Sidestep worse-in-winter health hassles!

Freezing temperatures, blustery winds, parched indoor air…winter takes an extra toll on those of us dealing with health hassles like eczema, arthritis or fibromyalgia. But completely easing these woes is just a sip away!

Tame eczema with oolong tea

Drinking four mugs of oolong tea daily cuts winter eczema flares by 54% in the first week—and it erases those red, itchy, rashy patches for 63% of women who enjoy it year-round, report researchers in the journal

Archives of Dermatology. Oolong brims with plant compounds that boost moisture retention, reduce tissue inflammation and speed healing of damaged skin.

Soothe arthritis with hot soaks

Weather keeping you inside and inactive doubles your risk of feeling stiff and achy if you have arthritis. The good news: Soaking in a hot tub for 20 minutes makes joint pain

plunge 40%—and daily soaks can keep soreness at bay more effectively than painkillers, Asian researchers say. Hot soaks kickstart blood flow to tender joints, flush out inflammation and loosen tendons, ligaments and muscle tissues.

Ease fibromyalgia with this sweetener

D-ribose is a real boon for folks with fibromyalgia, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! That’s because this natural sugar extract reduces muscle aches, calms overactive pain nerves and revs nighttime production of sleep-inducing melatonin, cutting fibromyalgia symptoms

by 45% if you enjoy 2 tsp. daily, stirred into tea or coffee! Note: Check with your doctor before trying supplements.

Lower blood pressure with deep breaths

If you’re prone to hypertension, your blood pressure could be 12 points higher when temperatures dip. That’s because your body tightens up to prevent heat loss. But according to University of Connecticut researchers, regularly breathing slowly and deeply reduces your production of artery-tightening cortisol, cutting your risk of winter blood-pressure spikes by 67%. —