It’s been cold and miserable for the last couple of weeks and as the mercury dips further, we’ll find ourselves struggling to keep warm and make sure we don’t catch a nasty flu. But winter doesn’t have to be brutal anymore. The Week presents five easy ways to ensure you stay warm, healthy, and presentable this winter while waiting (and praying) for warmer days.
Licorice root tea
Licorice root simultaneously soothes your airways while loosening and thinning mucous. It can also ease any inflammation that may be irritating your throat. Bring water to a boil and place the licorice root in a mug. Cover with water and let it seep for 10-15 minutes. Drink two cups of this tea daily. A mild laxative, licorice tea can also relieve constipation and studies have also shown that licorice helps the liver neutralize toxins and can be beneficial in treating liver disorders such as hepatitis.
Not only is it believed to be one of nature’s best medicines but it also tastes delicious. If you like sweet drinks, substitute a sugar-sweetened beverage with licorice root tea instead. Licorice contains a natural sweetener, glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times as sweet as sucrose.
Olive oil for all the good reasons
Extra virgin olive oil has a variety of uses that will leave your skin and hair looking and feeling great. Rub olive oil into your skin before bed. The oil will go to work hydrating and healing your skin while you sleep. This is especially helpful during the winter when skin feels dry and flaky. If your hands and feet are cracked and dry, slather on some olive oil and put on some socks before bed.
Winter travel tips
You can also protect your lips from harsh winter elements by rubbing olive oil onto them before heading out. This will help prevent chapping and flaking. For hair care, apply olive oil to clean, damp hair and then wrap it in a warm towel and let it seep in for about 20 minutes. Rinse the oil and enjoy your luxuriously silky locks.
Easy instant heater
Electrical heaters can make quite a dent in your budget especially when the weather is as cold as it is right now. You can make an inexpensive heater with minimal investment and effort. All you need to make this heater are some bricks, a terra cotta pot and some candles. It will just take you a few minutes to put together this nifty heater that can heat up an entire room.
Though it might not heat up large areas effectively, it will help you warm your hands and legs. Lay some bricks on the floor to create an elevation and upturn a clay pot on it. Light a large candle or a few little candles underneath the pot to heat it up and enjoy some inexpensive warmth.
DIY hand warmers for chilly days
Soft fabric hand warmers are perfect for wintry days, and can be tucked into pockets of all sizes. They are easy to make, and make sure that your hands remain warm. Take two small pieces of fabric, and cut them into equal sizes. The easiest shape is just a rectangle or square but you can get creative and try interesting shapes too. Once you have the pieces cut out, place their right sides together, and sew the seams 1/4 to 1/2 an inch from the edge of the fabric.
You can now use a needle to push the inside fabric back through it so the warmers are right side out. Once you have done that, pop the tube end of your funnel into the warmer and fill the bag with rice. Pop these into the microwave for 30 seconds and then tuck them into your pockets or mittens.
Vapor rub shower tablets
Place the vapor rub and corn starch in a bowl. Start to stir. The vapor rub will need some time to warm up before it meshes well into the cornstarch. Add in two tablespoons of water to make a thick paste. If you feel the mixture needs more water, you can add some more but make sure the paste doesn’t become too watery either. When you have the perfect paste that smells amazing, put it in an ice cube tray.
Place the cubes in the freezer for about 20 minutes. The paste will solidify and then be ready for use. Just pop one out and place it on the floor of the shower before you hop in. The warm water will break it down and in no time the vapors will come into effect making your shower very soothing.
Use razors to remove sweater pills
Take a disposable razor and put the garment on a flat surface. Pull the fabric near the affected area taut with one hand. This will prevent you from cutting through the garment. Gently shave upward with the razor in small strokes. Start with the lightest contact possible and increase the pressure as necessary.
Once you have accumulated a pile of pillings, use tape to remove it from the fabric. Wrap a large loop of packing tape around your fist, sticky side out and press it against the fabric to pick up the accumulated pillings. Replace tape when it becomes full of pills. Make sure you use a sharp, new razor. This will most effectively remove the pills. Avoid using shaving razors that have moisture strips or soap bars on either side. This will likely cause more pilling when rubbed against the fabric.
