Loving-3-phase-detox for Spring rejuvenation

There needs to be a balance in everything and that includes a detox programme.

Our body is so intelligent it detoxes anyway, daily and seasonally, better still if we give it a helping hand.

There are many obvious reasons for doing a periodic detox: the pollution we are surrounded by, including industrialised food, the medicines we take (including vaccines), the endogenous substances our bodies produce under stress which interrupt smooth elimination and the little physical exercise we do to oxygenate the body, are just a few examples.

No doubt, every now and then, our body requires our loving attention. In fact, the intention of a detox should be the desire to give our body some loving attention. Hence, the loving-3-phase-detox is designed to be gentle on your systems, yet effective. Having convinced you as to "why", let me explain "when" and "how" to detox.

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When? There are only two times of the year when the energy is propense to detox: one is in Spring and the other is in Autumn. Spring is when the activity of Liver is at its peak, Autumn when the Colon helps us to eliminate (especially the parasites). Still the Spring time has no equals for the all-around detox. The energies in our bodies are rising and moving, which aids in the clearing out process.

How? The key words are: in a loving, gentle and phased approach. According to the Chinese Medicine, the first, most external way to eliminate is via the Bladder, the water system. Starting from the water soluble toxins we skim the first layer of debris, eliminate toxic heat, acute inflammations but at the same time warm up and sustain the body in preparation for the next stage: transforming the phlegm. During the second stage we transform the more dense body fluids which form humidity and phlegm (giving the rise to chronic illnesses). We also prepare the intestines, ensuring their proper movement and elimination, setting up the ground for lipid soluble elimination that comes from the Liver filtering in the third stage.

Whereas we could do all of this at the same time, phasing out in three stages, ideally spread over 6 weeks, gives our body time to deal with each stage in turn. You could assign 10 days or minimum 7 days, for each phase.

Another important principle is to gradually eliminate foods that inhibit detoxification and include those that aid each stage of the detox. The gradual elimination is more gentle and the body does not go into the "deprivation" mode. What's more, I suggest when you eliminate a certain food, you replace it with a substitute, at least initially, for your body not to feel the lack, which may make it go into "storage mode" rather than elimination. So, for example a substitute for a coffee could be cacao (100% dark chocolate or hot cacao in the morning with honey to get a boost); a substitute for wine could be apple juice or apple cider vinegar diluted in water. Watch this space #loving3phasedetox for more substitute ideas to come on Facebook or Instagram.

It is important to highlight that the foods eliminated in the phase one and two are not included until the end of the detox programme. Even then, I recommend you to include coffee, alcohol, sugar, gluten, diary and meats as gradually as they were eliminated, one food at the time. As a matter of fact, you are likely to feel so good at the end of the programme you will feel more loving towards your body anyway.

I have created the loving-3-phase-detox with the following balancing principles in mind:

1. flowing with the seasonal cycle of the Nature to start in early Spring;

2. whilst eliminating certain foods from your diet you substitute with others for gentle effects;

3. gradual inclusion of clearing out foods, herbs and/or supplements;

4. gradual increase of physical activity as the Spring energy rises;

5. phased progression including one system at the time: urinary/blood (Kidneys), thick liquids (Spleen & Intestines) and lipids (Liver).
   

Below you find a summary table to aid you in designing your ingredients of the loving-3-phase-detox. Apart from the foods to eliminate, you have the suggestions of the substitutes, as well as foods, herbs and supplements to include in each phase, which help with that particular system involved. The final part of the table suggests routines you will benefit from in particular.

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	Phase I week 1 & 2	Phase II week 3 & 4	Phase III week 5 & 6
System / Organs involved	Urinary and Blood Kidneys & Bladder	Denser body fluids Spleen & Intestines	Blood and lipids Liver & Gallbladder
Elimination	Water	Phlegm	Lipids
Energetic	Warming up	Transforming	Moving
Foods to eliminate	coffee, alcohol	sugar and gluten	meat, diary
Foods as substitutes	barley coffee, cacao, green tea, apple juice, apple cider vinegar in water	some dry fruits and honey, gluten free grains (rice, buckwheat)	pulses, chickpeas, small fish and sweet water fish, eggs, tofu, nuts
Foods to include	algae, alfalfa sprouts, parsley, eggs	millet, linseed, kefir, apples, goji berry	cruciferous veggies, green vegetables, garlic, onion, ginger, whole cereal grains
Herbs to include	cleavers, nettles, horsetail, burdock root, birch sap	cinnamon, cloves, aloe juice, red clover	milk thistle, dandelion, artichoke,
Supplements to include	adaptogens, vit.C, magnesium, spirulina/algae	probiotics, chrome, magnesium, psyllium	magnesium, vit.B complex, Vit.A, omega 3-6-9
In the morning	warm water with lemon, ginger and honey	warm water with bentonite clay or zeolite, oats with cinnamon & cloves	half a grapefruit
In the evening	turmeric milk	miso soup, activated charcoal,	malic acid or apple juice with warm water
Physical activity	min 20min walk a day, thermal or epsom baths 2-3 times a week, a massage or acupuncture detox	min. 30min walk a day + Qi Gong, Yoga or other excercise 30min a day	min. 30min walk a day + 30 min of daily exercise + 2-3x a week one hour of aerobic activity

For any doubts, questions or clarifications contact me here.

For any suggestions, comments or experiences to share, please go to my Facebook or Instagram page and search for #loving3phasedetox.

April - newly found innocence

The month of April is the third month of Spring, according to the ancient classic text of Su Wen. After the Spring awakening and then taking the courageous steps into a new life, we are now awarded with the newly found innocence to rejoice in. Here is how to best flow with the energies of April:

Spirit Focus: recognising the benevolence of the world

Innocence is like a clean sheet of paper on which we can start afresh, having the possibility of creating anything we wish. To be able to recognise and benefit from the energy of innocence, the most important attitute is trust. Imagine the trust of a small child he/she has in his/her parents. The child obtains so much from his/her parents because it totally submits himself/herself into their care.

Being the children of the grand Universe, when we totally trust in our Creator/creative energies, then you and your best interests are taken care of. This is exactly what the energy of this month is about. You must ask, of course, otherwise it may not be possible to provide. Make an innocent request, like a small child would do, believing that the moment you say it the moment it arrives. A child's innocence means it does not have the experience of what it takes to meet her/his request, which makes it more so innocent. The child does not run through the steps and stages of how things come about. It simply asks with an anticipatory excitement of having already received it.

This energy is at peak this month to be lived fully and enjoyed. It is a magic month in that sense. It is a month in which "happy go lucky". This is simply dictated by the Nature around. It is enough to look at the innocence of white blossoms on trees everywhere; to see the newborn springing lambs; to admire the fresh baby green colour of grass and plants. Just for this month imagine that you were born yesterday.

Mind Focus: curious mind is an open mind

Equally, this month it is so much easier for our mental energies to be simple and straighforward. We are capable of uncomplicated, straight to the point, even oversimplified thoughts and thanks to that we can resolve many problems and issues easily.

Whatsmore, the child-like mental energy makes us super curious, our mind is more open to that which is new. We accept differences easily as we want to learn more about the world not yet uncovered.

In fact, we can take advantage of this energy to pick up a new hobby, start a new job or a totally new activity. Our minds are more likely to absorb the new as well, so it is boding well for the study.

Body Focus: your muscle is your limit

Just for this month let yourself of the physical limits as to what your bodies could or should do at a certain age. Although clearly fittness isn't achieved over night, when you see such inspiring examples as a gymnast who is 86 years old and still competing (Johanna Quaas) or a 99 year old dancer (e.g. Shirley Goodman), it appears there is nothing, or hardly nothing, you cannot do with regular practice over time.

Of course, it wouldn't be sensible for anyone to do a headstand without a sufficient preparatory practice beforehand, however, our mental preconceptions about what our bodies can achieve should be totally put aside. Using this Spring lamb's energy and motivation, feel what it is that you would still like to do with your body and get started with your daily practice. Is it dancing you've always wanted to start but had never time for? Is it time to get on your bike (literally)? Is it a half (or full) marathon you've always wanted to complete? Is it a split or a headstand that you would like to work towards? Give yourself a goal this month and you are more likely to achieve it.

In everyday activities and jobs we don't use all of the 600 muscles our bodies are made of, and we only use between 30-60% of our strength. Practicing a sport increases that dramatically making us more physically able and agile.

Diet wise, keep it simple as children do. Make simple combinations but make it exciting! This month is for eating with your eyes more than any other time. So, make it colourful too. Keep the diet "innocent" too with unadulterated, fresh foods, with lots of green and leafy vegetables to stimulate your Liver to dream big.

Some of you may still feel the invasion of a Cold Wind this month and should add warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves or ginger to their diet. Keeping warm inside will protect from the external Wind invasion. Others may not be as bothered by the Spring Winds. On the contrary, they may feel the rise in temperature following the Winter and put on a T-shirt. I suggest some Forsythia flower tea for such Spring Heat in the body.

If you are in any doubt as to how your body reacts to the seasonal change and you want to make the most of the energies of April, book yourself for a consultation and treatment by clicking below. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Book an appointment

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March - the courage to change

“Master, I am afraid of change. How do I welcome him?”

“There is a person who can show you the way. Go to the blacksmith and stop and observe his work!"

“What can a blacksmith teach me?”

“The art of transformation. He uses fire to shape metals. He shapes them according to his will. He is the father of creation. Like the blacksmith, you too can shape your life, give your days the shape you want. You are the father of change. How can you be afraid of your creation?”

“I'm afraid of the change that comes from outside…”

“If you are afraid of fire, you burn yourself. If you learn to dominate it, you become the creator of wonderful masterpieces. Just like the blacksmith who with his millenary art manages to melt metal and bind it to give life to a new object, you too grasp the change that comes from outside, burn it with your inner fire and bring out new life, new ideas, new thoughts.”

“I'm not sure I can…”

“Your problem is not the fear of change but of the fire that is inside you. It's burning a lot, at very high temperatures, because it wants to accomplish its assignment. But you are turning it off. With fear, worry, fatigue. Don't be afraid of seeing new parts of you born: the blacksmith is an artist and what he creates is only a work of art."

Elena Bernabè

Spirit Focus: grasp the change

From the Classical Chinese Medical point of view, the above story talks about three Elements: Fire, Water and Wood. The Fire and Water elements are the heat and cold used by an iron maker to melt and solidify but his hammer is a vector of creation, that is the Wood element - the element of Spring. Whereas the Fire and Water elements are the basis for any existence, they also maintain each other in equilibrium by their interplay. The Wood element is the courage with which the iron maker raises his hammer and decides on his next move in accordance with his vision of what he intends to create.

The passion of Fire although essential for creating, is not enough without an act of doing. Spring is just about that: taking the steps, raise your hammer and change the shape according to your vision. Those who burn inside but do not apply the hammer (here meaning: direction, decisions, moving ahead, etc) will produce certain psycho-somatic symptoms, especially so in Spring.

Mind Focus: resistance is in the mind

The Nature does not resists that which is inevitable. The realisation of self is a natural result of us being born and alive. Not accomplishing our destiny (called Ming by cinese) is when the disease sets in. The only obstacle on your way is your mind, precisely the resistances you have created in your mind.

What are your beliefs about not doing, having or being who you burn inside to be? There isn't a better month in a year than March to challenge what you think about yourself and the world. The winds of change blowing in Spring will help you be more creative and flexible with your thoughts.

The resistance is also in our daily habits, daily actions we take to go about accomplishing tasks. We are still at the beginning of Spring feeling so much potential ahead. It is a perfect time to address all your self-sabotaging behaviours, be it health-wise, relationship-wise or work-wise.

Body Focus: Marching like the Liver

There are two seasons in the year when the energy helps us to detox: the Autumn and the Spring. In Autumn we let go to create space. In Spring the release happens as the byproduct of the propelling force which must move ahead and leaves behind the unnecessary. It is thanks to Liver, known as the General of our body.

Liver is so strongly energised in Spring that even slightest support you give it, will help it cleanse your body of the Winter accumulations. If you followed my February advice to start gently on detox (https://www.dorotao.com/post/february-sprouting-time), this month you can boldly get into it.

Continue, if you have not done it yet, withdrawing heavier foods from your diet (check out my February blog) and add lighter foods instead. This month add daily one of these seasonal liver "friendly" vegetables:

- chicories

- artichokes

- red beets (root and leaves)

- radishes

- wild greens (dandelion leaves, nettle leaves, foraging greens).

As a supplement, I have prepared and used daily a hydro-alcoholic extract of Milk Thistle seeds. If there is one Liver herb I would use this month it is Milk Thistle. Apart from its known function in western herbalism of protecting and tonifying the Liver; in Chinese herbal medicine it moves the stagnation of Qi and Blood - aiding that propelling force of Liver to move ahead. Additionally, it helps removing the toxins out of the body via urine and intestines.

Exercise wise, this month you are bound to feel like doing much more than just gentle stretches suggested the past month. Do get out and walk to stretch your ligaments and include some exercises to strengthen your muscles. Otherwise, how are you going to sustain this month's work of forging the iron?

If there are any symptoms that arise at this season or get worse in Spring, do contact me for a thorough personal diagnosis.

Contact for diagnosis

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Spring Creation