My oldest, Sam, started middle school last week and came down with something a few days before. Even before he complained of being sick I knew he was headed in that direction. It’s always in the eyes. They start to get glossy in a different way. And once my pitta boy with a huge appetite tells me he’s not hungry, I know where it’s headed. His digestion is weakened and he’s fighting something off. And I know what to do.
I give him a bunch of herbs to strengthen his agni (digestive fire) and clear out his lungs (like ginger-licorice tea). I take heavy and mucous-creating foods like dairy, wheat and sugar out of his diet and favor warm, cooked foods that are fairly light and easy to digest. I cook with herbs like ginger, turmeric and pepper. I give him immune supporting herbs. We do neti followed by nasya (herbal oil in his sinuses). I make sure he’s getting some morning sun, gets to bed early and gets as much sleep as he can. Once he’s a little better and his agni - digestive fire - is stronger, I’ll give him some heavier foods to help rebuild his system (meat, grains, root veggies), taken with spicier digestive herbs so his body can break this down and use this experience to build even healthier immune functioning.
Why do I share this?
Because knowing how to tend to our children and loved ones when they’re sick is such a huge part of the female experience. Women have always been at the center of caring for the health of our communities. And for most of history, women were guided by ancestral and intuitive knowledge of how to use natural medicine to heal those around us.
This knowledge has been disrupted in such an extreme way, and it deeply disempowers us as women. It disempowers us to not know how to support our own health by living in rhythm with nature, like we do with Ayurveda. But it also disempowers us when we are in natural caretaker roles but aren’t nurtured by nature-based wisdom that guides us with how to more intuitively tend to those in our circles.
Am I saying every woman’s role is to be a caretaker? No.
Am I saying women have more attuned social nervous systems and are disproportionately in caretaking roles in almost every society in the world? Absolutely, yes.
So what does it do to us and our families when this wisdom has been disrupted and forgotten? When we’ve been trained to outsource caring for the health of our own children?
Most women who work with me are mothers. And they ask, “How do I do this for myself and still take care of my family? And what do I do for them?”
My response is always, “Do this for yourself first. Do these practices, feel this in your bones, and you’ll then understand on a deeply intuitive and cellular level. Your health isn’t separate from theirs. Their health is rooted in yours.”
It’s my deep belief that our liberation comes through our bodies. And when women reclaim this wisdom, the health of our children, our families, our communities will follow.
Much love,
Courtney
P.S. If you don’t know where to start, no need to overthink it! I’ve made some free resources to get you going:
[QUIZ] How Strong is My Vital Energy?
This quiz is designed to assess your ojas. Ojas is a term from Ayurvedic Medicine that describes your vital energy, stability, stamina, immunity and more.
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[GUIDE] FLOW: A Menstrual Cycle Healing Guide
Flow gives you a framework for understanding the energetic shifts in your hormones, nervous system, and mind throughout your menstrual cycle, with tips and self-care practices tailored to each phase of the cycle.
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[GUIDE] Seasonal Eating Guide with Shopping Lists
I’ll help you understand what and why certain foods are recommended each season. You’ll gain a better understanding of your body and its needs, as well as the energetics of the foods you eat.
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[GUIDE] Abhyanga: Ayurvedic Self-Massage Guide
You’ll learn about one of the most important health practices, especially for women, the benefits of abhyanga and the best ways to practice it.
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