Meadowsweet Herbs

Spring Cleaning: For Your Body

When the sun emerges from it’s winter hibernation, many of us get the urge to stir our bodies and get our houses in order. Not only is spring the perfect time for cleaning our homes, it is the perfect time to cleanse our bodies. When I do a spring body cleanse, I like to include all my main eliminatory organs: the liver, digestive system, lungs, kidneys and skin. Let’s focus on one at a time.

Liver:

No cleanse is complete without flushing out our major filter organ: the liver. Whenever I do a fast, I always do a liver cleanse as well. Following are a couple excellent ways to help detoxify the liver:

Liver Flush:

• 1 cup fresh citrus juice
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• Dash Ginger and Cayenne
• 1 clove garlic

Mix ingredients together in a blender and drink every morning for 7 – 10 days. Take three days off and start again for additional cleansing (do this entire process up to 3 times).

Digestive System:

The digestive tract is where we break down foods, absorb nutrients and eliminate indigestible plant fibers as well as waste products from the liver. Every once in a while, consider giving this system a break from food with a short fast.

Psyllium Seed: also known as Plantago ovata, is a native of the Middle East. The seeds are water soluble and expand when they get wet, making them an excellent bulking laxative. The seeds are absorptive and aid in the process of waste and toxin elimination for the digestive tract. They have been used for constipation, fasting, IBS and diarrhea. They are excellent during fasting or cleansing to encourage proper transit time daily bowel movements.

Digestive Bitters: This traditional herbal extract stimulates the secretions of enzymes and digestive juices to promote better digestion of food. Good to use before or after a heavy meal. Encourages proper digestion when introducing new foods to the diet. Brings relief from occasional gas, bloating, burping, and indigestion. For best results take 10-15 drops on the tip of the tongue 15 minutes before a meal.

Lungs:

Our lungs provide the gas exchange for our body, bringing in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. As air come into our lungs, it is moistened and heated. In our modern world, our lungs also deal with an extreme amount of air pollution and particulates. For this reason, it is beneficial to give them extra care and support.

Essential Oils: help to clean and disinfect the air we breathe. They are a great way to treat lung ailments topically: simply hold some to your nose and breathe deeply! They can also be used as a chest rub (add 10 drops to 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil), in a diffuser, in the bath or sprinkled on your pillow at night. Some of my favorites for the respiratory system include Eucalyptus, Thyme linalol, and Rosemary.

Kidneys:

Our kidneys are our most important organs for water and electrolyte balance in the body. To support your kidneys, make sure you drink a minimum of 8 cups of water per day. Coffee and soda don’t count, but the good news is that diluted juice and herbal tea do!

Diuretics: are a group of herbs that encourage you to pee. This is a great way to flush the urinary tract and kidneys, as well as eliminating excess water from the body. Make sure you drink plenty of water when using diuretics so as not to dehydrate yourself. Some of our best diuretics include Nettles, Dandelion leaf and Goldenrod.

Skin:

Dry Brushing: is an invigorating way to move the lymph and stimulate the skin and the immune system. It is best done in the morning before a shower or bath. Use a natural bristle body brush and start at your extremities. Working the brush towards your heart ensures your lymph moves in the right direction.