Condition

Feline Oral Stomatitis

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is one of the most painful oral conditions in veterinary practice — severe, diffuse inflammation of the gingiva and oral mucosa, often extending to the pharynx. The aetiology involves an exaggerated immune response against tooth-associated biofilms, compounded by FHV-1, FCV, and FIV viral infections. Affected cats experience severe oral pain causing anorexia, drooling, weight loss, and pawing at the mouth. Full-mouth tooth extraction resolves FCGS in 60% of cases by removing the antigenic biofilm-laden surfaces. Holistic support post-extraction uses anti-inflammatory and healing herbs — calendula, marshmallow root, and licorice root — to manage residual mucosal inflammation.

Safety notice — HIGH

Sunaras provides educational wellness content only. This is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual responses to herbs vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for personalised guidance.

Licorice root causes sodium retention and potassium depletion, raising blood pressure. Avoid with antihypertensives, diuretics (potassium depletion risk), or digoxin. Daily use exceeding 5g for more than 4 weeks carries significant cardiovascular risk.

Calendula (Oral Mucosal Healing)

Calendula's triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids accelerate mucosal wound healing and reduce the severe gingival and mucosal inflammation characteristic of feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS). Applied as a diluted oral rinse, calendula supports healing between veterinary treatments.

⚠️ Feline oral stomatitis is a severe, painful condition that requires veterinary treatment (often including tooth extractions). Herbal support is palliative — pain management and dental treatment must come from your vet. Cats with stomatitis may be very sensitive to oral handling.

European Herbalism

Slippery Elm (Mucosal Soothing)

Slippery elm's mucilaginous polysaccharides coat ulcerated and inflamed oral mucosa, providing a protective film that reduces pain on eating. This is particularly valuable for cats with stomatitis who are refusing food due to oral pain.

⚠️ Space 2 hours from medications. Slippery elm is palliative and supportive — it does not treat the underlying autoimmune cause of stomatitis. Veterinary treatment is essential.

Native American Medicine

Licorice Root DGL (Mucosal Protection)

DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) stimulates mucin production and has anti-inflammatory activity on mucosal tissues. For cats with stomatitis, small amounts of DGL in food may reduce mucosal inflammation and support healing of ulcerated areas.

⚠️ Cats: use at very low dose (⅛ tablet maximum). Use DGL form only — not regular licorice root. Veterinary assessment of stomatitis severity is essential — most cats with FCGS require full-mouth dental extraction for long-term improvement.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Soft Wet Food Only (pain management for eating)

Cats with stomatitis require soft food exclusively — any dry food or hard treats cause severe pain on chewing. Wet food, warmed to body temperature, minimises the mechanical trauma that exacerbates mucosal pain.

Preparation:

  • Switch to 100% wet food immediately.
  • Warm food to approximately 38°C (body temperature) before serving — this increases aroma and reduces the cold sensation on inflamed tissue.
  • Consider pate-style textures rather than chunky pieces.

Dosage:

  • Soft wet food only, warmed, as 100% of diet — no dry food, no hard treats, permanently for cats with stomatitis

Integrative Veterinary Medicine

Bone Broth (appetite stimulus and nutrition)

Stomatitis cats who are not eating face rapid hepatic lipidosis risk. Warm, aromatic bone broth stimulates appetite through smell and provides nutrition in a near-liquid form that minimises oral contact pain.

Preparation:

  • Warm bone broth (no onion/garlic) to 38–40°C.
  • Offer frequently — place near resting areas, offer multiple times daily.
  • Provide in a shallow bowl so the cat's tongue minimises contact with the painful cheeks.

Dosage:

  • Warm bone broth available at all times.
  • Offer 15–20ml minimum 3× daily.
  • If intake is very poor, contact vet for appetite stimulant or feeding tube assessment.

Traditional Veterinary Nutrition

Slippery Elm Gruel (pre-meal mucosal coating)

A thin slippery elm gruel offered immediately before a meal coats the painful oral mucosa, creating a protective polysaccharide film that reduces pain during eating. This 'oral pre-coat' approach can be the difference between a stomatitis cat eating or not.

Preparation:

  • Whisk ¼ tsp slippery elm powder into 60ml warm water until smooth and viscous.
  • Offer by syringe gently into the side of the mouth before meals, or mixed into the beginning of the meal.

Dosage:

  • ¼ tsp slippery elm in 60ml warm water before each meal, every meal

Native American Medicine

Feline Oral Stomatitis Comfort and Support Protocol

Cats

  • A supportive dietary protocol for cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS).
  • This protocol manages pain and maintains nutrition while veterinary treatment proceeds.
  • FCGS is a severe autoimmune condition — the definitive treatment is full or partial mouth dental extraction, which resolves 60–80% of cases.
  • This protocol supports the cat's wellbeing and prevents dangerous anorexia while awaiting or recovering from veterinary treatment.

Foods:

  • Warm soft wet food only (no dry food)
  • Warm bone broth (appetite stimulation, 3× daily minimum)
  • Slippery elm gruel before each meal (oral pre-coat)
  • Calendula-marshmallow oral rinse (2–3×/day)
  • Veterinary pain management (essential — herbal support does not replace)
  • Vitamin B12 supplementation (if deficiency suspected)
  • Feeding tube consideration if >24 hours anorexia

Timing:

  • Before each meal: 10–15ml slippery elm gruel by syringe or in shallow bowl. Allow to coat mucosa.
  • Meal: Warm (38°C) smooth pate wet food in shallow plate. Keep session brief and positive.
  • Between meals: Warm bone broth in multiple accessible bowls. Light handling only.
  • Critical: If the cat stops eating entirely for >24 hours, contact your vet immediately — anorexia in cats causes hepatic lipidosis within 48–72 hours, which can be life-threatening.

16:8 Intermittent Fasting Protocol

Western Integrative Medicine

  • The most researched fasting protocol — eating within an 8-hour window and fasting for 16 hours daily.
  • During the fasting window, the body depletes glycogen and switches to fat oxidation, increasing AMPK activity, insulin sensitivity, and autophagy.
  • Benefits include reduced fasting insulin, improved metabolic flexibility, reduced inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6), and weight management.
  • The eating window is typically 10 am–6 pm or 12 pm–8 pm depending on lifestyle.

Foods:

  • Fasting window (16 hours): water only, black coffee, plain herbal tea, sparkling water
  • Breaking the fast: start with protein and fat — not carbohydrates (blunts the insulin spike after fasting)
  • Eating window (8 hours): normal anti-inflammatory whole foods
  • Avoid: fruit juice, BCAA supplements, bone broth with calories during fasting window — these partially break the fast
  • Electrolytes during fasting window: pinch of sea salt + a few drops of lemon juice if hunger is severe

Timing:

  • 12 pm (break fast): Wild salmon + 2 eggs + spinach + avocado — protein-fat first meal
  • 3 pm: Main nourishing meal — baked chicken + sweet potato + roasted vegetables
  • 6 pm (final meal): Light protein dinner — fish or chicken + non-starchy vegetables only

12 pm — Breaking the Fast

Salmon & Egg Break-Fast Plate

  1. Break your fast with protein and fat — not carbohydrates. This prevents the sharp insulin spike from carbohydrates after a 16-hour fast, maintaining the metabolic benefits.
  2. Scramble eggs slowly in butter on low heat until creamy.
  3. Sauté spinach in olive oil 1–2 minutes. Plate everything with sliced avocado.
  4. Eat slowly. After 16 hours of fasting, the digestive system needs gentle reintroduction — avoid large portions immediately.

3 pm — Main Meal

Herb-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potato & Vegetables

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Toss sweet potato and vegetables with 2 tbsp olive oil, garlic, and herbs.
  2. Rub chicken with remaining olive oil and herbs. Place on tray with vegetables.
  3. Roast 22–25 minutes until chicken is cooked and vegetables have caramelised edges.
  4. Squeeze lemon over everything before serving.

6 pm — Final Meal (fasting window begins after this)

Light Fish Dinner with Green Vegetables

  1. Pan-sear fish in olive oil 3–4 minutes per side over medium heat.
  2. Steam or roast asparagus and courgette alongside. Wilt spinach in the pan.
  3. Plate and squeeze lemon over everything. Keep the meal light — you want digestion complete before sleep for better overnight autophagy.
  4. Drink herbal tea 30 minutes after. After this, fasting window begins — water, black tea, and herbal tea only until 12 pm tomorrow.

5:2 Modified Fasting Protocol

Western Integrative Medicine

  • Five days of normal eating and two non-consecutive restricted days (500 kcal for women, 600 kcal for men) per week.
  • The calorie-restricted days trigger the same metabolic benefits as full fasting — AMPK activation, reduced IGF-1, increased autophagy — but are more sustainable for most people.
  • The two fasting days should not be consecutive (e.g.
  • Monday and Thursday).
  • On fasting days, the goal is maximum nutrient density within the calorie limit.

Foods:

  • Fasting days: 500–600 total calories divided between 2 small meals
  • Fasting day proteins: eggs (70 kcal each), white fish (120 kcal per 150g), tofu (80 kcal per 100g)
  • Fasting day vegetables: unlimited non-starchy — broccoli, spinach, courgette, cucumber, celery
  • Non-fasting days: normal anti-inflammatory Mediterranean eating — no restriction
  • All days: minimum 2L water, black coffee and herbal tea allowed without breaking fast
  • Avoid: fasting on consecutive days, exercising strenuously on fasting days

Timing:

  • Fasting day breakfast (~150 kcal): 2 eggs any style (140 kcal) + unlimited herbal tea
  • Fasting day dinner (~350–450 kcal): white fish + steamed broccoli + leafy salad with lemon dressing
  • Normal day template: full Mediterranean anti-inflammatory meals without calorie restriction

Fasting Day — Breakfast (~150 kcal)

Two-Egg Fasting Breakfast

  1. Boil, poach, or scramble eggs without added oil or butter on a fasting day.
  2. Season lightly with sea salt. Drink plenty of water.
  3. Black coffee can be taken before this meal — it extends the fasting window's metabolic benefit.
  4. Total: approximately 140–150 kcal. Remaining 350–450 kcal budget is for dinner.

Fasting Day — Dinner (~400 kcal)

Fasting Day White Fish Plate

  1. Steam or bake fish in foil with lemon, herbs, and a tiny amount of olive oil. 15 minutes at 180°C.
  2. Steam broccoli and courgette 5–7 minutes until tender but not mushy.
  3. Dress salad with lemon juice only (no oil) to keep calories low.
  4. Total plate: approximately 335–370 kcal. Well within the 500 kcal fasting day budget.

Non-Fasting Day — Dinner (unrestricted)

Mediterranean Salmon with Legumes

  1. Roast vegetables with 2 tbsp olive oil at 200°C for 20 minutes.
  2. Pan-sear salmon in remaining olive oil 3–4 minutes per side.
  3. Toss chickpeas or lentils through the roasted vegetables.
  4. Plate and squeeze lemon over. Normal day — eat to comfortable fullness.

Circadian Rhythm Eating (Solar Fasting Protocol)

Ayurveda

  • Aligned with Ayurvedic principles of Agni (digestive fire) and modern circadian biology — the digestive system is strongest between 10 am and 2 pm (peak sun, peak metabolic enzyme activity) and weakest after sunset.
  • Eating after dark suppresses melatonin, increases insulin resistance by 20–30%, and disrupts circadian-regulated metabolic processes.
  • This protocol concentrates the largest meal at midday, uses a light early breakfast (or skips it), and ends all eating by 6–7 pm for a 14–16 hour overnight fast.

Foods:

  • Morning (optional, light): small amount of soaked nuts or fruit — never a heavy meal before 9 am when Agni is still awakening
  • Midday (main meal, 11 am–2 pm): largest meal of the day — all food groups, full nutrition
  • Evening (before 6 pm, very light): easily digestible — soup, cooked vegetables, small amount of protein
  • After 6–7 pm: only herbal tea, water — fasting window begins with sunset
  • Avoid: eating after 7 pm (reverses circadian metabolic benefits), heavy breakfast
  • Turmeric
  • Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
  • Licorice Root (Yashtimadhu)
  • Pippali (Long Pepper)
  • Cardamom
  • Bitter Melon

Timing:

  • Morning 8 am (optional, very light): 30g soaked almonds + 1 small banana + ginger herbal tea
  • Midday 12–1 pm (main meal): Substantial kitchari or grilled fish + rice + roasted vegetables + ghee
  • Evening before 6 pm (light): Clear vegetable soup or congee — never a heavy meal

Morning (8 am) — Optional Light Breakfast

Soaked Almond & Ginger Awakening

  1. The night before: place almonds in a bowl, cover with water, soak overnight at room temperature.
  2. In the morning: drain almonds and peel the skins off (they slide off easily after soaking — peel is astringent).
  3. Eat almonds slowly and chew thoroughly. Digestive enzyme activity is still low at 8 am.
  4. Drink ginger tea alongside — ginger gently awakens Agni without overstimulating digestion.
  5. Keep this meal very small — the purpose is to gently start digestion, not to fully feed.

Midday (12–1 pm) — Main Meal at Peak Agni

Golden Kitchari — Ayurvedic Complete Meal

  1. Rinse mung dal and rice until water runs clear.
  2. Heat ghee in a pot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add ginger, turmeric, and coriander. Stir 30 seconds.
  4. Add dal and rice, stir to coat in ghee and spices. Pour in water or broth.
  5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook 25–30 minutes until dal breaks down into a thick, porridge-like consistency.
  6. Stir in cooked vegetables 5 minutes before end. Season with sea salt.
  7. Eat this as the main meal of the day, mindfully, sitting down, without screens. Agni is strongest now.

Evening (before 6 pm) — Light Closing Meal

Light Vegetable Broth Soup

  1. Simmer vegetables in broth with spices 15–20 minutes until very soft.
  2. Blend half or all for a smooth soup if desired. Stir in ghee at the end.
  3. Eat before 6 pm. This should be light and easy to digest — the digestive system is slowing down.
  4. After this meal: only herbal tea and water. The 14–16 hour overnight fast begins here.

72-Hour Autophagy Reset Fast

Western Integrative Medicine

  • An extended 72-hour fast activates deep cellular autophagy (cellular self-cleaning) — the process in which cells break down and recycle damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and dysfunctional mitochondria.
  • The first 16–24 hours triggers glycogen depletion and ketogenesis; hours 24–72 see peak autophagy and a significant reduction in circulating IGF-1 and inflammatory cytokines.
  • After 72 hours, the immune system undergoes partial renewal (Valter Longo stem cell research).
  • This is an intensive protocol — not for weekly use.
  • Once per month or per quarter for immune reset is appropriate.

Foods:

  • During fast (72 hours): water only, electrolytes (sea salt + potassium from lemon), plain black coffee, plain herbal tea
  • No calories during the fast — bone broth, BCAA supplements, and sweetened teas partially break autophagy
  • Electrolyte maintenance: ½ tsp sea salt + squeeze of lemon in 1L water each day prevents low sodium, headache, and heart palpitation
  • Breaking the fast correctly is critical — refeeding syndrome is a risk after extended fasting. Start with bone broth, not a large meal
  • Not appropriate for: pregnant women, diabetics on insulin, anyone underweight, or anyone with a history of eating disorders

Timing:

  • Evening before Day 1 (pre-fast final meal): high-fat, high-protein — sustains energy into the fast
  • During fast (Days 1–3): water + herbal teas + black coffee + sea salt electrolyte water
  • Breaking the fast (end of Day 3): bone broth first, then 2 hours later soft scrambled eggs and avocado

Evening Before the Fast — Final Pre-Fast Meal

High-Fat, High-Protein Pre-Fast Plate

  1. This meal should be substantial but not overly large. Eat until satisfied, not stuffed.
  2. Roast salmon and vegetables at 200°C for 20 minutes with olive oil.
  3. Scramble eggs in remaining olive oil. Serve everything together.
  4. After this meal: stop eating. The fast begins now. Last coffee or herbal tea allowed until bedtime.

During the Fast (Days 1–3) — Fasting Drink Protocol

Electrolyte Fasting Water

  1. Mix electrolyte water each morning. Drink at least 2.5–3L of fluid daily during the fast.
  2. Sip throughout the day rather than drinking large volumes at once.
  3. Hunger peaks at hours 16–20 and again at hour 36 — these are temporary. After hour 48, many people experience a significant reduction in hunger.
  4. If feeling weak, dizzy, or experiencing heart palpitations: increase sea salt immediately — this is low sodium, not low blood sugar.
  5. Do not exercise intensely during hours 24–48 — light walking only. Light exercise is fine after hour 48.

Breaking the Fast (End of Hour 72) — Refeeding Protocol

Bone Broth Refeeding Sequence

  1. CRITICAL: Do not break an extended fast with a large meal. Refeeding syndrome is a medical risk with electrolyte imbalance.
  2. Start with 200ml warm bone broth. Sip slowly over 20 minutes.
  3. Wait at least 2 hours before eating anything else. Let the digestive system re-activate gently.
  4. First solid meal: 2 scrambled eggs + ¼ avocado + a little cooked spinach. Small portion.
  5. Wait 4 hours before eating a fuller meal. Eat only until moderately satisfied — do not eat a large meal to 'make up' for the fast.
  6. Day after the fast: normal eating resumes. The cells have completed their autophagy cycle.

OMAD — One Meal A Day Protocol

Western Integrative Medicine

  • The most condensed fasting protocol — all daily nutrition consumed within a single 1–2 hour eating window.
  • The 22–23 hour fasting window maximises autophagy, ketogenesis, and AMPK activation.
  • Requires careful nutritional planning to deliver complete macro and micronutrients in a single meal.
  • Best suited to people who have already adapted to 16:8 or 5:2 fasting.
  • Not recommended as a starting point — build up to it over several weeks.
  • Ideal eating window: 5–7 pm (dinner) to preserve social eating and performance throughout the day.

Foods:

  • The single meal must contain: 1.6–2g protein per kg bodyweight, 50–80g healthy fat, adequate fibre (25g minimum), all major micronutrients
  • Start with bone broth (10–15 minutes before the main meal) — re-engages digestive enzymes, provides collagen and electrolytes
  • Main protein: 250–350g salmon, chicken thighs, beef, or eggs
  • Healthy fat: 2–3 tbsp olive oil, ½ avocado, nuts/seeds
  • Complex carbohydrates (optional, especially for active people): 150–200g sweet potato, 1 cup legumes
  • Vegetables: minimum 400g — 4+ different colours
  • Finish: 20–30g dark chocolate + herbal tea

Timing:

  • Pre-meal (10–15 min before): 200ml bone broth — re-activates digestive enzymes, begins appetite signal
  • Main OMAD meal (5–7 pm): complete nutrient-dense plate — protein + fat + vegetables + optional complex carb
  • Post-meal: 20g dark chocolate + herbal tea — antioxidants + gentle digestive support

Pre-Meal (10 minutes before eating)

Digestive Activation Bone Broth

  1. Warm broth gently. Do not boil.
  2. Drink 10–15 minutes before the main OMAD meal.
  3. This re-activates the digestive enzyme cascade that has been dormant for 22+ hours, preventing the digestive distress that can come from eating a large meal after a long fast.

Main OMAD Meal (5–7 pm) — Complete Nutrition in One Plate

Complete OMAD Nourishment Plate

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Bake sweet potato whole 40 minutes (or use pre-cooked from the day before).
  2. Toss broccoli and capsicum with 2 tbsp olive oil, garlic, herbs. Roast 20 minutes alongside the potato.
  3. Pan-sear salmon or chicken in remaining oil, 4 minutes per side for salmon, 6 minutes for chicken. Finish chicken in oven if needed.
  4. Wilt spinach/kale in the hot pan 1 minute.
  5. Assemble the full plate: protein, roasted vegetables, leafy greens, avocado, pumpkin seeds. Squeeze lemon over everything.
  6. Eat slowly over 45–60 minutes. Chew thoroughly — digestive enzyme activity needs this time after a 22-hour fast.
  7. Serve yoghurt or kefir alongside for probiotics.

Post-Meal (30 minutes after eating)

Dark Chocolate & Chamomile Digestive Close

  1. Wait 20–30 minutes after the main meal before eating chocolate — this is a digestive rest period, not an extended eating window.
  2. Eat chocolate slowly, letting it melt.
  3. Sip chamomile tea. The eating window closes after this.
  4. The 22–23 hour fasting window now begins again.
How to Make This

Calendula-Marshmallow Oral Mucosal Rinse (Cats)

A very gentle oral soothing rinse combining calendula's healing triterpenoids with marshmallow root mucilage to coat and protect the severely inflamed oral mucosa characteristic of feline stomatitis.

Preparation:

  • Steep 1 tsp calendula petals + ½ tsp marshmallow root in 400ml boiled water for 12 minutes.
  • Strain twice through fine cloth.
  • Cool completely.
  • The infusion should have a slightly silky texture.

Dosage:

  • Apply 1–2 drops to the inside of the cat's cheek with a cotton bud 2–3×/day.
  • Alternatively, add 1 tsp to wet food.
  • Keep handling sessions brief and positive.

European Herbalism

Bone Broth with Slippery Elm (Appetite Support — Cats)

Cats with stomatitis are often severely anorexic due to oral pain — not eating for more than 24–48 hours risks hepatic lipidosis. Warm bone broth with dissolved slippery elm provides nutrition in a form that coats the painful oral mucosa before being swallowed, reducing the pain barrier to eating.

Preparation:

  • Warm 60ml bone broth (no onion/garlic) to body temperature.
  • Whisk in ¼ tsp slippery elm powder until smooth.
  • Offer via syringe (gently) if the cat refuses to eat, or mixed into wet food.

Dosage:

  • 15–20ml warm slippery elm broth offered before each meal.
  • If cat is completely anorexic: 10ml by syringe 3–4×/day minimum until eating.
  • Contact vet if anorexia persists beyond 24 hours.

Integrative Veterinary Medicine

How to Make This

Slippery Elm Glycerite (Cats — Oral)

A sweet-tasting glycerite of slippery elm that cats may accept more readily than powder preparations. Applied orally or mixed into food, it provides concentrated mucilage for oral mucosal coating.

⚠️ Space 2 hours from medications. Stomatitis requires veterinary pain management and dental treatment — this is palliative support only.

Native American Medicine

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin — Immune and Mucosal Support)

B12 deficiency is common in cats with chronic stomatitis due to reduced food intake and GI inflammation. B12 is essential for immune cell function and mucosal epithelial cell turnover — deficiency impairs the mucosal healing needed for stomatitis recovery.

⚠️ B12 is water-soluble and very safe. Veterinary B12 injection is the most reliable route for cats who are not eating well. Discuss B12 status monitoring with your vet in cats with chronic stomatitis.

Veterinary Nutritional Medicine

How to Make This

Feline Oral Stomatitis Comfort Blend

A pre-meal mucosal comfort blend for cats with stomatitis, combining slippery elm oral coating with bone broth appetite stimulation and calendula anti-inflammatory support.

Preparation:

  • Combine 30ml warm bone broth + ¼ tsp slippery elm powder (whisked smooth) + 1 tsp calendula tea (well-strained).
  • Warm gently to body temperature.

Dosage:

  • Offer 10–15ml before each meal by gently placing at the side of the mouth or offering in a very shallow bowl.
  • This pre-coats the mucosa before food contact.

Integrative Veterinary Medicine

How to Make This

Frankincense & Rose Hip Regenerating Serum

A luxurious regenerating serum drawing on ancient Persian healing wisdom, combining frankincense resin's boswellic acids with rose hip's trans-retinoic acid to reduce inflammation, promote cellular renewal, and improve skin tone.

How to make:

  1. Combine rose hip and jojoba oils in a small dark glass bottle.
  2. Add vitamin E oil and swirl to mix.
  3. Add all essential oils.
  4. Cap tightly and shake well.
  5. Allow to rest for 24 hours before first use.

Apply: Apply 3–4 drops to clean, slightly damp skin. Press gently into skin using fingertips — do not drag. Allow to absorb for 2 minutes before applying moisturiser. — Morning and/or evening

Persian Medicine

  • Lymphatic drainage massage: gentle manual technique targeting neck, armpit, and groin lymph nodes to support immune clearance and detoxification — 20–30 min session, 2–3x/week or monthly with a trained therapist
  • Acupuncture: TCM needle therapy at condition-specific meridian points to restore Qi flow and reduce systemic inflammation — 6–12 weekly sessions recommended initially
  • Sauna therapy: infrared sauna at 50–60°C for 20–30 min, 3–4x/week — promotes detoxification through sweat, reduces inflammatory markers, and supports immune function
  • Cold plunge / contrast hydrotherapy: 30–60 seconds cold shower or cold plunge after sauna — activates the vagus nerve, reduces inflammation, and boosts circulation
  • Yoga: 30–45 min daily practice of poses suited to your condition — combines breathwork, stretching, and mindfulness to regulate the nervous system and reduce stress hormones
  • Meditation: 20 min daily — body scan, breath awareness, or loving-kindness practice to lower cortisol and support the mind-body healing response
  • Breathwork: diaphragmatic breathing or pranayama (e.g. alternate nostril, 4-7-8) for 10–15 min daily — regulates the autonomic nervous system and reduces systemic inflammation
  • Grounding / earthing: 20–30 min of barefoot contact with grass, soil, or sand daily — shown to reduce cortisol, normalise circadian rhythm, and lower inflammatory markers
  • Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku): 60–90 min slow, mindful walk in a forested or green environment weekly — clinically shown to reduce stress hormones and blood pressure
  • Sleep hygiene: maintain a consistent sleep/wake time, keep bedroom dark and cool (18–20°C), avoid screens 1 hour before bed — 7–9 hours of quality sleep is foundational to all healing
  • Morning sunlight: 10–20 min of direct sunlight exposure before 10am daily — anchors circadian rhythm, boosts vitamin D synthesis, and regulates serotonin
  • Journaling: 10–15 min daily reflective writing — symptom tracking, emotional processing, and gratitude practice to reduce psychological stress load

When to see a doctor

Consult a healthcare provider if your symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or before starting any herbal protocol.

Sunaras provides holistic health education. Always work with a qualified healthcare practitioner.

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