I love skeptics. They keep me on my toes. They keep me real, they keep my feet on the ground, my head out of the clouds. They say to me, “Why should I cleanse? I’m not sick!” or, “Who are you to tell me to give up coffee and sugar for a week?”

You got me – I’m certainly no angel. I am definitely the type of person who, if left to my own devices, would always be semi-cleansing, floating around, not really in my body, half-conscious, dazed. Some folks might say, “Wow, she seems so peaceful.” Others might wonder, “what’s wrong with her?” My husband kindly reminds me from time to time, “come back to planet earth, dear.” (and don’t forget to eat something!)

yup, a very candid picture of yours truly drinking coffee and eating refined sugar (ha!)

A total fasting cleanse is actually NOT the best thing I could do, considering my constitution. I need something that grounds me, that clears my thinking, that keeps me on “planet earth”. Part of my ideal cleansing routine includes roots of every variety – root vegetables and root herbs, sitting or even lying down on the earth.

My husband has a more grounded constitution – maybe a little too grounded. Life is very serious, sometimes it’s hard to dream or have visions about something fantastic and new. Of more importance than his personality when it comes to cleansing, is his history of stress, poor diet, and alcohol. His ideal cleanse would focus on clearing “liver heat” – blessed thistle and dandelion would be excellent allies taken as a tincture or infusion, excluding all alcohol and saturated fats, and long walks on a cool but sunny spring afternoon in the mountains.

It is possible that everyone these days has an “over-worked” liver. My mentor in Chinese Medical Theory pointed out the “liver” type to me many times until I could spot one from miles away. There’s definitely a look – almost a yellow-ish hue, and an intense personality – high-strung, stressed out, never settled.

It is not necessary to have obvious pathology to think about taking better care of our livers. Other systems easily compromised by unhealthy lifestyles are the lungs, kidneys, and skin.

Before you think, “cleansing is definitely NOT for me”, check this list for any familiar symptoms:

• chronic fatigue
• chronic insomnia
• diarrhea and/or constipation
• lower back pain
• pain over the liver region (without blood, vomiting, diarrhea and fever – if these are present call your doc immediately!)
• lack of patience
• forgetfulness
• always hungry, never satisfied
• chronic bad breath

Juniper Berry tincture, taken in small amounts for a limited time, can help cleanse the kidneys and bladder

Sound like someone you know? These are all symptoms of worn-out liver, adrenals and metabolism. Even a “mild” cleanse can have beneficial effects on your entire being including more energy, clearer thinking, improved mood, better elimination, clear skin, less aches and pain, better digestion and assimilation of vital nutrients.

If you have these lifestyle factors considered to be significant health-risks, you might consider doing a cleanse this Spring:

• high animal-fat and/or saturated fat intake
• if you never or rarely eat organic and thus have a higher exposure to pesticides and chemicals from food
• if you live in an urban area
• if you drink more than two alcoholic drinks every day
• if you smoke tobacco
• coffee drinking
• high sugar intake
• low activity level
• work at a desk, indoors, under fluorescent lights, drinking chlorinated water
• have a fast-paced, high-stress career

This may define just about everybody in this country today. Cleansing is for you, and we are here to make it as easy, as painless and as enjoyable as possible! Stay tuned for our next article: “Three levels of joyful Spring cleansing” !