Seasonal Detoxification
Many of you have reached out to me about the best practices for detoxification. While there is abundant information on the internet, you may not know where to begin. In this post we will explore how to support the liver and kidneys — including a DIY tincture recipe; recommended foods, herbs, and detox methods; plus how to approach detoxifying heavy metals. Let’s begin!
Why Springtime?
Spring is considered the best season for detoxification according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Why? Wintertime is characterized by heavy food and less physical activity, which in turn creates a sluggish system — particularly with your two main detoxification organs: the liver and kidneys. Once we are into spring, it is important to clear out toxins, accumulated fats, and other compounds that may slow down their efficiency. By doing so, it will encourage vitality, energy, and health.
How to Love Your Liver & Kidneys
The primary goal of detoxification is to flush out accumulated toxins that hamper overall health. But if your detoxification organs are not operating at peak efficiency, a detox can cause more harm than good. In light of this, it is crucial to support your liver and kidneys so they are up for the task. Here are a few recommendations to get you started:
- Start your day with an eight-ounce glass of water with the juice of one lemon to support the function of your liver.
- I cannot stress enough the importance of drinking enough water throughout the day — especially while you are detoxing. Aim for 8-10 glasses/day.
- To avoid taking in additional toxins and putting stress on the liver and kidneys, it is important to only eat organic foods and filtered water via reverse osmosis or a Berkey system to avoid the chemicals found in plastic jugs.
- Consume an antioxidant-rich diet including leafy greens, raw salads, sprouts and microgreens, berries, and brightly-colored fruits and vegetables.
- Limit animal protein and fats from meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.
- Make sure you are getting enough fiber. One of the best ways to do this is to eat a whole-food, plant-based diet. Chia seeds and/or flaxseed should be on the menu every day.
- Avoid processed, fatty, or refined sugar-laden foods.
- Opt for stainless steel, glass, or silicone food storage containers and shy away from anything plastic.
- Only use natural cleaning agents in your house. It doesn’t need to be fancy. You will be amazed at how versatile baking soda and vinegar can be for household cleaning.
- Choose natural haircare and body products free of chemicals, foaming agents, and artificial fragrances.
- Take Epsom salt baths and infrared saunas on a regular basis.
Recipe. Liver Detox Dandelion-Milk Thistle Blend: For this recipe you will need to make two separate tinctures, one for milk thistle and the other for dandelion root, using the following instructions. When the tinctures are ready, combine equal parts for the blend.
- Fill a glass jar 1/3 to 1/2 full of the dried herbs you are using for your tincture, but don’t pack it down (amount of the herb used depends on the surface area and extractability of the herb). You can also use fresh herbs – use 2x the amount of dried herbs.
- Fill the jar with alcohol (e.g. vodka), leaving 1⁄2 inch (1.25 cm) of headspace. Stir well.
- Close the lid on the jar, label and date, and store in a cool, dry place. Tinctures can take anywhere from 4 weeks up to 6 months to fully extract, depending on the herbs you are using. 2 months works well for most herbs. Shake the jar once a day if possible.
- When your tincture is complete, usually around 8 weeks, strain out the herbs and rebottle the finished product. The alcohol renders it very shelf-stable and tinctures can last up to 7 years. Many people put tinctures in amber dropper bottles for ease of use, but any small glass bottle will work. One-half to one teaspoon is a normal dose for adults. For children dosage is about 1/4 to 1/3 of the adult dose, depending on weight.
Three Detoxification Methods
Once your liver and kidneys are functioning properly, you can now move on to a formal detox. Keep in mind you want to continue with the tips above for maintenance. Here are three tried and true detox methods:
#1 – Raw Food Detox. With this method, you focus on nutrient-rich salads and uncooked foods for several days up to a few weeks. Unlike a standard raw-food diet, this detox doesn’t include nuts, seeds, or other fats known to challenge the liver. Focus on brightly-colored fruits and vegetables, especially nutrient-dense berries and dark leafy greens. Fresh vegetable juices are particularly good. Herbal teas are helpful too — such as dandelion, milk thistle, chanca piedra, fresh lemon, and ginger.
#2 – Juice Fast. A more challenging detox is a juice fast for three days. If you would like to continue longer, I recommend working with your healthcare practitioner. With this detox, you focus on fresh fruit and vegetable juices throughout the day without any solid food. Some people also add vegetable broths, herbal teas, and water. Care needs to be taken when coming off the fast so as not to cause digestive issues. Puréed vegetable soups are an excellent option for the first few meals after the fast, then you can gradually introduce solid, cooked vegetable-based meals over the next day or two.
#3 – Water Only. For this detox, limit it to 24-48 hours. Supervision by your healthcare practitioner is necessary if you would like to continue beyond two days or if you have an underlying health condition. Not surprisingly, you only drink water for the duration of the detox. Some add a small pinch of pink salt to maintain electrolyte balance. As with the juice fast, you will need to introduce solid foods slowly once the fast is finished.
A Note About Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are environmental toxins that can be found in the air, soil, and water. They originate from industrial pollutants, paint, conventional farming, fuel, pesticides/fungicides/rodenticides, fireworks, and household chemicals. The most common heavy metals include arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, and thallium. They can cause neurological issues and contribute to a host of health conditions, including anemia, cancer, kidney and or/liver damage, brain fog, headaches, fatigue, miscarriage, chronic infections, and insomnia.1
If there is significant heavy metal toxicity, you will need to work with a skilled healthcare practitioner who specializes in this area. A chelator will be used either through an IV or by ingesting a tablet, so the metals are bound and then excreted from the body. Otherwise, when the metals are dislodged they can migrate to another part of the body and cause significant damage.
For a gentle, long-term approach that doesn’t require chelation, you can consume specific foods that help to flush heavy metals from the body. They also protect against the damaging effects of these environmental toxins. Good choices include:
- Cilantro
- Garlic
- Wild Blueberries
- Spirulina
- Chlorella
- Barley Grass Juice Powder
- Atlantic dulse
- Green Tea
- Tomatoes
- Probiotics
- Turmeric
As with any detoxification protocol, it is crucial you get enough quality rest and reduce stress levels. My Sleep Blend and Anxiety & Stress Blend can help. Visit the apothecary today to learn more.
Interested in Deepening Your Knowledge of Herbal Medicine? These Resources Are For You!
Beyond natural detoxification methods, herbal medicine is a fascinating area of study with real-world, practical applications. If you would like to become more self-sufficient in treating and preventing health issues using an all-natural approach, The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies: The Healing Power of Plant Medicine and my new, hands-on Herbal Academy Master Course are tremendous resources. Both will empower you to take control of your family’s health and well-being.
Within the pages of The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies, you’ll find 169 of the most potent medicinal plants, lichens, and mushrooms available with color photographs and detailed descriptions for easy identification. This is a book for both beginners and seasoned herbalists, and covers edible and medicinal uses, harvesting instructions, a medicinal index, and much more. It is an excellent companion to my online master course.
With my Herbal Academy, you will learn about the medicinal plants growing all around us — including how to identify and use them. Once we have foraged our medicinal plants and mushrooms, I will then show you how to make a range of extractions, salves, poultices, tinctures, syrups, oil infusions, and other powerful herbal remedies. This is just a small sampling of what is included in my comprehensive, online course. It is not a subscription. You pay only once and then will have access 24/7 — forever.
Tap here to learn more and begin your rewarding journey into the world of herbalism!
Nicole Apelian
References
- “Heavy Metal Poisoning (Toxicity)” The Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23424-heavy-metal-poisoning-toxicity
