SeaCell Summer Sweaters And The Science Of True Comfort

The unseen stress on your nervous system and why you need a go-to protective layer.

As a teenager, skirts and wet hair defined my winters. Today, just thinking about it makes me shiver. I can’t imagine getting away with that nowadays. I must sound like an old lady, but I don’t like being cold! I feel that I’m almost more sensitive to the weather. And that makes sense.

The more extreme the weather, the more resilient our bodies need to be to bounce back and the more susceptible we are to weather-related ailments.

Our bodies perceive the change and fluctuation of temperature or seasons as a stressor. One way we can mitigate that is by wearing a cozy layer, such as a sweater.

Why Your Body Craves A Cozy Layer

Herbalism is the study of medicinal plants. Thus, an herbalist is a student of the Earth: the patterns, energetics, and cycles, the plants themselves, and the human body.

Herbalism is a practice that has existed for thousands of years in many different forms, some of the most ancient being Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.

It not only focuses on plants but also takes a holistic approach to wellness, including lifestyle, even down to the way you dress. This holistic approach allows us to see health and vitality from a different perspective, as spiritual and emotional, and physical.

And though it is an ancient system, we now have modern research to back up how this works in practice.

You might be surprised to learn that a sweater can have something to do with wellness.

Growing up, did your grandmother ever warn you about covering your neck and not going outside with your hair wet?

And did she happen to mention that you’d catch a cold if you did those things?

This is based on superstition, sure, but what’s interesting is that there is something in Chinese Medicine that gives us some insight into this idea.

Chinese Medicine theory discusses the concept of pernicious influences. These pernicious influences (hot, cold, damp, dry, wind) can invade the body and cause imbalances.

All of these influences occur naturally in our environments. We see them in the weather, the climate in which we live, and the seasons.

They exist all around us, and we are at their mercy. But there are ways we can support the body to prevent these pernicious influences from having too strong an influence on us.

So, going outside with your hair wet makes you more vulnerable to the pernicious influence of cold. And wearing a nice, warm yak wool sweater is a valuable protector in that case.

As I grow as an herbalist, I have learned to rely on layers to keep comfortable, and what I love most is having choices.

In summer weather and with cold nighttime temperatures, I like having the option of a light SeaCell Summer Sweater around.

Protective Clothing: Unseen Stress On Your System 

I bet just by reading the title of this post, you thought to yourself, “Why on Earth would anyone wear a sweater in the summertime?”

My answer is that part of protecting the body is wearing protective clothing. No brainer, right?

Now, I’m not saying you should wear a sweater in 100 degree weather, though if you’re hanging around in the sun, you want to wear UV-protective clothing (hello, SeaCell!) along with sunscreen to prevent burned skin.

What I am saying, though, is that keeping a sweater around for temperature fluctuations from day to night and throughout seasons is important for preventing extra, unneeded stress on the body.

To get more grounded and scientific about this, your nervous and immune systems have no idea what’s going on around you. They are simply responding to the messages they are receiving.

It is also the nervous system’s job to regulate temperature within the body. So, as you can imagine, switching environments so quickly puts an extra burden on the nervous system.

Keeping your sweater handy strengthens your body’s resilience when it counts most.

Balancing weekdays at work with weekend adventures jolts your body between extremes. Your sweater is your safety net.

Some weeks, I’ll be basking in the 90 degree sun, then heading to the mountains on a Friday night, where the temps drop to 35 degrees in the evening.

Imagine the toll this takes on my body! Keeping a thermoregulating sweater for all weather turns harsh temperature swings into comfortable adventures.

It is really awesome that something as simple as wearing a seaweed sweater can support your overall wellness.

Holistic Wellness Tips To Pair With Your Sweater

Our bodies need extra support in the transitional season of Autumn, filled with super hot days, cool nights, and sometimes rain.

To stay grounded during this season, I’ll share some herbalist tips and tricks for homebodies and travelers alike.

Try doing these tasks in your All-Season or Summer Sweater and note how you feel.

• Find your routines. Autumn invites us to slow down and tune in. Move into more embodied practices such as walking, and establish consistent routines that will stay the same even when the world around you is changing. And sit in the sun whenever you get a chance.
• Incorporate more cooked whole fruits and veggies. Depending on where you live, the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere are trending towards winter. Winter is a time of cold and introspection. One way we can support the body during this time is by making it a little easier on our digestion by cooking more at home and ensuring the foods we eat are warm. Spice things up with cinnamon, cardamom, or cayenne. They warm your body from the inside out.
• Connect to nature. For many, summer is the season of getting outside and communing with nature. But we can do this at any time of the year. Try spending a morning in your backyard or walking down your street. Notice the subtle shifts around you. What’s changing, what remains?

The Surprising Power Of What You Wear

Wellness lies in every aspect of our lives. The little things we do throughout the day, down to what we wear, bring balance to life.

I find it empowering knowing that what I put in and on my body, things that are entirely up to me, help fuel my vitality. Knowing brands like Oliver Charles back me up on this wellness journey makes all the difference.

If you believe that every good wardrobe starts with owning less and owning better, consider buying yourself an OLIVER CHARLES sweater.