Cleaning. What is it about? Is it a silly fad? Doing you should you do it? We’re here not only to demystify this for you, but also to help you get healthy rejuvenation without extreme insanity (yes, a diet of maple syrup, lemon, and cayenne pepper sounds awful to us, too).
Here are the basics…Our bodies are brilliantly designed with built-in cleansing/detox mechanisms. The blood, lymph, liver, kidneys, and colon all work together to absorb essential nutrients, regulate hormones, and process and eliminate toxins without us having to lift a finger. BUT in today’s world, the onslaught of processed foods, chemicals, pollutants and stress can be overwhelming to our organ systems, contributing to discomfort, fatigue and a host of symptoms.
What we can do about it…herbs play a powerful role in supporting our organ systems and elimination channels to work optimally. WishGarden is all about choosing plants that are the most body-friendly and effective choices to get the job done. And that’s why we love Deep Cleanse – our newly formulated, gentle (yet thorough) tonic to support cellular health and the systems that manage our cleansing processes.
Some signs that your body needs support: fatigue, brain fog, low energy, sleep problems (or sleeping too much), skin problems, muscle pain, menstrual problems, digestive problems, frequent immune problems.
Making the most of it…Deep Cleanse can of course be taken without further changes. But to help you maximize your “feel better” potential, we’ve designed a simple two-week protocol* that combines Deep Cleanse with diet and lifestyle habits. Intentional cleansing does not involve extreme practices. This is about supporting what your body does naturally and helping all these systems work optimally so you feel your best. This protocol is useful for seasonal cleaning or when you need a reset.
*Two weeks is a feasible time frame for most people, but Deep Cleanse can be taken approximately 4x per year for up to 4 weeks, or as recommended by the doctor.
Disclaimer: Always consult a doctor before starting any new supplement or diet routine. Cleanings should only be done by people who are in good health. Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Cleaning protocol
Remember, it’s all about nourishing your body as much as possible over the next few weeks. Give it a rest from all the usual hard work and get some much-needed rejuvenation. This protocol is a proposed guideline. Do your best and do what works for you.
Deep cleansing tincture: 8 pumps or 3 ml 2-3x per day. The best way to do this is once during your morning routine, once around lunchtime, and once during your nighttime routine. If you miss a portion, don’t worry!
Water: Aim for half your body weight in grams every day – the standard guideline for proper hydration. If you weigh 150 pounds, that’s 75 oz of water daily.
Pro tip: Fill a large jug or water bottle at the start of the day and refill it as necessary to make it easier to monitor consumption.
Alcohol: Make a resolution to take a break from drinking for the next two weeks. If you can’t stop completely, reduce it as much as possible and make the best choices you can.
Eating pattern: I don’t like to make a lot of specific dietary recommendations – what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. What we generally want to focus on is nutritious, whole food that is organic whenever possible. In the colder winter season, the emphasis is on grounding and warming foods such as soups, stews, root vegetables, citrus fruits and herbs. Stay away from smoothies, dried fruits and lots of raw vegetables. Avoiding gluten, high levels of dairy, processed sugar and processed snacks for the next few weeks is a great way to maximize the benefits even further.
Excercise: Daily exercise – but actually movement – is so important for our well-being and to support lymphatic health and elimination. The lymph does much of the hard work in removing waste from the body – which is extra important to support natural cleansing. Exercise can include walking, hiking, skiing, going to the gym or just playing. I’m a big believer in whatever you stick to, what makes you happy, and what works for your body (without overdoing it)!
Sleep: This is not a one-size-fit. We have early risers and night owls and it’s all good. This is a time to be more intentional about sleep, and generally we want to aim for 7-9 hours per night. Falling asleep before 11 p.m. is ideal for our natural cleansing processes. Set a goal to work on sleep health: can you go to bed a little earlier? Can you be aware of a relaxation routine? Can you avoid a lot of stimulating TV in the evening? Put social media away an hour before bedtime?
Other Lifestyle Practices: There are so many lifestyle practices that can enhance a cleanse. Choose one or two that resonate the most.
- Daily meditation exercise for stress management
- Brush dry skin
- Castor oil packs
- Massage or other body work
Motivational advice: When you commit to a health goal – whether it’s a short-term cleanse or a new long-term habit, it’s always about progress and not perfection. If you don’t do all of this perfectly, NO problem. You have not failed. You did the best you could do at the time and still achieved results that hopefully brought about significant change.
Jamie Cotter is head of education at WishGarden Herbs. She is a herbalist and health coach. Jamie has 16 years of experience in wellness coaching. She has designed and supported many nutritional cleansing protocols that give people the tools they need to improve their energy and vitality.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.