Fall Equinox was September 22nd. This is a good time of year to plan on a detox so as to clear out all the debris in your body. This article covers several of my suggestions for cleansing this fall.
The focus of autumn is on lung and large intestine health. The lung and large intestine meridians are paired, and share the element Metal. One great way to start out the new season with a healthy set of lungs and large intestines is to detox right as the season begins.
Using Food to Detox
There is a layer of qi called “nutritive qi” in Chinese Medicine. Everything you eat your body can turn into qi. Some foods are better than other. You can use food therapy to prevent illness and to assist in detox. In fact, listed below are four effective foods and spices you can utilized to cleanse your body and support your immune system as we tackle the cooler months.
You can use the food or even better and more potent, use the essential oil. I enjoy using essential oils for cleansing as they are easy to use and very concentrated. This makes them extremely effective, allowing their natural goodness to go straight into the bloodstream, rapidly affecting your Qi.
Lemon
Lemon is a vital ingredient in any cleanse or detox as it helps your liver produce glutathione (GSH). GSH is a vital peptide that assists in liver detox, stress reduction, fighting the effects of aging, reducing inflammation, and more. It’s produced within your body, so all you have to do is work to assist the production of GSH. That’s where the lemon comes in. Add 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil to a glass of water every day for a simple cleanse. Just make sure the oil you use is CPTG certified pure therapeutic grade.
Don’t have essential oils? You can get them here at Attunement Acupuncture or simply squeeze a lemon slice into your water.
Ginger
You have probably heard of using ginger to ease nausea, but you may not know that this spicy root is an effective cleanser. Ginger helps the body flush out the digestive system while stimulating blood flow to essential organs. Additionally, it’s a warming spice that works with your body and your Qi to naturally build up defenses against environmental toxins.
You can use ginger in any detox by:
- Adding 10 or so drops to your lemon water.
- Including fresh ginger or ginger essential oils with your meals.
- Adding a knob of chopped, fresh ginger to your lemon drink.
Cilantro
Love it or hate it, cilantro is a natural cleanser that assists the body in detoxing heavy metals and free radicals. It is also a great resource for reducing allergens, fighting infection, and assisting in digestion.
To use cilantro during a detox you can, of course, just eat cilantro or add the essential oil to complementary foods like salsa. However, not everyone enjoys the taste of this herb. If that’s you, try placing two drops of the cilantro essential oil into a gel cap and swallow it.
*As a note, lemon, ginger, and cilantro all go together as flavors. If you’re looking to add a little spice to a rice dish, try adding all three flavors for a tasty meal.
Grapefruit
This rich, tart fruit has been a breakfast staple for years. However, many people add sugar and negate some of the immune system boosting and detoxifying effects of grapefruit. When eaten without harmful additives, this fruit is great for improving metabolism, assisting in weight loss, and reducing fatigue.
You can use grapefruit for detox in several different ways:
- Rub the essential oil on the bottoms of your feet.
- Eat a grapefruit or drink a glass of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice every morning at breakfast.
- Add 10-15 drops of grapefruit essential oil to a glass of water each day.
Are you considering doing a cleanse with any one of these ingredients? The best time to do so is 5-7 days before the equinox, so be sure to start as soon as possible!
Some Additional Detox Methods
Utilizing foods and essential oils is a simple, DIY holistic cleansing method. However, traditional methods can also be utilized to pull toxins from your body and drive toxic damp cold out. Two additional methods you can use during your detox are cupping and moxibustion.
Cupping therapy is great for breaking up stagnating qi or trapped qi in the fascial tissue. I like to use fire cupping to create a greater suction. This modality is very effective in getting the toxins and pathogens out of the body. Cupping is a great way to get Qi moving as you are also replenishing this essential life force energy with nutritional supplementation.
Moxibustion or “moxa” is the practice of using heated mugwort to open up internal energy meridians. This is a great way to assist a cleanse or detox if you are chronically cold or retain fluids.
If you are considering doing a cleanse but need more direction, or you are hoping to improve your overall health using nutrition, essential oils, or other aspects of alternative medicine, book your appointment here at Attunement Acupuncture, today!
