Dear Friends
Here in the northeast we have gone from minus 9 degrees and windy to 55 and sunny in a matter of two and a half weeks. Now after living in Pennsylvania and New Jersey my whole life, I’m not foolish enough to believe that winter is over-I’ve seen snow in May-but it does start me thinking about spring cleansing.
You’ve perhaps known elders that took their “spring tonic” at the close of every winter and thought them quite silly. Well, how do you think they became “elders”?
So what is a Spring Tonic, why do we take it and how does it work? I’m glad you asked. It used to be that the winter diet consisted of grains, dried beans and salted meats, then as food preservation advanced canned vegetables and fruits were added to the winter diet. But the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables still kept us in a deficit as far as the important enzymes that we need to digest meat.
Though we now have fresh produce available year round, few of us eat enough of it. So, you can imagine that toxins would start to build up in a body consuming mostly meats and very little fresh veggies and fruit? A spring tonic is made up of herbs, dried and saved from the previous summer. It is consumed at the end of the winter, before spring’s greens start to appear. This is the time that our body is the neediest.
Some herbs fall solidly into the category of “detoxifiers” such as Dandelion; Parsley; Gentian; Black Walnut Leaves; Blessed Thistle and Sweet Goldenrod. These herbs nourish the body with essential enzymes and bitters that promote liver, stomach, and kidney, pancreatic and intestinal health. Did I say “bitters”? Yes I did. They don’t call them bitters for no reason at all, they are bitter! Some will make your hair stand on end! But hey, we’re all grown ups! Another way to add bitters and enzymes to your diet is to eat salads with chicory, radicchio or dandelion leaves-very very good for the digestive system!!!
I make two herbal tinctures that fall into the detox category, Hepa-Health and Blood Purifier. The Blood Purifier is great for controlling blood sugar and lipids (blood fats) it is also the better tasting of the two. Hepa-Health was created for those battling Hepatitis or Cirrhosis of the liver but it works equally well as a preventative of liver disease and tonic cleanser. It is also what I use to clear up Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) without the use of antibiotics.
Let us not forget detoxifying mineral baths too, for they draw impurities out through the skin. I have received many requests for my Detox Bath recipe lately, so I will include it here in an abbreviated form. Feel free to visit my website for more detailed information. Detox Bath-1 cup Sea Salt 1 cup Epsom salts and 2 cups backing soda. That’s it! Add ¼ cup to a hot bath and soak 20-30 minutes as the water cools-this intensifies the drawing action. You may add glycerin to moisturize but not oil as it will seal your pores. You can also add essential oils but don’t add synthetic fragrance.
I hope you can use some of this information to enjoy a healthy and vibrant spring.
Love and Light, Lori
