Jennifer Pun, ND ~ April 3, 2012

Confused about what a “spring cleanse” might be? Too busy to read my previous articles (aka book chapters)? Before you make any of your own assumptions, I’d like to give you a clear, concise overview of what it is all about (specifically referring to a naturopathic “cleanse” or “detox”. (It’s a great opportunity for me to practice shorter blog posts too!).

• What is the “Spring Cleanse”?
• What isn’t the “Spring Cleanse”?
• What is the difference between a “detox” and a “cleanse”?
• Why would I “do a detox”?
• How do you know that you need to “clean-up”?
• Why Spring?
• How “hard” is it?
• What about “cleanse” products?
• Sign up for Spring Cleaning Program Today!

What is the “Spring Cleanse”?

I mean a few “simple” (a relative term) nutritional modifications and lifestyle additions (for example, water therapies, relaxation techniques) to lift physical (and mental) stresses from the body for 3 weeks, allowing it to return to it’s natural function.

What isn’t the “Spring Cleanse”?

• It isn’t colon cleansing through enemas, colonics, or stimulating laxatives (not even natural ones).
• It isn’t fasting – neither full fasting or juice fasting.
• It isn’t even taking supplements – these are completely optional, as a cleanse can really just be as simple as cleaning up diet and life for a few weeks!

What is the difference between a “detox” and a “cleanse”?

Not much. They are just essentially different ways of saying the same thing, though with different connotations, depending who you are… (some people feel that “cleanse” implies laxatives or enemas, or that “detox” sounds like something one might do if trying to address an addiction).

Why would I “do a detox”?

• Detoxification is a natural process that occurs in the body to rid our bodies of toxins. It is necessary. We “do a detox” to remove stresses (dietary, physical, emotional) to our body so as to support and stimulate these natural processes to rid ourselves of unneeded gunk within.
• Sweating, eliminating (solid and liquid), and natural digestion are all natural ways we detoxify.
• Though there are certainly more toxins to deal with in today’s society (in foods, in the air, in our water) due to the nature of progress and industrialization, there were always toxins. Toxins are substances that have the capacity of damaging cellular structure and function when taken into the body. Even the process of breathing (even clean air) can be toxic to a certain degree!
• We need to support our bodies every once in a while to remove the build-up within our system. If any one detoxification process is overworked or damaged, it becomes sluggish, and the entire chain is affected.

How do you know that you need to “clean-up”?

• Some symptoms caused by a buildup or backup within detoxification systems include:
  • Fatigue
  • Inability to lose excess weight
  • Headaches
  • Hypersensitivity to scents, chemicals
  • Bowel/digestive problems (constipation, most frequently; but also the opposite)
  • New onset or worsening of allergies
  • Skin disorders (acne, rashes, liver spots)
  • Weakened immune system/frequent colds and flus
  • Joint pain
  • Developmental or behavioural issues

Why Spring?

• Traditionally, the changes in season (especially Spring and Fall) are times of change, renewal, rebirth. We enter another phase of the year – and we want to enter it with a beginner’s mind and a clean house (inner house and external!).
• In Ayurveda and yogic cleansing, the goal of a “cleanse” is to rid the body of the “ama” (“sludge”, really) that has built up over the past season and to rebalance the body’s constitution as we shift into a new season (to prevent the illnesses that tend to occur at this time).
• In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Springtime is a time during which the Liver can be aggravated; thus, we eat foods and herbs to help rebalance this organ (bitter is the liver’s taste).
• Notice: Even Lent is a form of “cleansing”: detaching one’s self from something external, some cruder comfort of existence, to make space for a rebirth (a “resurrection”, if you will) in mind and spirit.

How “hard” is it?

“Hard” or “easy” are not the terms to describe it. If you are working with a professional, it can be made tailored to your needs and abilities. More accurate adjectives, post-cleanse, that I’ve heard would be “enlightening“, “interesting“, “life-changing“, or “energizing“. (Ok, I’ve heard a few “hard”s throughout… but it changes quickly as the benefits are felt!)

What about “Cleanse/Detox” products?

A lot of the time, products are created with the kitchen-sink-approach. Throw a whole bunch of potentially effective herbs into a pill/powder/tea at various doses (sometimes random, un-researched) and sell it as an “all-in-one”. A few problems with this:

1. Safety: Not necessarily safe for everyone, especially those on medication.
2. Effectivity: Are the herbs at doses that are even useful?
3. Lack of personalization: We are all unique and have unique detox needs – the kitchen sink approach will never be optimal.
4. Lack of focus on the simple, natural processes of detox: you can use all the product you want… but will your body be able to take over when you’re done? Have your supported and stimulated natural function, or have you just hired “someone else” to do it?
5. Waste of money: A lot of the time, the most prevalent herb in a product is a natural laxative. Sure, you’ll feel “clean” once it’s done, but you haven’t actually addressed the cause. Cleaning out the colon is only one step of many when it comes to detox. Don’t pay for an overpriced laxative!

(Don’t get me wrong, there are useful ones out there… but the most useful approach is within you!)

Convinced? Sign up for the Spring Cleaning Program HERE!