Feeling sluggish and heavy from the long winter? Now is the time to lighten your body as the days of sunshine become brighter.
In Eastern Medicine, dating back thousands of years, a connection was made between the organs, symptoms from your body, and how to improve them with foods from the Earth. No matter how technologically advanced we feel we have become with each generation, the body still connects to very basic rhythms of how we were originally created. If anything, with the advances of society, we may be straying away from the basic healing aspects of living on this Earth and our main purposes of being here, which pull us further away from health with all of the distractions.
So, I challenge you this spring to consider your distractions. Consider how your body is truly feeling, and give it the corrections it needs to bring you back into better balance.
Liver Imbalance
First let’s look at the symptoms of having liver imbalance. I’ve been pondering our society and its view of healthcare. I was taught through my acupuncture course that a healer in ancient times was not paid for his/her services unless they could keep you well. In times of illness, they were not paid for their service. They believed in an art of prevention and health by keeping your organs functioning well, your digestion strong, your mind free of worry, and a strong spiritual connection. Today, we wait for dysfunction to show up on a blood test, to affirm what we knew all along, that our body was not functioning well. A blood test is the last stage of illness. We are constantly treating illness. Then the patient has to continually fight an uphill battle to become well again.
Clues
Here are some clues your body may be giving you regarding the function of your liver:
Headaches, Eye Strain or weakness, heat inside the body (inflammation), hot flashes, dark urine, pain behind the chest bone (may be mistaken as reflux), bitter taste in mouth, bloating of the belly, insomnia difficulty sleeping or waking from 1-3 am, female menstrual complaints, anger, depression, difficulty making plans, itchy and dry skin, brittle nails, muscle cramps, muscle twitching, decreased flexibility, and a few others.
Liver Health
The seasons of Spring and Fall are the best times of the year to work on your liver health. It will release the toxins the easiest and become in harmony much easier. The liver has three phases of detoxification: Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. The main component of getting each of the phases to work in harmony is to consume vegetables, decrease sugar, and relieve stress. Phase I and II work primarily in the liver organ itself, working through the toxins, binding them, and methylating them, and finishing detoxification Phase III with the assistance of the kidneys. There is some pretty amazing physiology that happens in this process, but by focusing on the above three goals, you can achieve great success in bringing your liver into better health.
Detoxification
We have 5 main organ groups that function with detoxification:
- Liver
- Digestive Tract (small and large intestine- Bowel)
- Kidney/Bladder (urination)
- Skin (sweating)
- Lungs (breathing)
Therefore, in cleaning out the body, you not only want to focus on eating better, but also breathing better, sweating better, and eliminating better. Fill your diet with 6-9 cups of green vegetables per day. What goes in, must come out!!
Organic is best, some of my favorite foods and herbs for cleaning and strengthening the liver:
- Beets
- Onions
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Lemons
- Avocados, Walnuts (healthy fats increase glutathione)
- Leafy Green Vegetables
- Milk Thistle
- Chicory Root, Dandelion Root (can you say yum to Dandy Blend?!?)
- Turmeric
- Peppermint
Want to take it a step further?
I have for years for myself and for my patients, recommended putting good intention on cleaning up certain organs at least two times per year. Whether if it is through cleaning up your diet, improving your exercise/movement, or doing a cleanse, this focus on your health can be very preventative.
Clean Products
I can’t say strongly enough how you want to be clear about the cleanliness in the products you are taking. The FDA just went through many nutrition companies this winter to test for product labeling and cleanliness, and many failed. Many of those supplements are from companies sold over the counter in your big box stores. Many of those companies are not being monitored by GMP certification (an outside source). Here’s the exciting part, the supplements we carry on our shelves are all GMP certified, and the companies have been assessed by the FDA, and you are getting top of the line, clean products. That we can guarantee.
Do a Cleanse!
Let me help guide you in an either short term or long term cleanse; 7 days all the way to 30 days. I will help you figure out how to improve your health.
From April 1st through May 31st, we will be having a
20% off Spring Cleanse SALE
- Dynamic Detox
- Ultra InflamX
- Hormone Balance
- GI Integrity
- Detox I & II
- AdvaClear
And the best part….:) NUTRIDYN FRUITS AND GREENS!
Dynamic Detox:
A cleanse that supports Liver Phase I, II, and III detoxification and specially formulated for those with fibromyalgia and heavy metal toxicity.
UltraInflamX:
Yep, for those with crazy inflammation all the way from your brain to your joints. Lots of turmeric and other herbs and vitamins to support inflammation in every aspect.
Hormone Balance:
to assist with a healthy menstrual cycle, healthier post-cycling hormones, decrease cravings, and help reduce belly, butt and thigh fat.
GI Integrity:
a formula to help with Leaky Gut, intestinal inflammation, and bowel dysfunction such as IBS. Helps to repair damage to the intestinal lining.
NutriDyn Fruits and Greens:
By far my most FAVORITE and BEST TASTING supplement!!! 20+ servings of veggies and fruits, probiotic formula, enzymes to help digest, and turmeric. Every age can take this daily; starting at 6 months up to 104 years old, this is the BEST supplement you could ever invest in. Anti-everything in a canister!
I can’t wait to see all of you this month, make it your best year yet for your health and your wellness! Come on in and let our Staff make a shake for you!
-Dr. Christine
Give us a call at 320-983-2333 or send us an email staff@naturalelementshealth.com