Calm Your Nervous System and Soothe Your Skin With This 10 Minute Morning Ritual

It’s winter. Our highly chlorinated water and chemical-laden products leech the natural oils from our skin. This is bound to leave our summer-sun-missing skin parched and irritated.

I’ve always had skin more on the sensitive side, prone to allergic contact dermatitis, rashes, dryness, itchiness, and razor burn. Using a moisturizer derived from ingredients as natural as possible has helped, but never enough to make my skin feel normal and unproblematic.

Until I discovered this hack.

According to this article on the Harvard Health Blog, studies have shown that “stress can exert negative effects on overall skin wellness, as well as exacerbate a number of skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, [and] acne.”

It’s no wonder that skin issues abound in our fast-paced and stressful lives, despite constant advancements in skin health technology and skincare products.

Specializing in women’s hormonal and menstrual cycle health, I’m always on a mission to learn more about the inner workings of the female body and how we can better support it. So recently I read the book Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Dr. Claudia Welch, MSOM.

Dr. Welch explains, “When a woman is stressed, her body releases stress hormones. These hormones make her hypervigilant and they key up her nervous system until it is hypersensitive. In this state, she begins to experience even benign events as critical situations. This, in turn, stimulates the release of even more stress hormones. A vicious cycle begins.”

So to improve the health of our skin and our hormones, we need to focus on calming the nervous system to counteract the everyday stressors we face. As it turns out, there’s an Ayurvedic practice that has existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years that can help us do just that.

A simple yet effective Ayurvedic tradition

Called Abhyanga, also named by Dr. Welch as “Ayurvedic Warm-Oil Massage,” this simple addition to your morning routine involves massaging warm oil onto the skin and requires only about ten minutes.

For several weeks since reading this book, I’ve been practicing my own version of this self-massage routine a minimum of twice per week, or as often as daily. Note: when done daily or at least every other day, I find far significant benefits.

Some of the benefits of Abhyanga include softer and more hydrated skin, decreased skin sensitivity, improved skin tone, and increased lymphatic circulation and blood flow. I’ve personally also experienced a major reduction in itchiness, contact dermatitis outbreaks, and irritation from shaving—even in this dry winter weather!

Traditionally, either coconut or sesame oil is used. Out of fear of smelling like a delicious stir-fry all day since I only had sesame oil designed for cooking, I've opted for coconut oil over sesame. As an added benefit, coconut oil has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties to further protect the skin. Coconut oil works well for my skin personally, however I recommend doing a test area with any oil that you choose before massaging into the entire body.

The oil is often traditionally “medicated” with select essential oils based on the constitution and health status of the individual, whereas for simplicity and due to a lack of Ayurvedic expertise, I’ve opted for plain coconut oil.

How to practice warm oil massage for a calmer nervous system

1. First, warm your oil. I put about 1/4 cup of coconut oil in a shallow jar or glass container. I then place the jar inside of a bowl, and pour freshly boiled water in the bowl (not the jar itself), to quickly melt and warm the oil without burning it. You can also melt it in the microwave (I just don’t have one), but avoid overdoing it as you don’t want to alter the properties of the oil. You can also play around with the quantity of oil that works best for you. I often don’t use the full amount of oil and will allow it to cool before sealing the jar and reheating it the next time.
2. Lay a towel down on the bathroom floor—one that you don’t mind sacrificing, because it will get stained. I re-use this towel a handful of times before washing it since it’s very lightly used each time (#savewater).
3. This step is optional but highly recommended, especially if you’re very stressed: Light a couple of candles (enough to comfortably and safely see what you’re doing), turn the bathroom light off and close the door. I also like to set up my bluetooth speaker with some nice spa music. These steps don’t add much extra time but they add a lot to the experience, and will definitely leave you feeling like you’ve just had a mini spa treatment!
4. This step is also optional: Sometimes I dry brush my body prior to applying the oil to exfoliate the skin and further support circulation.
5. Sitting on the towel, start massaging the oil into your feet and work your way up your legs, moving your hands in the direction of hair growth (where applicable). I often skip the bottoms of my feet just to avoid the slipperiness and potential greasy footprints, but you can certainly do that as long as you’re careful not to fall. I then shift position to my knees to massage my backside and stomach, then sit back down again to finish with my hands, arms, and chest. If you can, take your time while massaging in the oil and take deep, calming breaths as you go.
6. Once finished with the oil massage, have a shower or bath, but avoid washing the oil off with soap. Simply wash with warm water. If you plan to wash your hair, you can also massage the oil into your scalp beforehand. The soap that washes down your body will naturally remove some of the excess oil so you don’t feel too slippery.
7. Pat yourself dry with another towel that you don’t mind getting oil on, as it will absorb some of the excess oil off your skin. If you applied the oil to the bottoms of your feet, be sure to put on socks as soon as possible to avoid getting it on the floor.
8. Continue on with the rest of your morning routine!

Note that if you prefer, this can be a part of your evening wind-down routine instead.

Dr. Welch lists some instances in which a person should avoid Abhyanga, including:

• On infected or broken skin, or any swollen or painful areas or mass on the body, without the knowledge and consent of your doctor.
• When you have acute fever, chills, or the flu.
• When you have acute indigestion, or directly after taking emetics or purgatives.
• When you have a medical condition, unless approved by your doctor.
• During pregnancy.
• During your period, unless done very gently and only for about five minutes.

Thanks for reading! For more hormonal balance and menstrual cycle tips, visit wellandfree.ca and be sure to follow me on Instagram.