by Karen Stokes, RN

Yes, we see the signs. The squirrels and birds are nesting. Animals and people are coming out of hibernation. Plant life is returning. It’s time for cleansing and renewal. It is customary to clean our dwellings in the spring. Remember also the cleansing of the body, emotions and spirit. Each year, I like to engage in a “spring cleanse” using an alkaline diet and herbal teas. To rid myself of “toxic emotions,”, I live a healthy lifestyle (very important) and engage in personal ritual and affirmation. A renewed spiritual practice, like yoga, meditation, tai chi, etc is refreshing to the soul.

This is a good time to change your diet from the heavier, fattier foods of winter to fresh living greens of spring. Greens have a lot of chlorophyll which is naturally cleansing and deodorizing to the body. They tend to make the body alkaline in nature. Fresh spinach, beet, collard, mustard, chard, are just a few examples. Vitamins and minerals are also abundant in greens. Try dandelion and watercress. They are stimulating to the kidneys and helpful in the body’s toxin removal. Add some to your next salad, soup or sandwich. Herbal teas can also help the body rid itself of toxins. Recipes are plentiful and exist in cultures all around the world. The herbal tea recipe at the end of this article includes some traditional spring tonic herbs (also known as “blood cleansers” in some of the older reference books).

Read the labels on all of your body care products. You can make your own shampoos, body washes and scrubs from all natural olive oil and coconut oil soaps. These products are available at your local health food store. Add your favorite essential oils to create mood balancing blends for yourself. On a recent trip to Hawaii, I discovered a plant known as shampoo ginger or awapui. Native Hawaiians use this root as a gentle soap for the hair and scalp. High in saponins (soapy compounds), awapui is wonderful for cleansing the hair. Look for it in stores that carry natural body care products.

It is very important to “cleanse” yourself of “toxic emotions.” We know that prolonged and anger, frustration, anxiety and fear can all cause disease. Learn how to release those kind of feelings and emotions. They are keeping you from enjoying true happiness. There are many helpful audiotapes, classes and meditation groups available to assist you in the process of releasing toxic emotions. Aromatherapy in the atmosphere can change the mood. When I am working on visualizations and self-hypnosis for releasing toxic emotions, I use essential oils in an aromatherapy diffuser. My favorite scent is a combination of equal drops of lavender, chamomile and bergamot essential oils. It’s uplifting to the spirit and calming to the emotions. It brings clarity and peace of mind as well. Spring is a very good time for emotional detoxification.

Is yours a “green” home? Be sure to read the ingredients on your housecleaning products.

You may be shocked at the toxins you may be unintentionally putting into your abode. More and more environmentally friendly, non-toxic soaps and detergents are becoming available. Many of these products are unscented so that you can add your own essential oils to cleanse and refresh spaces. A combination of lavender, peppermint and spearmint is also nice to add to unscented, “green” cleaning products. What’s in your closet? I am gradually replacing the “dry clean only” items with hand washables until I find a truly “green” dry cleaning service. And for your wardrobe, “green” laundry products are the only ones that are acceptable.

Cleansing Tea

Place equal parts of the following dried herbs in a glass jar mixing thoroughly. To make a cup of the tea, pour one cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of herb mixture in a cup. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Add honey or lemon if desired.

Nettles(leaf)-high in Vitamin C and silica. Has been used historically to strengthen the kidneys and treat arthritis and gout. In old rural England, stinging nettles leaf tea was a pleasant tasting alternative to costly, imported teas. Mildly diuretic, I found nettles to be very helpful for that monthly water retention. Nettles leaf is safe, non-toxic and full of nutrients. Its flavor is pleasant and mild. Throughout Europe, nettles leaf tea is still a popular and healthful drink for people of all ages.

Dandelion – the leaf has been discussed above as a healthful food. The leaf and the root of this abundant wild plant can be added to healthful tonic teas. The leaf is stimulating to the kidneys and the root is nourishing to the liver. Dandelion leaf and root are good food and medicine. Spring tonics in the days of old Europe would not be complete without dandelion. What a great way to add vitamins and minerals to the daily diet. Spring is the best time to harvest dandelion leaf and root.

Burdock (root) – used by herbalists to treat acne, eczema and psoriasis as a tea or as a poultice. Found in many “anti-cancer” formulas. It is also slightly diuretic and stimulating to the kidneys. Burdock is that burr-producing plant that you encounter on hikes in the meadow. It is annoying when you must extract the burrs from your pant leg or your pet in a most tedious fashion. The root of this wild medicinal plant is very helpful. Herbalists have long recommended burdock root tea, extract and capsules for all sorts of skin afflictions, as a blood purifier. It also has the reputation as a stimulant for the kidneys and a blood purifier. Burdock root is found in many anti-cancer remedies as well. In England, burdock and dandelion teas is a popular healthful beverage for all ages.

Clear skin, a healthy glow and a feeling of vitality are all signs that you have cleansed and renewed your whole self. This is the time of year for it. Happy Spring! (Next month: “Healing Herbs of Michigan”. They really are right in your own back yard.)

Karen Stokes, RN Herbalist is a member of the American Botanical Council and the Michigan Holistic Nurses Association. She can be reached at (248) 515-9863 or karen.stokes@yahoo.com.