Spring Equinox Detox
Planet earth has 2 equinoxes a year. This is when night and day are of equal length and it happens in March and September. This year the spring equinox is on the 20th March. The spring equinox is a great time to do a detox in preparation for the season ahead.
First of all, it’s important to know that your body is detoxifying all the time; if it didn’t we would not be alive. However, for thousands of years people across many cultures and religions have recognised that periods of fasting or limiting food intake can improve physical, mental and spiritual health.
Some of the techniques that have been used to aid cleansing around the world include sweat lodges, herbal concoctions, juices, enemas and water fasting. The kind of detoxification programme we are talking about here is based on reducing the burden you place on the body while still giving it the nourishment it needs to cleanse. It can also be a time to re-evaluate your relationship with food.
Your food intake during this detox is largely based on fruit and vegetables as these are the least challenging foods. They also supply an abundance of nutrients and fibre. Water, juices and herbal teas provide fluids to aid the removal of water soluble toxins.
It is important to listen to your body throughout the process. It’s advisable to do the detox on quiet days when there aren’t too many demands on your attention. If that means waiting until the weekend after the equinox that is fine. Do it for between 1-5 days depending on how you feel. Vary the foods eaten on each day but follow this basic schedule.
- Start the day with warm water and lemon juice to kick start the liver and bowel and to alkalise the system.
- Morning – avocado and berry smoothie
- Mid Morning – vegetable juice eg: celery, apple, beetroot and parsley
- Lunch – a salad of green leaves and sprouted pulses. Sprinkle on a hemp seed oil and lemon juice dressing. Add herbs such as parsley and coriander.
- Mid Afternoon – vegetable juice eg: carrot, kale, apple and ginger
- Dinner – a large grated vegetable salad with pumpkin and hemp seeds and a vegetable soup.
- Drinks – drink water and herbal teas throughout the day and take it easy.
- Before bed – end the day with a relaxing mineral salts bath.
Please check with your doctor or medical specialist before undertaking any detoxification regime or nutritional programme. If you are pregnant, breast feeding, on any medications or have a medical condition this may not be a suitable time for you to detox.
See the post on Spring Cleaning for ideas on how to clean your home without the use of toxic products.
And see post on Supporting the Liver and Gall Bladder for tips on how to support these vital organs of detoxification.