May 2022 update: post-viral recovery
How is your autumn going?
At this time of year, as much as I mourn the loss of long warm evenings, the change of light around 5pm or so reminds me that the workday is coming to an end. It’s my cue to pack up and visit my favourite sunset spot down the road.
Sometimes dusk is a dud but more often than not, there’s an amazing burst of glorious colours changing second by second. It’s a reminder to be in the moment, blink and you might miss it. Best of all, we can do it all over again tomorrow night.
What rituals do you have to help change gears? Rather than bookending your day with caffeine and a knock-off drink, can you weave a little nature-inspired mindfulness into your routine?
Is it normal to feel fatigued and down after a virus?
In my late teens, the doctor at uni assured me that the uncharacteristically low mood I was experiencing after a nasty bout of bronchitis was ‘just post-viral depression’.
Back in the 1980s, there wasn’t much talk of cytokines and inflammation, so this was more an anecdotal observation. The symptoms did pass after a week or so but made me cautious each time a virus laid me low.
With warnings of a bumper flu season this winter, as well as being in the most virulent phase of Covid, remember to keep up with your autumn immune boosters. But if you’re unable to avoid the lurgies, keep an eye out for weakness, fatigue, brain fog and depression once an acute infection passes.
Learn more about what causes post-viral symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue and depression, and some natural tips to ameliorate them.
Food
While I’ve so far avoided copping a virus for over two years, one of my first forays into the city rewarded me with the worst case of food poisoning I’ve ever had!
It took me a while to contemplate eating again and when I could, it was a simple veggie broth with ginger and tofu. This soup is perfect when you have any kind of bug or when your appetite is low.
Tofu and ginger soup (with bonus zero-waste veggie stock recipe).
On a personal note
Food poisoning aside, these last few months have been quite busy. I’ve taken on a new batch of naturopathy and mentoring clients and continue with my consumer in research commitments.
Life isn’t fully ‘back to normal’ yet. Travel, one of my biggest joys, is still on hold for now. To make up for it I’ve enjoyed some of the diverse culture Sydney has to offer. I recently visited the Ramadan night market in Lakemba and have been dining my way through Asia with Chinese yum cha, Malaysian nasi lemak and our favourite cafeteria-style Indonesian.
I’m still marvelling at reaching my 30 year anniversary as a naturopath. What a privilege it is to have helped so many people over the decades, through my clinical practice and mentoring.
There’s so much to be grateful for!
Artist: Caren Florence
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