Your skin—dry. Your energy level—depleted and draining fast. Your wallet—the same story.

So, what's the best defense against the December doldrums, that unsavory sibling of the holiday season that creeps in the shadows behind the glittering lights, gifts, and guests?

Sure, that triple-shot extra-large latte may give you a short-lived boost. But at this time of year, what you really need is a longer-lasting solution that rejuvenates you from the inside out, without breaking the bank.

Luckily, Baltimore has several good low-cost options for getting rid of the winter blues. You may be surprised about the deals you can score by helping students of the healing arts get some hands-on exposure.

At Baltimore School of Massage's student clinic in Linthicum, $30 buys an hour massage with a student practitioner, which is about a 50% savings compared to local spa offerings (www.bsom.com; 410-636-7929).

"If you have aches and pains, you just carry those around. You're not even aware it's part of your daily routine," says clinic director Annetta Thomas. "Massage puts you more in tune with what's going on in your body."

And, says Thomas, it results in more energy, improved circulation, and better sleep. Taking time for yourself at this time of year can have the added benefit of "making you sit back and really do some personal inventory and find out what the season is for," she adds.

The Tai Sophia Institute, headquartered in Laurel, is another great resource for discounted treatments. The school offers reduced-rate sessions with student acupuncturists and herbalists at locations in Laurel, Wheaton, and Belvedere Square (www.tai.edu; Laurel: 410-888-9048, ext. 6657; Belvedere Square: 410-433-6846; Wheaton: 301-949-5905).

Acupuncturist and faculty member Kaiya Larson describes acupuncture as refueling the body's tank. "It helps fill you up at a very deep level. If you're running on empty, you can come and get a treatment and feel rejuvenated and alive."

The initial consultation runs about two hours and costs around $75; follow-up treatments usually last an hour to an hour-and-a-half and cost about $65, a total savings of about 15% to 30% of what area acupuncturists charge, according to the Institute. A licensed acupuncturist always participates in the sessions.

"The patient ends up feeling like they've really been listened to in a very deep way," explains Larson. "If you get treatment and you feel better, then you have more energy to give to other people. Then, you don't get sick, which is something that often happens after the holidays are done."

The school's discounted herbal consultation is another way to fight off winter illness. Student practitioners suggest herbs to promote wellness, in sessions that are overseen by faculty supervisors. Clients first undergo an initial consultation, during which the practitioner obtains a thorough history. Herbalist Rebecca Rhoads says, "By doing such a thorough history, you start to see patterns and connections between symptoms and imbalances in diet or lifestyle."

According to Rhoads, energy levels cycle just like the seasons. Just as people fight fatigue with food, Rhoads says that herbs "nourish the body, like food, but in a more medicinal way. Basically, herbs are a step closer to medicine than food is."

Herbs can help combat the effects of cold weather, right down to your body temperature.

"If you've ever put cayenne on your food, it stimulates the body. And, in the winter months, it's great. It warms the body," Rhoads says.

An initial consultation runs $50, and the follow-up meeting is $35. You save about 50% by scheduling with students, according to the Institute. Individualized formulas, an extra charge, are mixed in the on-site herb room.

"It's like treating your body to a deluxe detailing," says Rhoads. "We're more important than a car, really. But people sometimes take so much better care of their cars than their bodies."

If these options don't appeal to you or your budget, take Rhoads up on some common-sense advice: Get enough sleep! And keep in mind that feeling sluggish is common during the winter months.

"Winter is a time of being down and hibernating, and our culture is all about go, go, go," says Rhoads. "We need to have that downtime. Go with it."