Fall and Winter Seasonal Care

Hi!!! I Love You!!!

Are you ready for the fall and winter seasons?

Reflecting on Summer

Did you have a good summer? Did you do anything fun or exciting? What do you like to do for fun? Can you believe it’s already October?! It’s nice to have that brisk air at night, but not all of us are ready for the fall and winter seasons—are you? Do you have a routine for seasonal changes? Do you make any dietary or health adjustments to prepare for the different seasons? For fall and winter, I like to load up on teas like echinacea, elderberry, nettle, peppermint, and more. That’s my “go-to” whenever I feel something coming along or just to prepare for the seasonal shift.

Comfort Foods & Immunity

I also like to have some soups ready for those cold nights. Here’s one of my favorite recipes—you can eat it whole or purée it—and one pot will last a few days! Staying active is also important, especially as we get less sunlight and our natural vitamin D levels drop. Doing a daily 30-minute walk or any kind of movement helps keep energy and mood up. Even simple stretches and breathing exercises at home can help if you’re not up for a walk or if going outside isn’t convenient because of the weather. Hydration is key, too! It may not be as hot, but we still need to drink plenty of water or eat water-dense foods to stay hydrated and keep our immune systems strong.

Plant Medicine & Natural Healing

Having some plant medicine around is also beneficial—especially for those aches and pains that come with colder weather or the winter flu. When I get sick (I just passed a bug last week that had me in bed for a day!), I like to use cannabis to ease the pain and help me relax, laugh, and recover. Inhaling concentrates through a vape pen and using topicals like Nana’s Rub for isolated pain really help me rest. Those old sports injuries always seem to flare up when I get the flu—especially my knee pain—and the CBD rub truly helps with the throbbing.

Cannabis & Family Connection

Having cannabis around during the fall and winter can also bring families closer together at holiday gatherings. My family used to be anti-cannabis—with the exception of my brothers and me—but over the years, they’ve come to accept it as an alternative. Some have even joined in during our recent gatherings!

My Nana left this physical plane in May of this year, but she actually tried cannabis and even magic mushrooms for the first time in 2021, when our whole family came together after my dad transitioned to the spiritual world. We were sitting in my mom’s backyard, and I passed around some cannabis “cigarettes” to whoever wanted to partake. Suddenly, I heard loud screams—“Mom, no!”—and looked over to see my Nana hitting the marijuana cigarette and my mom and uncle yelling at her.

At the time, my mom and uncle (both in the medical field) were still opening up to  cannabis and believed some of the medical propaganda fear mongering. But when they saw my Nana laughing and happy—despite the pain and sadness of losing my dad—their minds began to change. They eventually tried tinctures, edibles, topicals and vape pens themselves over time and continue to use them. 

Later that night, Nana even ate a magic mushroom chocolate bar (haha)! We only gave her a microdose, and since I’m familiar with mushrooms and proper dosing, we knew she was safe. It was so beautiful to see her catch the giggles and open up emotionally. That night helped us realize just how much trauma we’d been carrying as a family—and it opened the door for healing.

Healing, Laughter, and Letting Go

That was one of the best nights we’ve ever had together—laughing, bonding, and healing. This wasn’t typical for my family, especially when alcohol was around. But plant medicine brought a different vibe, and over time, many of us replaced alcohol with cannabis at gatherings. Now, several family members are completely sober from alcohol. When my grandma transitioned to the next phase of her journey, she was scared, but plant medicine helped her find peace. That’s a common experience for many who turn to natural medicine—especially toward the end of this life’s journey and into the next.

With Love

— David Yrigoyen (mmj_david)