Spring into some lymph love!
I love this time of year, just love it. Everything about this transitional season brings me so much hope and joy, knowing that warmer weather is soon to be upon us and our gorgeous trees, flowers, gardens will be in full bloom soon enough.
Getting into Your Consistent Spring Ritual
Spring is a time of rebirth, release, renewal and detoxification. There is a lot of built up stagnation and energy from the wintertime that needs releasing and movement, so this is the time to get into a consistent ritual. Whether it be a brisk walk in the morning, a 10 minute yoga flow of sun salutations, an at home work out (since we are still social distancing), dancing, any type of flowing movement to stimulate your lymphatic system and circulatory system is really important to try and implement as of now. Not to mention, movement of our bodies along with breath help to shift our mental state into the present moment, which I think we all probably need right about now.
Activating Your Lymphatic System for Optimal Immune Health
I want to talk about our lymphatic system and how we can activate it for optimal immune health, which in turn helps our skin health!
The main function of your lymphatic system is to transport your lymph fluid which contains infection fighting white blood cells throughout your body to eliminate toxins, boost immunity and ultimately fight disease.
The lymphatic system is an intricate network of tissue and organs made up of lymph vessels, lymph nodes and lymph that assist your immune system and act as your body’s drainage system. This network of vessels through which lymph (the fluid that is responsible for pushing cellular waste out of your system), drains from the tissues and into your blood. Located just below your skin, it’s the powerhouse that ensures the body is able to maintain fluid levels and to properly detoxify on a regular basis.
A healthy, active lymphatic system uses the natural movements of smooth muscle tissue to move the lymph fluid through the body and when this becomes impaired the lymph nodes can swell up, making it much harder to push wastes out of the body.
Healthy Glow = Lymph Flow
The lymph system relies on movement for its circulation as it doesn’t have a pump like our circulatory system. Exercise, massage, dry brushing, walking and breathing exercises help to move lymphatic fluid. Being sedentary or still for long periods of time contributes to stagnation. This is why we’re usually puffiest in the morning, after we’ve been lying in bed all night.
When you wake up in the morning and you see that puffiness in the face, it’s fluid retention, specifically lymphatic fluid. For optimal health of the skin, the immune system, and the entire body, lymph needs to be circulating freely.
Your skin is another important detoxification organ, it’s the largest and also the most effective! It picks up the slack when the body gets overburdened with sluggish detoxification. Baths, saunas, steams (sweat inducing), exfoliation and dry brushing help encourage the skins detoxification process. I love making myself an infusion of lymph moving herbs to add to my baths and or facial steams.
Lymph Moving Herb Blend for Facial Steam or Bathing
2-part Red Clover
2-part Calendula
1-part Burdock Root
2-part Violet leaf and flower
1/2-part Echinacea
Directions:
Combine herbs in a muslin cloth bag and let sit in your warm bath and or in your warm bowl while you dry brush your body or face.
You can now hop in the bath or drape a towel over your head and bowl while you gently steam your skin and breathe in the aromatics. Make sure it’s not too hot as you do not want to burn your skin or cause too much inflammation!
Once you are done bathing or steaming, it’s now time to gently massage your body oil or facial oil in. After you are finished, take a moment to breathe in deeply and try to visualize your body and skin having the innate intelligence to heal itself if we guide it.
Products to Help Move/Stimulate Lymph and Nourish Your Skin
I love Huna’s Nourish Calendula Healing oil
Province Apothecary Regenerating and stimulating exfoliator
Province Apothecary Facial Dry Brush
What You Can Do at Home to Get Lymph Moving
Dry brush body and face (two different tools as facial dry brush is a lot gentler)
Exercise/movement
Water, lymph loving herbs and foods
Facial Gua Sha, always starting on chest and neck.
Self-Lymph Massage.
Boosting Your Immunity During COVID-19
During this uncertain time of covid-19 circling, it is important to not only practice social distancing, but to also keep your immune system at optimal health. When you have a weakened immune system, you are more susceptible to contracting the virus. This is why it is important to activate your lymphatic for optimal immune health.
I highly recommend checking out these Instagram accounts for video’s, how-to’s and skin care education!
Let’s Connect
Taking care of your skin is important. Besides trying these tips, it is always a good idea to treat your skin to a facial. You can visit our facial services section to learn more about the facials we offer, or to book a professional skin consultation. We are currently offering virtual skin consultations to practice social distancing during this time.
- Happy Saturday lovelies xx
Kristen