REST
Rest & our bodies
Today i want to explore the topic of rest and its relationship to our bodies. Rest, i am talking true deep rest, can be a very unfamiliar experience for so many of us. Life is intense, so no judgement on this part. However, especially at this time, rest is deeply needed.
The primary relationship is between rest & our nervous system. Quite simply, the body, in a state of excitation, shuttles more energy to the muscles and nervous system to be prepared for quick action, and that leaves less energy for the internal organs, and for things like fighting pathogens. Thus, under stress, the body has lowered immunity. Here comes the second relationship.
Because the health of our nervous system is directly linked to the health of our immune system.
Rest is a potent remedy, as well as an immense privilege (i know, i am a new mama). If we are able to rest, then we should do so, not only for ourselves but for the world. If you have troubles justifying, dedicate your rest to past generations who were unable to do so. You can also dedicate your rest to those who are working overtime to support the health of the global community right now. You can also rest for the natural world who benefits immensely from the sudden calm that has fallen over our Earth.
In all cases, the world needs more rested people with strong immune systems.
Sleep loss may lead to alterations in immune function, which in turn can result in inflammatory & infectious disease. On the opposite, many studies (and we intuitively know this) have shown that healthy sleep helps to maintain appropriate immune function.
Getting a lot of sleep is one of the most powerful and effective ways we can positively impact our immunity.
So far i have used the words rest & sleep as if it was the same. But it's not. And somehow it is, in the sense that both are deeply important for a good life! So if it is not possible for you to sleep longer hours, here are some ideas to allow more rest.
in / out
Breath in. Breath out. Long and slow. As simple as that.
share
As a culture we have become so overly focused on independence, but it is interdependence that will see us through this time and far into the future. We can welcome more rest if we share loads, as much on a physical as emotional level.
slow
Wind down before bed. Try a warm bath, some yin yoga or quietly read a book (old-school paperback, not the electronic version) or have a warm drink of golden mylk.
care
It is not that we want to ”boost” our immune system, but rather to nourish it. If you are feeling well right now, you have a wonderful opportunity to strengthen your immune system with the support of herbs that build up the immune system and nourish the nervous system. Below are herbs for doing both.
Nourish immunity
Astragalus
Shiitake
Reishi
Elderberry
Licorice
Rosehip
Hibiscus
Garlic
Nourish the nerves
Healthy fats!!!
Milky Oats
Oat Straw
Rose
Ashwagandha
Passionflower
Chamomile
Hawthorn
Lemon Balm
Protect
On a closing note, i would like to share the traditional Chinese medicine concept of Wei qi which describes our defensive / protective energy. This includes the immune & nervous system, but is much bigger than that, too. It’s also about our boundaries, our digestion, our thought processes, and the way we filter environmental information. All of these different things tie in to create the defensive energy of our bodies, which actually extends way outside the physical boundaries of the body (this has been researched and measured with instruments). This is just a very brief explanation of Wei qi, but helps to understand that we are not just addressing each system separately. However;