Natural Health in the Spring
and Guidelines on doing a Spring Detox
Andrew Johnson MBANT. MAMH. Rir. Nutritional Therapist & Master Herbalist
Disclaimer: The following is given as general information and should not be considered as medical advice or used as an alternative to professional health care diagnosis and treatment.
How the Spring affects our health and what to do about it
The long cold and wet winter we have increases the traditional elements of Earth and Water in our environment and our bodies. By the time Spring arrives the toxic qualities created from an excess of these elements will have accumulated in many of us.
The effect of this is increased by the more heavy and rich diet we have in the winter and less outdoor activity. Human physiology like the rest of nature at this time will tend to a slower metabolism and to holding onto nourishment including fat and toxicity. This tendency equates with an increase in cold, damp and congestive disorders characteristic of the traditional Elements above and Kapha dosha of Ayurveda (or the Phlegmatic humour in traditional Greek and Arabic medicine).
Typical symptoms of this toxic accumulation can include any of the following: weight or fluid gain, feeling cold, poor circulation, catarrh, sinus congestion, coughs and colds, some forms of asthma, aches and pains, skin problems, lethargy, fatigue and depression.
In the Spring the energy associated with the traditional Element of Fire rises dramatically and stimulates our physiology to try and push out this accumulation of Earth/Water Elements and any toxicity associated with them from the body. If the body is unable to handle this process effectively the person will either suffer a worsening of any current health problem or some other form of flare up. This might be a return of an old problem or an infection and fever, or allergies (e.g. hayfever), or any worsening of the tendencies listed above. The type of aggravation will depend upon where the toxicity has accumulated, and where there are any particular weaknesses in the body.
Different people experience the symptoms of this at different times, some as early as January and some as late as the summer. Sometimes there is an emotional aggravation which can relate to whatever the most challenging issues are for that person or it brings up what has been suppressed. It can often involve feelings of anger, frustration or depression. If a flare-up of physical symptoms is suppressed with the wrong type of treatment or medicine at this time it will often resurface at a later date in some other form such as fatigue, or depression.
The best way to help prevent this spring time aggravation of health problems is to naturally help the body to clear the accumulated congestion and toxicity by doing a spring detox.
When is the best time to do a detox? It is best before the equinox, which is around 21st March. I have an increase in phone calls every year at this time (and also around the Autumn Equinox) regarding aggravated or worsening health problems. Useful spring cleansing is very much a matter of "It's not what you do but the way that you do it". Make sure that you do any detox at the right time and in the right way for your individual needs.
It is always easiest to do any detox when the moon is in a waning phase (the two weeks from full to new moon) and avoid strong detox when it is waxing (from new to full). The best time of year to detox in general is any time in the spring but especially before the equinox, any time in the summer or early autumn (especially before the equinox on the 21st September). Remember to use the two weeks of the waning moon phase in whatever season you choose.
Symptoms of poor elimination: The danger in the spring with the rise in the energy of the traditional Fire Element is to rush into things like the 'Mad March Hare', or to have 'Spring-fever'. Avoid 'jumping in the deep end' with a sudden strong detox as this will often cause unnecessary difficulties with symptoms being aggravated or created. Feeling really bad during a detox can be a sign of doing something wrong and is not always indicative of toxins leaving your body, but instead just stirring them up.
Quite often it is a sign of poor elimination of waste from the body and this means the channels of elimination need more help. This can involve either the colon, urinary system, respiratory system, liver and lymphatic system. Symptoms of poor elimination can include: any worsening of symptoms, headaches, skin rashes or spots, increased constipation and tiredness, dark coloured urine, glandular swellings, sore throats, flu like symptoms or a cold, fevers, aches and pains, feeling worse on waking in the morning. If you experience any of these symptoms it is best to either stop or at least reduce the intensity of the detox and concentrate on helping the channels of elimination. If symptoms persist or are severe it is best to consult a healthcare professional.
Preparation for a Spring detox
For some people eliminating just one problem food from their diet (e.g. an allergen or congestive food) can trigger a big detox throughout the body, whilst others need a much stronger combination of herbs and other naturopathic strategies. If someone is in a weak or very sensitive state it is not appropriate to do a strong detox, they will instead need a combination of tonifying herbs, balancing and gentle detox strategies to achieve the best results.
It is difficult to give exact details for a good detox as it would depend upon individual requirements. It is however worth looking at preparation because this is an area that most people ignore and it is helpful regardless of individual differences. It is worth adopting at least some of this advice in general even if you are not using it as a preparation for stronger detoxification. We can achieve more by doing less in this way, eg. simply reducing something allows more energy to be available for healing or cleansing. Preparation is often a matter of 'achieving more by doing less', that is, by gradually reducing foods that the body often finds difficult to handle you will often make energy available that can be used to help both healing and detox.
To prepare for a detox first consider hydration! Most people are dehydrated because they do not drink enough pure water but instead have only drinks that have a diuretic effect such as tea, coffee, alcohol and sugary drinks! The body in a dehydrated state is like a stagnant and congested river and rehydration creates a healthy flow throughout the system that allows toxins to be mobilised and exit via the kidneys and colon.
Start by having about 2 litres of pure water a day, but avoid having more than 2 pints within any one hour (little and often is best). If you are a cold person or have digestive problems it is best to have warm or hot water. Reduce or cut out the diuretic drinks as well. In nature health is associated with flowing water and disease with stagnant water.
Note: people with kidney, bladder or water retention problems and those who are using diuretic medicines should consult their healthcare practitioner first before any great increase in fluid intake!
Next get your channels of elimination checked out to make sure they can process the extra work load of clearing the accumulated toxicity. These are the colon (bowel), the kidneys, liver, lymphatic system, the skin and respiratory system. If you have problems with any of these it is worth discovering and taking the right natural remedies to help them before embarking on a strong detox. If you do not prepare the exits you will likely create a toxic 'bottleneck' and experience aggravation of symptoms and a less than efficient detoxification.
Simplify your diet. Start to reduce or cut out foods which are often very challenging to the body, and increase foods that are healthy for the body. Challenging foods can often include any of the following: wheat, dairy products (especially cream and hard cheese), alcohol, coffee, strong tea, refined sugar and white flour, chemical additives, yeast (e.g. marmite and yeasted bread), processed foods, denatured foods. It is true that 'One man's meat is another man's poison', so it is always best to get tested for what is best for you (eg. using kinesiology, metabolic typing or lab testing).
Increase your consumption of organically grown and simple foods such as brown basmati rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, barley and a wide variety of vegetables. Emphasise foods that naturally grow in this season and in your geographic region. Avoid sudden and dramatic diet changes, do things gradually. Some people are naturally suited to a high protein low carbohydrate diet, whilst others are more suited to a lower protein diet with a higher level of fruits and whole grains. Metabolic Typing and Bio-Typing is the best way to find out what suits you (see the website www.integralhealing.info for details).
Emotional clearing: It is also worth looking at balancing any physical detox with working on emotional stuff that may no longer be serving you. Consider having some therapy to help if you feel stuck or confused about this. If this does not suit you then consider investigating some form of meditation or spiritual practice. Sometimes it is difficult to know if a food craving or addiction is truly emotional or instead the result of a nutritional imbalance that affects how you feel. The system of kinesiology I use now can usually detect the difference.
Environmental healing and clearing: Do a spring clean of your possessions, home and garden and recycle anything you no longer need, un-clutter your home and this helps to un-clutter your mind. Letting go of things helps us to let go of the emotional baggage we all tend to carry around. As we are an integral part of the Earth our health is connected to the health of it. The rapid decline in the health of the Earth's environment has a direct impact on our own, make an effort to care for it.
Recycle, eat organic, reduce carbon fuel use by walking or cycling more. Plant trees, buy recycled and natural household products whenever you can. Subscribe to one of the green electricity companies such as 'Good Energy'. All this has the benefit of reducing toxins in your personal environment and in your body thus helping your health, the planet and everything else. It's not often you can participate so easily in a win-win situation such as this.
A word of warning: Even the preparation strategies above can trigger some people into a detox overload so always be cautious and gentle. Make gradual dietary or other changes rather than extreme ones. If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breast-feeding, or if taking any prescription medicines it is important to consult a health practitioner before making any changes! Please also remember that the very young, the very old and those who are suffering from serious health conditions or who are weak and run down should always seek advice before trying any form of detox.
Green-Aid Apothecary and Complementary Health Clinic www.integralhealing.info
1 Hanover Square, Silver Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8BT England
Office and apothecary phone: 01458 833382