Why are my symptoms worse in winter?
Many of us are stuck in cold, damp places during this time of year. Even if you are currently in a warm climate, you may be wondering why you feel a change in your body when the climate changes – with your IBD and other symptoms.
Have you ever wondered why your symptoms get worse in winter?
Just the physical and mental reaction to the changing of the seasons can be devastating. Personally, I always got my torches in winter for some reason until I noticed a pattern (and that was before I naturally healed myself).
Everyone is different, however, and IBD symptoms can manifest themselves differently in everyone – but overall, the pain seems to start as soon as the first frost sets in.
Lots of people think IBD is just a bathroom problem, but if you’ve read through Jini’s mind / body / soul section of the blog, you will find that it is all connected! Even to the tip of your toes!
Why is this happening?
Inflammation in the intestines can cause “side problems” such as arthritis-like symptoms in winter and climate changes. I even had asthma from my dysbiosis problem! Either way, it’s not fun to deal with and can be very painful! The widespread inflammation in our body can spread to other areas and cause other “itis-like” symptoms.
Any shift in the environment – emotional, physical, nutritional, and temperature changes – can really put someone off if they are still suffering from inflammation from IBD.
If you think of it that way, it’s easy to see how one thing can create the snowball effect of an IBD flare.
What should I do?
In addition to practical measures such as bundling up when going out in the cold or taking a hot shower for pain relief, focus on the essentials – the intestines!
For those suffering from chronic severe forms of arthritis, I recommend reading Jini’s home remedies page on arthritis for home treatment and recommendations.
My recommendations today are more for the occasional “flare-up” of IBD or milder, inconsistent symptoms in winter.
So FIRST, if it were ME …
I would make sure I’m on some kind of herbal anti-pathogen. For Jini and me this was a game changer! These are natural substances that kill the “bad guys” that live in the digestive system and thus your whole body. They are similar to antibiotics, but they don’t damage the gastrointestinal tract like antibiotics.
I would start slowly and use either wild oregano oil, olive leaf, or garlic – but only ONE at a time! What is best tolerated. All of this will start the “killing off” of bad bacteria and yeasts in your system that can cause such havoc.
The only time I personally wouldn’t use anti-pathogens is if I were physically unstable. By this I mean active bleeding, bleeding, vomiting, severe diarrhea, etc. The anti-pathogens can cause a temporary increase in symptoms as bacteria die! THAT’S NORMAL, and it’s actually called the Herxheimer reaction.
For this reason, I would not start these until they are physically stable. Who would want to throw more fire into these flames when they are already suffering from extreme symptoms?
It is important to ALWAYS track anti-pathogens with probiotics as you want to replace the lost bacteria with GOOD bacteria and thus reset the intestinal flora. Jini uses and recommends the Natren brand, a potent therapeutic-grade probiotic, and the brand that she has used in all of her protocols. It’s important to keep anti-pathogens off your probiotics for at least 2 hours as you don’t want to kill the good bacteria you’re supplementing with. Anti-pathogens are amazing, but at the right time! So listen to your gut instinct when you are ready to begin treatment.
In my opinion, anti-pathogens are fantastic not only because of their general gut benefits, but also because there is usually more mold in the winter. That alone can trigger humans since we already have harmful microbes in the body.
All over the house, I take colloidal silver in a bottle of water and spray all of my vents, the layers of my oven filters, and even in the air to kill any mold. It also kills all other bad things like fungi, viruses, etc. This helps me have fresh, mold-free air to breathe – in addition to taking anti-pathogens orally. Read this blog post to learn more about the benefits and uses of colloidal silver.
Here is another fantastic blog on how to take your filter apart and dose it with colloidal silver.
The benefit of using natural anti-pathogens is decreased inflammation, so I usually see results after the detox phase is over!
The SECOND thing I use is Epsom salt baths!
The heat not only helps with pain and abdominal cramps, the magnesium is also amazing for detoxification! What we need in winter to survive the stress. Both sulfate and magnesium can be absorbed through the skin, the body’s largest organ. Epsom salts’ ability to relax muscles, reduce swelling, relieve pain, fade bruises, excrete toxins, and soften skin has made it the main ingredient in most bath salts.
You just put Epsom salts in your tub, then just sit down and soak! It will pull toxins out of you while you relax.
Third, make sure you are in the correct headspace.
Winter depression is very common – no sun, no warmth, and you can’t travel easily. So, make it a daily habit of doing something you love or doing something that distracts you from everyday life. Jini calls this Restorative Practices. Personally, I go for a walk every day because nature just picks me up!
Jini’s 4 week lazer tapping class is another great way to proactively take advantage of winter downtime and make healing easier. When a memory, experience, physical event, physical symptom, or problem comes up that needs to be cured or resolved – or it annoys you but you don’t know why – then it’s time for some lazer tapping! I highly recommend that you try a FREE session of Jini and see this powerful tool in action for yourself.
Also check out our Instagram account which was created for IBD patients to provide daily inspo! @ibdinspiration
Finally, make sure to give your body extra vitamins during the winter.
It is important to add vitamin D and cod liver oil for winter immune support.
You can also find Jini’s FULL Winter Immune System Protocol here.
As the seasons pass, so do the pains and symptoms. Stick to your logs, get over the winter blues, and come on the other end happy, healthy, and ready for summer.
I want to leave you with this quote from John O’Donohue:
“Spring is hard to imagine in winter. The gray submerged landscape is discolored. The eye only encounters desolation; everything looks strict and angular. Winter is the oldest season; it has a certain quality of the absolute. But beneath the surface of winter, the miracle of spring is already in preparation; the cold subsides; Seeds awaken. The colors are starting to imagine how they will return. Then a bud opens imperceptibly somewhere and the symphony of renewal is no longer reversible. From the black heart of winter arises a wondrous, breathing abundance of colors … Whatever comes, the great sacrament of life will remain faithful to us and always bless us with visible signs of invisible grace. We just have to trust. “
Linsy is Jini’s assistant. From a highly sensitive / reactive case of ulcerative colitis to complete freedom from medication and surgery with exclusively natural methods, Linsy understands the interplay of mind / body / soul on the healing path firsthand.
