Seasonal Support: Autumn + Winter
If you have followed me for a while, you know that I believe that honoring the tide of the seasons and their influence on our earth bodies is an important part of cultivating health. As the days grow shorter and the mornings chill, I begin changing my supplements towards nutrients my body appreciates during the cooler months.
I think of supplements taken for maintenance as a compliment to nutrient dense food choices, filling in any gaps and providing support during periods of higher need. This means that the dose recommendations on the bottle are typically halved. Perhaps only taking 3-5 days of the week, 3 weeks of the month, or only 1 capsule when 2 are recommended. If a person has genetic variations or an illness that utilizes nutrients differently, then they may need a different dose as well, and as always, a personalized recommendation made by a qualified health practitioner should be followed.
Here is my cool season supplement routine. It feels good to sort through things and order what is needed before the cold and flu season arrives in just a couple short weeks. Or, if you prefer the poetry and sparkle of ancestral wisdom, it feels good to set my wards and prepare to call in protection from the spirits of winter’s chilly damp.
- Vitamin A- our body’s do a lot with this and it’s especially helpful for skin, vision, and building antibodies. Safe for most people but check with your doc if you are pregnant or hoping to be.
- Daily Immune by Pure Encapsulations -this formula has some essential nutrients as well as botanicals that support immune function. It’s safe for most people to take for several months over the winter season, but if you have a health condition that affects immune function, check with your doc (or me!!) before taking.
- B-complex – gives our liver and nervous system a little extra love by filling in any nutritional gaps for making things like serotonin and melatonin, and for clearing out that which no longer serves.
- Essential fatty acids, flax oil, fish oil, etc.- Another nutrient for brain, skin, cardiovascular, mood, and immune health. Take it with the vitamin A for best absorption.
- NAC – Loooove this one for respiratory and detox support. Big helper for clearing and releasing!!
- Multimineral – best taken before bed. Big love for rebuilding all those tissues that worked hard all day.
I hope this has been helpful and inspires you towards cultivating your own rituals for seasonal support! Please reach out if you would like assistance with discerning the nutrients that offer you the most personal benefit.
Thanks for reading! This post contains general educational information shared with love from your friendly local medicine keeper, and is not medical advice.
Alicia Tremblay, ND
Dr. Tremblay is an expert in natural health with degrees in naturopathic medicine and ethnomedicine. Drawing on her diverse background and personal experience with healing from chronic illness, she guides clients on their health journeys, and occasionally writes blogs with unique insights into natural medicine and the healing process. Read more >>
