Spices, Herbs, Stress, and Seasonal Meltdowns: Your Ayurvedic Guide to Surviving the Holidays

Learn how simple kitchen herbs can keep you grounded and help you survive the season with your mind intact.

Nov 21, 2024

Alright, folks, we’re heading into the holiday season, and let’s be honest—there’s no shortage of turkey tips, pie perfection secrets, and cookie decorating tutorials out there. Every magazine, blog, and food section of every major newspaper begins to become the ultimate holiday recipe guidebook. If you’re looking for the moistest turkey with mahogany-colored skin that’s so crispy it might just snap in half (seriously, there’s a recipe for that), you’ll find it. Need help accommodating every dietary preference—gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and “I don’t even know what I am anymore” diets? Don’t worry, there are 37 ways to do that. 😎

Looking for ways to impress your guests, make the best cocktails, or gift the most unique kitchen gadgets? Well, it’s all covered. Pinterest and Instagram alone are practically throwing holiday recipes and gift ideas at us like confetti.

But what if we took a step back from all the culinary chaos, over-the-top desserts, and gift wrap madness and focused on something that’s often overlooked in the hustle? Our emotional and seasonal well-being. Sure, you can find a gazillion guides on how to make the most festive food spread or which wrapping paper goes best with a new espresso machine, but how often do we pause to think about how the season affects our mood and energy—especially when the weather gets colder, the days get shorter, and everyone is in full holiday mode?

Let’s Talk Emotional Balance Through the Lens of Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, winter is a time when we need to pay extra attention to our emotional health. With all the holiday events, family gatherings, and social pressures, it’s easy for our emotions to get out of balance. Instead of adding more to your to-do list, let’s focus on finding emotional balance through simple, seasonal Ayurvedic practices—without any complicated recipes or intricate gift-wrapping techniques.

I want to talk about how certain herbs and spices can help support your emotional well-being, reduce stress, and restore balance during this hectic season. Think of it as your emotional spice kit, because sometimes we all need a little extra support when the festivities start piling up!

text — Photo by Matthew Ball on Unsplash

The same kitchen herbs and spices you use to cook your favorite dishes can help bring balance to your emotions and help you stay grounded during the chaotic season. Rather than reaching for more caffeine or sugary treats (which, let’s face it, are often easy go-tos when we're stressed), you can use herbs and spices as tools to promote calmness, clarity, and energy when you need it most.

“The holidays often bring about feelings of stress, sadness, or exhaustion—especially as the days get shorter and the weather gets colder. So, what if we could use some of those herbs and flavors that are already sitting in your kitchen to nourish your emotional well-being?”

Winter Kitchen Remedies for Emotional Balance

Here are a few herbs and spices that are not only great in the kitchen but also help support emotional balance during the colder months:

Rosemary: The Focus Booster

This aromatic herb isn’t just for your roast potatoes. Rosemary has been used for centuries to promote mental clarity and focus. It’s uplifting and helps combat feelings of mental fatigue—perfect for those days when you feel like you just can’t concentrate or you’re running on empty.

Tip: Use fresh rosemary in your soups, stews, or even infused in a hot cup of water as a calming tea for mental clarity.

Sage: The Stress Reliever

Sage has long been used in spiritual and wellness practices for its purifying qualities. It’s known to help calm the mind, relieve anxiety, and reduce tension, which is just what you need as the holiday stress sets in. Plus, sage has a lovely earthy flavor that pairs wonderfully with roasted vegetables or a hearty stuffing.

Tip: Add sage to your winter meals or brew a simple sage tea to help reduce stress and relax the nervous system after a busy day.

Cinnamon: The Warm Hug

There’s a reason cinnamon is the star of so many winter recipes—it’s warming, soothing, and comforting. In Ayurveda, cinnamon is often used to stabilize energy and promote warmth during the cold months. It has a balancing effect on the body’s Vata dosha, which tends to get aggravated by the cold and dry air of winter.

Tip: Sprinkle cinnamon into your coffee, hot chocolate, or even over oatmeal to boost your mood and keep you feeling warm.

Ginger: The Energizer

Ginger is one of those kitchen helpers that can energize and ground you, especially during the winter months when you might feel more sluggish. It’s invigorating, fights fatigue, and helps stimulate digestion—important during the winter when our digestive fire (or Agni) tends to slow down.

Tip: Brew a ginger tea or add a little fresh ginger to your smoothies or soups for a spicy pick-me-up.

a pink water lily in a pond with lily pads — Photo by Patti Black on Unsplash

Final Thoughts: Stay Calm, Cool, and Well-Balanced

Please do whatever you need to do to stay calm, cool, and well-balanced this season. Whether it’s a cup of spice-infused tea, a moment of mindfulness, or just stepping away from the holiday chaos for a breath (or five), take care of yourself first. Remember to keep things in perspective—celebrations are important, but they shouldn’t come at the cost of your sanity. It’s perfectly fine if your green beans weren’t the most delightful thing on the table, and no one will remember if the pie was a little uneven on top. What they’ll remember is your laughter, your warmth, and the way you made them feel—and that’s the real holiday magic. So, go ahead and be your wonderful self. You are loved, not because of the perfectly wrapped gifts or flawless dinner spread, but because you’re simply you.