lymph love

The lymphatic system has been on my mind, the waters of the body. The word is derived from latin, lympha (lymphae) aka water nymph-we can think of this as loving life as much as water. It is a one way river, your vitality, your defense system against disease. It is a system needing more attention as we emerge from winter, a stagnant time, where the body is contracted and hardened by colder temperatures and less movement-depending on your lifestyle and environment. With warmer temperatures and the emergence of a new season, we see water moving again. Rivers and streams start their flow, rain brings patterns of cleansing and nourishing. The same needs to be reflected in the body. Unlike other muscles, the lymphatic system doesn’t have the same capacity for movement, therefore we need to bring that ebb and flow to it.

The cardiovascular and lymphatic system are linked via the circulatory system. Both work together to distribute blood and fluid throughout the body. The blood stream is united with the lymph via the venus system. The lymph is a network of vessels that carry lympathic fluid (comprising of plasma, lipids + proteins, cell debris, toxins such as bacteria + viruses, and B + T-cells ) directly into the lymph nodes to then cycle back into the bloodstream. Therefore, we can imagine it as a giant filter system for the body. It allows T-cells (the warriors that attack microbes and other toxins directly) to mature in the lymph nodes and thymus, which help us fight infection (this is when we feel swelling in our lymph nodes, which is an indication of your body fighting an infection of some sort). There are hundreds of lymph nodes in the body, located along the neck and clavicle, armpit/pectoral area, abdomen, and groin for example.

Using lymphatic herbs and lymph stimulating practices are integral to lymph health. A lack of movement in the lymph taxes the immune system. Signs of a congested lymph system are wide spread; some symptoms may include cysts, swollen nodes, edema, joint pain, irregular ovulation/menses, poor liver clearance, and skin conditions such as acne.

We can target the superficial lymph system by practices like dry brushing (using a stiff bristled brush, working in circular motions towards the heart, starting down at the legs and moving up), and body oiling (self massage). Visual benefits include more glowing skin as circulation is brought to the area with dead skin cells sloughed off. You can incorporate herbal nourishment topically by using a violet (viola odorata) or calendula infused oil. Rosemary, juniper, and sweet birch are other herbs to use as infused oils that may be incorporated to stimulate lymph.

Some of my favorite examples of lymphatic herbs to take internally include red clover, cleavers, calendula, and burdock root. One or a combination of these taken long term (2-3 months) as tincture are more like daily nourishers and cleansers, whereas echinacea angustifolia may be use when an active infection is present. Making nourishing herbal infusions (a 4 hour to overnight steeped brew of nutritive herbs such as red clover, nettle, comfrey, and oatstraw) are a great practice to incorporate to support all body systems and deliver vital minerals to your tissues.

Exercising regularly through walking, yoga, lifting weights, jumping on a trampoline, etc. all help pump our lymphatic fluid and aid the body’s filtering process. Breath work, and breathing appropriately with your diaphragm are all means to relieve congestion and support your lymph.

There is also an emotional component to consider in lymph health. Anytime a stagnant emotional state persists, such as grief, sorrow, regret, burrowed anger and other unfinished emotional business, a correlation of congested lymph may be observed. It is important to witness this experience of mental and emotional health being linked to body state, and to seek support how you see fit.

What’s Happening, as Nigel Would Say

My heart is sending out messages, alive and buzzing. I feel anxious, excited, and overwhelmed. I feel opened up and awakened. So many things have shifted and changed. This also brings fear; I’m choosing to move towards it and it is exhilarating and fulfilling to finally be doing so. I feel extraordinarily calm and present in the new environments and social situations I have brought myself into.

I have so much to share as to where my head is at and all that I’ve encountered (new knowledge, beautiful people, self discoveries) but I will keep things somewhat simple for now to establish how this all started before my cascade of sharing begins.

I’ve chosen to pursue an alternative nutrition program for the year (a certification in sustainable health and nutrition) from The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition held at Holcomb Farm in West Granby, CT. I’m going to describe my experience thus far but you can learn more here: http://tiosn.com/

A series of serendipitous opportunities & connections brought me to the institute. I attended an open house on a whim & with no intention or interest. I left feeling inspired and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Prior to enrolling at this institute, I narrowed my options down to a certification program and an MS (which will perhaps be discussed again  in detail & up for further review at the end of my experience). None of the options I had researched inside and out set a spark in me. I was stuck in no man’s land, paralyzed with indecision. Upon graduating UConn, I was fervent about pursuing opportunities that furthered my self exploration and supported my interests in this food/holistic health field, hoping that would lead me to taking a step that would put me in a challenging and future-building place. I realize now perhaps I’ve been dancing around that. Choosing the TIOSN program is my first jump forward into that place, and it’s an unfamiliar one. I think I was enjoying the feeling safety of my indecision. With this I’m taking that away and granting myself expansion.

This program meets one weekend a month and is designed for a small group (this year it’s all women) to compliment the experiential, hands on components. The nutrition science (instructor Alison Birks), plant medicine (Joan Palmer), culinary/food education (Terry Walters) and plant/soil education (taught by Nigel whom I refer to in the title-he truly know “what’s happening” at every level i.e. planets, stars, local birds…)is integrated throughout each weekend. We will be in the classroom, cooking, making different herbal tinctures and extractions,  and working in the garden. A example as to how this works would be how we will learn about the significance of probiotics for digestive health in a lecture, then go out to the kitchen to learn how to make different ferments. I will be studying a vegetable and herb to study in depth, will grow it and write a paper on my experiences with it. At the end I’ll present a capstone project as how I plan to utilize my education.

I have learned more in one weekend than I know I would have ever been able to acquire through self study. Topics included an indepth look at the plant model (analyzing air/sun/energy flows/ biology of soil), to truly organic gardening (mineralization methods), to plant medicine and wild edible identification. The energy and passion of my teachers is what I’m also grateful for and it is even more reinforcing to see that the way these individuals teach is how they live their lives.

The community feel that I was desiring and lacking in all my other schooling options is alive and well here.  I know I will learn so much from my classmates just as I will the instructors (who are all lovely & extremely valuable resources).  There is so much variety in life experiences here yet we are all tied by common interests which is so revitalizing to be around. It was gratifying to be present for everyone’s story at the opening dinner. I loved hearing what brought the other women to the school; gut feeling & intuition was brought up at almost every turn. I knew I was in the right place when those two words came up time and time again.

I am  infatuated with the synergy of everything at the school. I look forward to what I will  learn for and about myself, therefore expanding the capacity of the service that I can bring to others. The big idea I’ve taken away thus far is that for change and nutrition shifts to be sustainable, we must also not be in a place of depletion. This is also reflected in the health of our soil, plants & food. Plant health = our health.

It also doesn’t hurt that Holcomb Farm is beautiful. It is surrounded by so much goodness. I’ll be learning to forage and hopefully identify lots of local botany. So much newness. Feeling full.