Spring Cleansing
Springtime is here, along with warmer temperatures, more sunshine, and greenery blossoming all around us. Many people do a ‘Spring clean’ of their home yearly- our body is our permanent home for our entire lifetime, so it is definitely worth cleansing and cleaning out at least once a year, too.
Some symptoms that may indicate that your system will benefit from a Spring Cleanse, include low energy levels, persistent breakouts, acne, eczema or skin conditions, constipation or sluggish digestion, frequent colds/infections, bad breath or body odour, brain fog, muscle aches, and hormonal imbalances.
The goals of a good Spring cleanse should include: eliminating and decreasing foods and drinks that place a burden on the liver (processed foods high in fat and sugar, sugary drinks, energy drinks and alcohol, etc), remove or limit potential allergens (this is where a good spring clean of your house comes in handy- wipe down your windows and window sills, flip and thoroughly clean your mattress, wash curtains, bedding, and give carpets and floors a good clean), support organs of detoxification (looking at the skin, liver, kidneys, and gut) and improve digestion and bowel transit time.
An important part of doing a holistic cleanse is also approaching it in a gentle, nourishing way- there are many intense and demanding cleanse and ‘detox’ protocols out there that can often cost more stress, energy and money than they are worth; the key to supporting your wellbeing and health long term is incorporating sustainable, consistent health habits year round, so that you do not need an intense and taxing ‘detox’ to attempt to offset the treatment your body may have received throughout the year. We also have our organs of elimination for a good reason; our kidneys, liver, lymphatic system and skin are built to carry out the processes of detoxification, so supporting these organs and systems is the best way to detox.
Here are some practices to incorporate for a few weeks (or longer!) to support your body in detoxification and renewal.
-Up your cruciferous veggies- they are a nutritional powerhouse for the body, providing essential nutrients for the phases of detoxification as well as helping to clear excess hormones, support digestion, and contain beneficial compounds such as chlorophyll and glucosinolates.
-Eat the rainbow, by aiming for a mainly wholefoods diet rich in fresh fruits and veggies. Abundant in vitamins and minerals, fresh fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, seeds, nuts and legumes are also great sources of fibre. Upping your fibre intake is essential to help things ‘move along’ your digestive tract, and has beneficial effects on the immune system, cardiovascular health, and more.
-Drink at least 1.5-2 litres of water daily. Water is essential for all the cells in the body, and supports energy levels, digestion, detoxification and more. As well as staying well hydrated, sip on herbal teas or infusions throughout the day such as Nettle, Peppermint, Dandelion leaf & root, and Hibiscus.
-Exercise and movement- sweating is an essential process that helps the body to release toxins. Regular exercise in the form of brisk walks, running, strength workouts, bike rides, or yoga, help move your lymphatic system and strengthen muscles and cardiovascular health, and promote feel good neurotransmitters.
-Include raw foods- raw foods are incredibly rich in enzymes, antioxidants and insoluble fibre which helps ‘sweep’ and clean out the digestive tract. Aim to include a large salad every day with lunch or dinner, including raw leafy greens (the darker green the better- think spinach, kale, microgreens), carrots, tomato, red onion, cucumber and more.
-Avoid or reduce caffeine, alcohol and smoking. These promote inflammation and oxidative damage in the body, which we really want to avoid to enhance health and longevity.
-Hydrotherapy- turning the water to cold for a few moments at the end of your shower, as well as practices such as dry-brushing and gua-sha, help stimulate the lymphatic system, helping to remove cellular waste.
We have an abundance of organic, fresh seasonal produce, teas and tinctures, fresh juices, and everything you might need for your spring cleansing health kit in store at the Herbal Dispensary. We also have 3 qualified Naturopaths in store who are more than happy to support you in tailoring the best treatment individually for your health, and to answer any questions you may have.