The French philosopher Voltaire got depressed at the first signs of autumn, the writer Wolfgang Goethe was especially sensitive to the wind. Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, talked about the “sirocco syndrome” and taught his medical students to remember the effect the seasons can have on their patients’ complaints. The main symptoms of meteoropathy, or weather pains, are tiredness, a drop or increase in blood pressure, headaches, perspiration, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, learning difficulties, insomnia, anxiety, irritability and depression. Pain can also flare up again. Our grandparents and those who work in the fields know when the weather is about to take a turn for the worse because their backs start playing up. And they never get it wrong.
WHAT CAUSES WEATHER PAINS?
The meteorological factor that affects our physical and psychological wellbeing more than any others is air temperature. But humidity, especially if very high, fewer hours of sunlight, strong winds like the north wind or the hot and humid sirocco which blows in spring and autumn can also affect our health. The wind can be particularly detrimental for anyone sensitive to changes in the weather and symptoms can appear as early as 6-12 hours before it actually begins to pick up. The hypothalamus, part of the central nervous system located in the central area inside the two brain hemispheres, is associated with meteoropathy. Inside the hypothalamus is the centre of thermoregulation which controls the production and dispersion of heat in order to maintain the body’s internal temperature at around 37 °C, irrespective of the outside temperature.
HOW TO BEAT WEATHER PAINS
When you start feeling these symptoms and your doctor has ruled out an organic disorder, by carrying out diagnostic tests if necessary, you could try a different approach. Western medicine, in fact, has no specific therapies for conditions like this, except prescribing mild sedatives for irritability, tonics for weakness and painkillers for headaches. So more natural therapies, like treating yourself to a sauna or Turkish bath, could be a help or act as prevention. They are great for flushing out toxins, relaxing and helping you get a better night’s sleep. This effect can be heightened by using natural organic fragrances like mint, bay and eucalyptus which clear the airways, lavender and rose, which calm anxiety and irritability, and jasmine which helps lift the spirits. And you could round off your wellness session with a hot herbal tea to replenish lost liquids. Perhaps infused with hawthorn, which has mild anxiolytic properties, improves the cardiovascular system and can treat symptoms such as tachycardia, or rhodiola, an “adaptogen” plant, which means it helps us adapt to all kinds of stressful situations. Including meteoropathy.
