A lot of people say that there are no seasons in Los Angeles, but of course that's not true. When I got here I was informed that there are two seasons: fire season and mudslide season (back home in Canada we say there are two seasons too: hockey season and road construction season).
As the horrible fires of the past few weeks have shown, we're right into fire season now. Coming soon will be the hot Santa Ana winds, which are known to drive people crazy. What can we do to help cope with the hot desert winds, the dry air, and the smoke?
1. Don't expose yourself to smoke and dust. It's hard, but resist the urge to go for a jog outside. Stick to indoor activities, especially when the air is very polluted and in the heat of the day.
2. Stay hydrated. Check my summer cooling post for a recipe or two, and some products I like for hydration and sore throats are Traditional Medicinal's Throat Coat and ElectroMix, from the Emergen-C people. There is also a Chinese herb called Pang Da Hai, which produces a soothing, slippery drink when steeped. In China the opera singers sip it to keep their throats in tip top shape. Ask for some when you come in for a treatment!
3. Sinus flushing. Keep dust, smoke and irritants out of your nasal passages by using a neti pot or sinus rinse.
4. Eat lung supporting foods: If you are suffering from dry cough, irritation, and fatigue, try adding pears, okra and white fish to your diet. Pears are especially useful. Eat the Asian ones raw, or try poaching them or baking them for a sweet treat.
5. If your lungs are a chronic weak spot, you might consider taking Cordyceps, a traditional tonic herb. Check with me or another herbalist to see if Cordyceps is right for your presentation.
breathe easy!
Kirsten
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