5 Ways to Not Feel So Dry in the Fall with Ayurveda
*this article contains affiliate links, for which Kimber Jones is an affiliate. VBY is not an affiliate of Banyan Botanicals.
The most common complaint I hear as an Ayurvedic health counselor this time of year is:
“Gosh, I just feel so dry all of a sudden. It’s like the weather changes and then my skin/scalp/nose/ears/poops get super dry”.
From the Ayurvedic perspective, this makes perfect sense!
We are a microcosm of the macrocosm. Our bodies are meant to reflect nature’s rhythms. Said another way: As outside- so within. (So If you notice a shift at the changing of the seasons, that’s a good thing- that means you are attuned and paying attention!)
Fall feels:
-dry
-cold
-rough
-mobile (excess movement)
Which means we can feel those same qualities internally, too.
So what do we do when we feel like one of the leaves on the trees outside? Dried out, crackly, rough, and just floating on the wind?
Ayurveda’s method for approaching disease prevention is incredibly straightforward- like increases like and balance with the opposite. But what does that actually mean?
Like increases like: imagine rolling a boulder DOWN a hill. That boulder is going to keep picking up speed and momentum as it rolls. There is so much energy behind the boulder it’s MUCH easier for the boulder to just keep rolling down the hill in the direction it’s already going. If you apply this analogy to Ayurveda, it means if you are already out of balance, it’s so much easier for the boulder to just keep rolling in the direction of imbalance. Imbalances begets more imbalance. In fall, this looks like dry crunchy snacks, poor sleep patterns, dehydration, excess exposure to the wind, exercise focused on too much movement- keep adding momentum to the boulder rolling in the direction of dry, cold, rough, and mobile.
Balance with the opposite- if we want the boulder to stop rolling down the hill in the direction of imbalance, we introduce OPPOSITE qualities. For this, imagine a pendulum. If imbalance can be represented as the pendulum swung entirely to one side. By introducing opposite qualities, we are swinging the pendulum entirely to the OTHER side. The result? That pendulum ends up somewhere right in the middle of those two extremes- balance.
So if fall feels dry, rough, cold, and mobile, we balance with the opposite qualities:
-Warm
-Moist
-Grounding
If you have some familiarity with Ayurveda, you may know that fall season is associated with Vata Dosha. More on vata basics here
But for today, let’s dive more deeply into the specifics of the dry quality (ruksha)
Dry can show up as:
Flakey skin
Dandruff
Chapped lips
Dry feeling in your nostrils
Rough/painful feeling in your ears, especially when exposed to the wind
Hard stools- maybe small and pellety
Gas/bloating/constipation
Creaking joints
If you’re experiencing any of the above, know there are some easy and reliable ayurvedic remedies to bring you back into balance.
1. Ayurvedic Self-massage with Oil (abhyanga)
This is one of the most amazing and nurturing ayurvedic self care practices there is. As with many of the ayurvedic lifestyle recommendations, it might seem weird at first. My best advice? It IS weird. Until it isn’t. It’s definitely worth giving a shot, because most folks end up loving this one.
WHAT: rubbing ~2 tbsps of warm oil onto your skin before or after a shower
HOW TO:
Use unrefined sunflower, almond, or sesame oil (from the self care section of the grocery store, not the cooking section. Nothing toasted). Or grab some of my favorite ayurvedic oils from Banyan Botanicals here and use code KIMBER15 for 15% your first order!
Either A) you, B) the oil, or ideally both need to be warm. You can warm up a small bottle of oil in some water in a saucepan on the stove, in a mug of hot water on your bathroom floor, or use a baby bottle warmer. Rub the oil into your skin using long strokes on the long bones and circular strokes on the joints. You can cover every part of your body. If you decide to do your scalp/hair, just be sure to wash your hair afterwards (TIP- add the shampoo straight to the oily hair before you wet it with water).
Ideally, let the oil soak into your skin for 10-15 mins before rinsing off in a hot shower. No soap! If you are super dry, do this after a shower and don’t rinse off the oil- your skin will most likely absorb all of it.
DON’T FORGET:
-Watch your step getting in/out of the shower, since things are oily they might be slick!
-If this becomes a regular practice for you, show some love to your plumbing by pouring boiling hot water and a squeeze of dish soap down your shower drain 1x/wk
-Avoid this practice while menstruating, if you have a fever or a very thick white coating on your tongue, or have just had surgery
-To oil the ears! This is arguably the most important part of your body to oil!
2. Nasya (oiling the nostrils)
This practice is my go-to for preventing sinus infections and congestion. By oiling your nostrils, you're helping to keep a healthy level of lubrication in your sinuses so your body doesn’t feel the need to produce excess mucus. It’s also a great stress reliever, can help with chronic headaches, and potentially clear brain fog.
WHAT: Add 2-3 drops of nasya oil to each nostril and allow the oil to permeate your sinus cavity
HOW TO:
This works best with the head dramatically titled back, so the oil won’t run down your throat. I recommend laying on a bed with your head hanging off the edge. Tilt your head back and using a small dropper, add 2-3 drops of oil to each nostril while breathing through your mouth. Relax a moment and let the oil run down your nostrils into your sinuses. Then take a few deep inhales through the nose while massaging the sides of the nostrils to help the oil absorb.
DON’T FORGET:
-This practice is best done at least 1hr apart from showering or eating
-You can buy a specific nasya oil infused with herbs (check out Banyan Botanicals here and use code KIMBER15 for 15% your first order), or you do a more simple version of this practice, by dipping a pinky finger into your abhyanga oil and swirling the oil around the inside of your nostril with your finger
-Avoid this practice if you are currently pregnant, menstruating, younger than 7 or older than 80 years old
3. Dashamula
Dashamula means “ten roots” and is a combination of 10 potent ayurvedic herbs aimed at addressing dryness and excess vata dosha, especially from the digestive track. A great choice for those with gas, bloating, or constipation.
WHAT: make a delicious herbal tea
HOW TO: make a tea from ¼-½ teaspoon of powdered herb in a mug of hot water and allow to steep to taste
DON’T FORGET:
-Honey becomes toxic when heated, so don’t add honey to boiling water. Allow the tea to cool to a drinkable temperature before adding honey if you desire
-Avoid dashamula if you are currently pregnant
-You can buy this herb online at Banyan Botanicals here and use code KIMBER15 for 15% your first order!
4. Hydrate with warm water
A new take on the old adage to "stay hydrated". Imagine a dried up old leather boot. If you were to pour cold water onto that boot, it probably wouldn't really absorb a lot of that water, it would just run right off the side. But if you rubbed warm or hot water on the boot, the leather would soften, and it would absorb the water much more easily. Your body is the same way- give it water that it can actually absorb! This practice will also boost your agni (digestive fire) and gently detoxify the body.
WHAT: Ditch the ice water and opt for room temperature, warm, or even hot water
HOW TO: Make a big thermos of tea level hot water in the morning and sip on it throughout the day. Or just make a cup of warm water ~30 mins before meals. You can add a little lemon or lime juice to taste (just be considerate to the enamel on your teeth!)
DON’T FORGET: -If drinking warm water makes you MORE thirsty at first, that's a good sign! That means you are penetrating to deeper tissues -It can take 35 days to reach the deepest layer of tissue, so if you are chronically dry or dehydrated, give it time -Just because we aren't sweating everyday anymore doesn't mean we need less water
5. Vata balancing diet
Ayurveda is based on the idea that digestion is the root of all health. So of course we will look to what we eat and how we eat as potential ways to address any imbalance.
To introduce more warm, moist, and grounding qualities into your diet, focus on adding:
-more root vegetables (winter squash, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, parsnips)
-Favoring warm, cooked meals over cold or raw. It’s not the time of year for salads, smoothies, or cold leftovers.
-Healthy fats are your friend! Try adding more ghee, coconut oil/milk, avocado, sesame oil, chia seeds
-Favor meals with high water content- soups, stews, and crockpot meals
-Avoid astringent foods- green/black tea, cranberries, pomegranate, chickpeas, parsley, and most beans
As with anything in Ayurveda, don’t aim for perfection. Incorporating any 1 of the suggestions above even just some of the time will still help you find more balance in fall season. Don’t feel like you have to do it all! Listen to your body’s intuition and move towards the practices and foods from the list above that feel best.