow out the other nostril. Just keep your mouth open throughout and continue breathing from your mouth. Repeat on other side. Then clear away your nasal passages normally. You will instantly feel alive. You needn’t be a great yogi to do this, and it will give you a good night’s sleep too! Use sea salt preferably and moisturize your nostrils afterwards). To protect your nostrils from bleeding due to the dry winter days and nights, dip clean ear buds in pure OLIVE OIL (cooking grade will happily do), and apply to inside of your nostrils.
For a sore throat or cough, your best bet is GINGER+HONEY and LEMON if you have it. (Make a syrup of grated ginger extract with honey and have as many times as you like. Alternatively, add chopped ginger and honey to boiling water and store in thermal flask to have through out the day. A few drops of lemon juice in it will improve the flavor too!)
To survive the common cold or sinusitis avoid all milk/dairy products (like curd, cheese), as these enhance production of mucus. Instead drink APPLE CIDER VINEGAR that acts as a mucolytic (breaks mucus) and also improved body immunity against cold (1/2 table spoon diluted in a glass of water, once or twice daily). The apple cider vinegar is a must buy for every home for its many therapeutic effects. It is known to naturally cure several diseases by improving the strength of veins and clearing up the digestive system (drink diluted in water), clearing up skin imperfections (apply on skin in combination with olive oil overnight), as a mild scrub in shower (rinse with water afterwards).
If you have had to take too many antibiotics, then your stomach may get upset. If it gets upset too much stop with the antibiotics and contact your doctor. There is in fact a strain of bacteria (Clostridium difficle) which develops upon taking antibiotics too long, as these also kill the helpful bacteria of the stomach. PROBIOTIC tabetss may be taken without prescription to re-establish good bacteria in the stomach and keep them fortified during travel also (eg: Parenterol).
To cure constipation, treat your stomach muscles well with regular overall exercises and also regularly drinking warm MILK with a pinch TURMERIC POWDER just before sleeping. It smells nice like saffron, makes the body strong in general, the milk also really calms the mind for a good night’s rest, the turmeric in it also has antibiotic properties. Turmeric paste in water (not curry powder mix of spices) can be applied to open wounds to act as an antiseptic. Please take care not to spill any of the turmeric on clothes as it leaves a permanent yellow stain.
For lovely hands and feet in winter, nothing will help you better than VASELINE. Alternatively one may also use MELKFETT and a few drops LEMON JUICE, the latter is also known to brighten complexion (and a cut lemon clears the room/fridge of strong smells like that of garlic or onions)! I recently noted the Garnier Urea body lotion even has a sweet taste!
For most ailments, one could easily find ‘NATURAL TREATMENT FOR —-‘ by a simple Google search 🙂 Often easy, reliable, safe and inexpensive prevention and cures are all on the web!
Happy New Year !!
meindeshvidesh 