March into Selfcare: Essential Tips to Refresh Your Mind and Body
- Jeannine Love
- Mar 3, 2025
- 3 min read
The seasons are getting ready to transition again. According to Ayurveda, the season of spring goes from mid-February through mid-May in the northern hemisphere, so we're actually in mid-spring right now. We’re preparing to leave the harsh, frigid winter for the warmth of spring. In nature, everything will loosen up – the rivers will flow due to the melting snow, and the tree sap will begin to flow. Our bodies will also try to loosen up and release excess fat and congestion. So, if you feel congested, heavy, and sluggish, follow these selfcare tips for March to help your body transition into spring later this month.
Selfcare Tips for March
Food
Comfort food is great during the winter months, but now it’s time to cut back. Avoid, or cut down on, heavy, oily, and sweet foods, such as meat, dairy, wheat, and sugar. Instead, eat lighter foods that are bitter, pungent, or astringent. Think bitter greens – mustard greens, beet greens, and kale. Also, favor foods that build energy (prana), such as veggies and legumes. For grains, barley, millet, and quinoa are good choices.
Have you ever done a cleanse? It will help you eliminate the excess fat and congestion of winter. Panchakarma is an ancient Ayurvedic detox and cleanse therapy for people with difficult chronic health conditions and imbalances. Or try a mono-diet for several days, such as a Kitchari cleanse (a rice and mung bean dish) to reset digestion and to make yourself feel lighter and more energetic. For Kitchari recipes, go to Joyful Belly or Alchemy Ayurveda.
Herbs & Spices
Cook with warm, drying spices, such as garlic, turmeric, pepper, ginger, chili, cayenne, dill, and cinnamon. Other herbs to include in tea form or tincture are:
Holy Basil, aka Tulsi, because it’s prana building. It can help clear excess mucus from the respiratory tract, and it gently kindles digestion (agni). It also supports the immune system and helps build strength and stamina.
Liver congestion frequently occurs in the spring as the body attempts to release fats in readiness for the season. Cholagogues are a category of herbs that stimulate the liver to generate and thin bile, while also prompting the gallbladder to release it. These herbs, which help cleanse both the liver and gallbladder, include Burdock root, Dandelion root, Oregon Graperoot, Bhumyamalaki, and lemons.
Coriander, Cumin & Fennel Tea, aka, CCF tea, helps prevent puffiness and water retention. It’s renowned in Ayurveda for its detox properties and digestive support.
Nettles are anti-inflammatory and immune calming, so they can help with allergies.
Lastly, sip on warm water throughout the day; it improves digestion and helps eliminate toxins. And if you add drops of lemon juice or a slice of lemon to your water, it can help the liver as well.
Lifestyle
Some lifestyle tips for March include:
Get a good night’s sleep; get to bed by 10:00 pm and wake up before sunrise.
Get moving! A brisk 30-minute walk each day is ideal. You could also do some cardio workouts at the gym if the weather doesn’t cooperate. We get high winds during the spring, so on those days, I don’t walk but will do my cardio exercise inside. Yoga may not be a cardio workout, but it has other wonderful benefits.
Feeling "puffy" is common now; so to get the lymph moving, dry brushing can help.
For allergies, use a Neti Pot to keep the sinuses clear, and use Nasya Oil to keep the sinuses from drying out.
Seasonal transitions can be tough on the body, but with a little self-care, you should sail through it.
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