7 Steps to Spring Cleaning Your Body

Spring has to be one of my favourite times of the year.

The promise of longer, warmer days and the heady smell of blossoms in the air puts a pep in my step like no other season.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring is the season for rebirth and renewal. You just have to look to nature to see this in motion as animals emerge from hibernation and plants come alive with new growth.

As we emerge from the dark of winter, I like to see it as an opportunity to take stock of what’s working for your body, mind, and soul. A time to shed unhealthy habits, give your bodily systems a reboot and set some healthy goals.

Spring cleaning is not just for the home!

So I have put together 7 easy steps to help you dust off the cobwebs and spring clean your body. 

1. Get outdoors and move!

It’s not the first time you’ve heard me talk about the importance of getting our bodies moving. Whether you are walking, swimming or playing handball with the kids, our bodies need to move every single day.  

What’s more, exercise done outside has the added benefit of boosting our good-mood inducing Vitamin D levels.

 2. Eat with the seasons

It’s no secret that seasonal fruits and vegetables taste best. But eating seasonally is not all about the flavour. Spring is the season to introduce more fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet as you transition away from the heavy comfort foods of winter. Think steamed vegetables, salads, and clean protein. Berries are back in season and I love them for their high antioxidant levels which can help with those lingering winter colds and hayfever.  

3. Cleanse your liver and kidneys

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the liver is one of the most important organs for renewing, cleansing and energising the body. When the liver is running smoothly it is believed that Qi will flow with ease throughout the body. The liver is responsible for metabolism of fat, detoxification, breaking down carbohydrates and producing heat for the body.

Medicinal herbal tonics are one of my favourite ways to cleanse these organs, along with herbal teas such as nettle and dandelion root.

4. Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of pure, fresh alkaline water goes hand-in-hand with encouraging a healthy lymphatic system.

What does this have to do with a spring cleanse? The lymphatic system removes waste from every cell of your body while helping to regulate the immune system. Stagnant lymph flow leads to waste and toxin build-up, weakening immunity and leading to a wide variety of health issues.

By staying hydrated your lymph will flow well, help flush out the toxins and prevent fluid retention.

5. Ease Hayfever

Springtime isn’t all roses for everyone, particularly those allergic to pollens. After spending time outdoors I recommend clearing out your nasal passages with a neti pot or colloidal silver nasal spray to reduce your exposure to allergens.

I have also seen great results with garlic and horseradish supplements, Quercetin and Scheussler’s tissues salts for hayfever.

Eating raw local honey can also help your immune system to cope with allergens.

6. Show your gut some love

Winter bugs, antibiotics and inflammatory foods can have a negative impact on your gut health.

There are a few simple steps you can take to cleanse the bowel and introduce good bacteria into your gut.

Firstly, avoid inflammatory foods such as sugars, fried foods, vegetable oils, alcohol and soft drinks. Instead reach for plenty of leafy green vegetables, berries, olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish like salmon and sardines.

If you have been on antibiotics its important to replace the healthy bacteria they remove. I recommend a probiotic with Saccharomyces boulardii such as Herbs of Gold Probiotic + SB.

And lastly, to help cleanse the bowel, introduce some pre-biotic fibre such as banana starch, psyllium husks, K-fibre or our own fibre cleanse mix.

I promise your tummy will thank you for it!

7. Go tox-free

Whether it’s the products you put on your skin or the ones you use in your home, they can have a direct impact on your bodily systems disrupting hormones and lympathic flow.

As you spring clean your cupboards get curious about what your products are made of. Here are just a few of the ingredients we recommend avoiding:

Phthalates, Butoxyethanol, Perchloroethylene, Ammonia, Chlorine, Triclosan, Sodium Hydroxide and Quaternary Ammonium

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate/Sodium Laureth Sulphate, parabens, petroleum jelly, synthetic colours and fragrance and formaldehyde.

If you would like extra support to get your spring cleanse underway, please make a booking with me for a one-on-one consultation in my herbal clinic. I will look closely at your presenting symptoms, lifestyle and diet and provide you with a nutritional plan, cleansing herbs and teas, and lifestyle recommendations.