Wrapping myself up in the silence and darkness of winter
After getting Covid before Christmas and worrying about what long covid might be like for a recovering lymphie, I intentionally wanted to slow down and rest more.
It was hard for me to do that. I’ve always been a bit of a busybody, with up-teen projects on the go. I couldn’t stand the darkness and stillness at one point and craved people interaction again, so I signed up at our local farmer’s market booth to sell my skincare and wellness products in person again. I thought this will be great to be out in the public again, chatting with people.
It was just what I needed, but had no idea HOW MUCH I needed it, until I was there! After that first day in mid January at the farmer’s market, I came home feeling lighter and with a smile on my face! I needed to get out of the house and be around others in my community. It helped lift my spirits heaps. Are you the same? Do you need human interaction? I’m a bit of an introvert, so I definitely couldn’t be out in the public every day, but a couple days a week is just perfect for me.
The key to my success so far, has been finding the balance and listening to my intuition to take it slow. I have to keep pulling myself back from jumping feet first at times and to remember to rest, but I’m getting there. :) To plan for compression needs because I am standing more while at my booth, taking healthy snacks with me, and walking/biking there to get a little movement in is in the works for once it gets a bit warmer here.
In Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine courses that I’ve been taking, they mention the traditions of resting and enjoying the darkness, and I really liked that invitation.
The Scandinavian nation of Denmark has it down to a T with the Hygge mindset and philosophy. Copenhagen and Edmonton share similar weather and light patterns, so their customs and suggestions for this time of year are quite suitable to try.
Hygge is all about coziness, rest, warmth, delicious foods, candles and fires, getting into winter restful activites like reading books, doing crafts, mending, etc. As a lymphie, I love the invitation to rest and enjoy the rest. I have ot admit, that I have often felt guilty about resting, feeling like I sohuld be doing more, or I should be productive while resting, like working on my courses, reading my herbal studies books, etc. A lot of that pressure is from the outside capitalistic pressure of keep hustling rather than take some rest and hustle less.
I thought I would give you a list of winter activities and energetic practices I like to do that have helped my Lymphedema. I would love it if you write me and share some of your winter self-care practices.
Salt Soaks - Sea Salt water is nourishing and replenishes our lymph through our skin. Did you know that our lymph is naturally salty? If you have ever tasted your tears, you will understand what I mean. Salt protects us from microorganisms, viruses, and pathogens. It’s the commercial salts in processed foods that are problematic. For salt soaks, look for salts like Himalayan, Sea Salt, or blend some sea salt with some Epsom salt to get the mineral benefits + magnesium in the Epsom salts. Try soaking your whole body, your hands, or your feet one evening and see what you notice. Soaking in warm water before bed can help us get a night of better sleep too. So, if you struggle with getting to sleep or getting into a deep sleep, taking a bath could be very helpful for you!
Herbal Teas & Hot drinks - Lately I’ve been drinking hot cocoa to lift my spirits and warm my heart. I take 1 tbsp. cocoa, 1 tbsp. carob powder + 1/2 tsp. of mushroom powder such as a mix or reishi mushroom, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt, blend with hot water and your choice of milk. Herbs I include in my teas this time of year are: elderberries, rosehips, Oat straw, chamomile, calendula, ginger, and lemon balm. What’s your favourite herbal tea blend have in it? Or when I’m in a hurry, I enjoy a Bengal Spice Tea by Celestial Seasonings which is a herbal Chai blend that always warms me up.
Pumping + … I try to get into my pump more in the evenings and do something like reading, or watching a movie or show. My family and I have been loving the show ‘Young Sheldon’ on Netflix lately. Such a fun show idea and great acting!
Warm moist foods like - Pumpkin coconut milk soup, Risotto, cauliflower and sausage casserole, Chili, etc.
Candle-lit dinners. I love having candles at dinner. We started it when the kids were young to keep their attention at the table longer, and it has become a family ritual. the dinner doesn’t quite feel the same until we light the beeswax candles now! Ha
Self-loving massages with oils or balms - In Ayurveda, they teach that to massage oil on oneself is beneficial for the skin, the heart, and our sense of connection to our body and self. To oil oneself called Sneha in Sanskrit also means to love. There have been some interesting studies too that look at the science behind this ancient practice and have found that it stimulates our skin microbiome which is part of our immune system. It also encourages our body to produce serotonin - that happy, feel good hormone when we massage our skin. Pretty fascinating, right? As a lymphie, we have to take the utmost care of our skin to protect us from infections or our skin opening up to weeping wounds, etc. Plus, the high protein concentration we can get with Lymphedema, makes the skin harder and tougher to work with. I have found oils made with Olive oil, Almond, and Avocado oil work best for me skin and balms with Shea Butter, Tallow, and Beeswax are helpful for those really dry areas on my toe creases and heels.
Going to bed before 10pm - Nature rests more in the winter and so should we. It can be tempting to stay up late scrolling, and I’ve done this many an evening too, but when I get to bed early, I feel so much better the next day and my lymphedema swelling is better. The reason behind this from an Ayurvedic lens is this. When we sleep, our body cleans house, putting everything away, processing the day, cleaning up, taking out the trash, etc. It can do this best between the hours of 10pm - 3am, which is when our Pitta energy - our fire energy is highest. That fire energy is often why we feel like whe get a second wind of energy after 10pm when we stay up later. In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, our clock corresponds to organs and energy. So during the night-time is when our detoxifying organs of Liver and Kidneys are working the best to detoxify, and when we are awake instead of asleep at that time, they don’t shift into detox, they are keeping us awake and support us differently.
Please let me know what winter-time practices you find helpful and if there are any of these self-care practices above that you would like me to go more in-depth on. I would be happy to.
Would you like some support with your Lymphedema self-care? Reach out and book a consult with me and we can build a customized plan to support your challenges and your health goals.
I hope this winter darkness post was helpful to you!
Take care, Amy
xo
