We’ve got ether, air, fire, water, and earth in our systems (no, not from the burritos last night). The ancient science of ayurveda is based on the equilibrium of these elements, both in our bodies and around us. (Two of these are usually more dominant, depending on your dosha.) During winter months, it’s also “a great tool to help us restore balance,” notes Renée Loux, author of The Balanced Plate, who’s studied the fundamentals of nutritional systems for more than 12 years.

And if you’ve felt Jack Frost nipping at your nose recently, chances are you’ve also felt the imbalance the season brings to the rest of your body, notably, dryness, low energy, and a weakened immune system. What to do? Try something oily, something new, and other ideas borrowed from Loux.

1. Dry Heat
Not only do we live with closed windows in the winter, but “dry heat causes mucous membranes to dry up in nostrils and sinus cavities, leaving us vulnerable to germs entering the body,” Loux says. Luckily, all plants transpire—adding healthy moisture to stale air—so you can improve your internal ambience too: Regulate your body’s natural defenses and wake up with less of those dry heat-induced sore throats. 

The Fix: Fill your den with philodendrons
Low light doesn’t put a damper on these humidifying heroes: Just two plants hydrate 100 square feet. Plus, they require less care in the winter (just make sure the soil isn’t completely dry). Ask your local plant provider for a philodendron, which will cost about $5.

Ayurvedic Elements at Work
Ether, air, water: Linked to space, respiratory tract, mouth, mucous membranes


2. Hard-to-Wake-Up Winter Mornings and Dreary Days
When you would rather stay nestled in that bed with visions of more sleep dancing in your head, here’s how to get up and cheer up during gloomy winter days.

The Fix: Warm oatmeal with apples and cinnamon
One cup of cooked oats boasts 25% of your daily recommended dose of selenium (a key player in counteracting viral infections), and studies show that low levels of selenium have been linked to poorer moods. What’s more, a recent study led by Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University claims the beta-glucan in a bowl of oatmeal may boost your immune system response to invading pathogens, in addition to raising your energy level. Yes, oats will give you long-burning energy for the day that won’t peak—especially when paired with fiber-rich apple slices that slow blood sugar absorption. They also enable the brain to release more mood-enhancing serotonin, so you can have a merrier morning.

Don’t forget the cinnamon: A spoonful helps like medicine when it goes down. Recognized by ayurveda experts as a warming spice more universally tolerant than ginger, cinnamon increases blood circulation in the body, sending more energy to the muscles and brain. A study conducted by Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, director of undergraduate research at Wheeling Jesuit University recently found that just the odor of cinnamon or peppermint keeps drivers more alert too: Try replacing your car freshener with some cinnamon sticks, or chew some cinnamon gum.

Ayurvedic Elements at Work
Fire, Water: Linked to metabolism, digestion, thought, blood


3. Dry Skin, Hair, and Scalp
During the winter, your skin and scalp put on their own Itchy and Scratchy Show, but you can bring moisture back and scrub away dead cells with these balancing acts.

The Fix: Go Cuckoo for Coconut Oil
Coconut oil nourishes dry skin, hair, and scalp, while salt gives skin a healthy glow by getting rid of dead cells common in wintertime. And “on a molecular level, jojoba is similarly structured to skin’s natural oil, making it one of the most appropriate oils for skin hydration,” Loux says. Because it’s such a thick oil, jojoba is best used sparingly and mixed with another, but it is another essential oil for livening up dry skin. (Loux recommends Omega Nutrition or Spectrum brands.)

Ayurvedic Element at Work
Water: Linked to secretion


Make This:
Vanilla Salt Glow Scrub
1 cup sea salt
½ cup coconut oil
1 Tbsp jojoba oil (optional)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Mix sea salt, coconut and jojoba oils and vanilla together in a glass jar.
2. Rub over skin in a circular motion and rinse well.
3. Store sealed, stir before using. Keeps indefinitely.

Do This:
Coconut Butter Hair Treatment
1. Apply ¼ cup coconut oil to scalp and hair, working it in thoroughly.
2. Cover hair with shower cap or old towel (oil will stain a new one) and leave on for 20 minutes or up to 2 hours for a deep conditioning treatment.
3. Wash out with a mild shampoo (may need to do this twice to wash oil out completely).

And Remember This: Often “misunderstood” as unhealthy, coconut butter is a great source of energy and fuel, and can help skin stay supple from the inside out. The saturated fat found in coconut is one of the few that does not need the liver to emulsify it for digestion, so it’s directly converted to energy in the body, not stored as fat. Plus, it has the added bonus of lauric acid, giving it antibacterial and antiviral properties.