Spring Cleaning; the Controversy of Cleanse
April 26, 2010
As days of rain part for stretches of sunshine, and farmers' markets brim with chirpy baby greens and strawberries, its clear spring has blown in. According to Chinese Medicine, spring is related to the "liver." This means smooth movement of everything from emotions to digestion, the body's ability to discern what stays and what goes, and imbalances you may notice this time of year such as allergies. So this is a good time to address the question I often get, "what do you think about cleansing?"
Generally, my first response echoes a Taoist teacher's voice in my memory proclaiming "extremism!" Many popular current trends urging us to cleanse are clever marketing tools that successfully manipulate a pervasive Victorian idea we Americans love, that we are fundamentally "unclean." This is similar to the current misrepresentation of germ theory, which ignores the equally important factor of internal environment, with an over-focus on fear of invaders (I'll digress from political parallels). The assumption that we must force the body to purge itself of evil disregards the genius this body already employs every second of each day, by taking what it needs and discarding the rest, with or without our help and/or knowledge. It also assumes a dualism of bad/good, that these are completely separate. In the Taoist view, everything is qi, so by purging, we get rid of the good with the bad. Inevitably, this creates a pendulum effect; this intelligent organism reacts to being "cleansed" by holding on tighter to brace for what might be coming again. In other words, purging is often followed by congestion, the very thing the cleanse was attempting to address. A similar example is the epidemic of overweight/undernourished bodies suffering in our culture; when presented with nutrient-deficient products (masquerading as food) and nothing to burn, the body in its wisdom holds on to all the energy source it can.
All that said, there is also time for everything in the seasonal cycle of life, and our job in natural medicine is to support this process. Spring is time for renewal, starting over, and cleaning the slate. Throughout history, spring was naturally time for cleansing, because of the scarcity of food; as storage of last fall's harvest is thinning, plants shooting up are scarce and small, and animals (us included) are just beginning to tap into the energy stored during winter's hibernation. Like a pea shoot pushing up or a baby goat finding its first legs, the qi of spring is new, and delicate.
Also, the environment and our bodies are certainly less subtle and rhythmic than they were for much of history. Thousands of chemicals have been introduced in the last 50 years, with little study and/or regulation. For instance, the FDA still doesn't regulate cosmetic products (so you might find this site helpful: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/). Recently, I came across the following interview that was compelling for two main reasons ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/nature/interviews/vomsaal.html). First, that there is such a clear link between plastics and endocrine disruption (particularly when endocrine disorders such as thyroid dysfunction are rampant). Secondly, that this article is twelve years old; we know what hurts us, but continue to mass-produce, and blame disease solely on genetics. Of course looking at examples in a bigger picture such as how some get sick and others don't, we know there are multiple factors, like the main one we address at our clinic; the state of the gut flora. But we can't deny that an overload of chemicals known and unknown on our unprepared bodies is likely at a level unprecedented in history. So, how to look at this evidence not with fear, but with respect both for the cycle of changes in which we find our current situation, and the delicate nature of our spring qi?
The first and simplest way to cleanse is to notice what is not in line with our natural, easy state of being, and remove it. For instance, "I can't work through the afternoon without a sugary snack," or "I can't relax without a glass of wine." This can be tricky at first, because as members of modern life, most of us have subjected ourselves to everything from artificial light to caffeine to supplements, to replace our inherent ability to perfectly cycle with natural movements of sleep, wake, work, enjoy. So if life doesn't currently allow time and space for noticing, the next option would be to remove what is stimulating/sedating; take out caffeine, sugar, and alcohol for a few weeks. To further support the liver, eat organic produce and grass-fed/pastured animal products. We are especially lucky in California, because we can be directly in touch with nature's wisdom; spring greens available at markets, such as mustard, dandelion and arugula are bitter--stimulating bile--thus draining, the perfect cleansers. One can add starting the day with half a lemon squeezed into a glass of water, which encourages the liver to flush. Lastly, acupuncture and herbal medicine assist this cleansing process. There are particular point prescriptions designed for "detoxification," and a plethora of herbs that can be tailored in your specific formula to gently flush the system. Standard Process's Cleanse in capsules is a nice option that combines western herbs and food powders to provide a harmonious "spring cleaning."
Ideally, our lifestyle year-around provides a light load for the liver, enabling it to "clean" on a regular basis. However, since life is multifaceted, with some components more toxic than others, spring is a perfect time to tap into our natural cycle and start fresh.
Enjoy all the potential and possibility sprouting up, and please call or email with questions, or to set up an appointment for some cleansing support!
Generally, my first response echoes a Taoist teacher's voice in my memory proclaiming "extremism!" Many popular current trends urging us to cleanse are clever marketing tools that successfully manipulate a pervasive Victorian idea we Americans love, that we are fundamentally "unclean." This is similar to the current misrepresentation of germ theory, which ignores the equally important factor of internal environment, with an over-focus on fear of invaders (I'll digress from political parallels). The assumption that we must force the body to purge itself of evil disregards the genius this body already employs every second of each day, by taking what it needs and discarding the rest, with or without our help and/or knowledge. It also assumes a dualism of bad/good, that these are completely separate. In the Taoist view, everything is qi, so by purging, we get rid of the good with the bad. Inevitably, this creates a pendulum effect; this intelligent organism reacts to being "cleansed" by holding on tighter to brace for what might be coming again. In other words, purging is often followed by congestion, the very thing the cleanse was attempting to address. A similar example is the epidemic of overweight/undernourished bodies suffering in our culture; when presented with nutrient-deficient products (masquerading as food) and nothing to burn, the body in its wisdom holds on to all the energy source it can.
All that said, there is also time for everything in the seasonal cycle of life, and our job in natural medicine is to support this process. Spring is time for renewal, starting over, and cleaning the slate. Throughout history, spring was naturally time for cleansing, because of the scarcity of food; as storage of last fall's harvest is thinning, plants shooting up are scarce and small, and animals (us included) are just beginning to tap into the energy stored during winter's hibernation. Like a pea shoot pushing up or a baby goat finding its first legs, the qi of spring is new, and delicate.
Also, the environment and our bodies are certainly less subtle and rhythmic than they were for much of history. Thousands of chemicals have been introduced in the last 50 years, with little study and/or regulation. For instance, the FDA still doesn't regulate cosmetic products (so you might find this site helpful: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/). Recently, I came across the following interview that was compelling for two main reasons ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/nature/interviews/vomsaal.html). First, that there is such a clear link between plastics and endocrine disruption (particularly when endocrine disorders such as thyroid dysfunction are rampant). Secondly, that this article is twelve years old; we know what hurts us, but continue to mass-produce, and blame disease solely on genetics. Of course looking at examples in a bigger picture such as how some get sick and others don't, we know there are multiple factors, like the main one we address at our clinic; the state of the gut flora. But we can't deny that an overload of chemicals known and unknown on our unprepared bodies is likely at a level unprecedented in history. So, how to look at this evidence not with fear, but with respect both for the cycle of changes in which we find our current situation, and the delicate nature of our spring qi?
The first and simplest way to cleanse is to notice what is not in line with our natural, easy state of being, and remove it. For instance, "I can't work through the afternoon without a sugary snack," or "I can't relax without a glass of wine." This can be tricky at first, because as members of modern life, most of us have subjected ourselves to everything from artificial light to caffeine to supplements, to replace our inherent ability to perfectly cycle with natural movements of sleep, wake, work, enjoy. So if life doesn't currently allow time and space for noticing, the next option would be to remove what is stimulating/sedating; take out caffeine, sugar, and alcohol for a few weeks. To further support the liver, eat organic produce and grass-fed/pastured animal products. We are especially lucky in California, because we can be directly in touch with nature's wisdom; spring greens available at markets, such as mustard, dandelion and arugula are bitter--stimulating bile--thus draining, the perfect cleansers. One can add starting the day with half a lemon squeezed into a glass of water, which encourages the liver to flush. Lastly, acupuncture and herbal medicine assist this cleansing process. There are particular point prescriptions designed for "detoxification," and a plethora of herbs that can be tailored in your specific formula to gently flush the system. Standard Process's Cleanse in capsules is a nice option that combines western herbs and food powders to provide a harmonious "spring cleaning."
Ideally, our lifestyle year-around provides a light load for the liver, enabling it to "clean" on a regular basis. However, since life is multifaceted, with some components more toxic than others, spring is a perfect time to tap into our natural cycle and start fresh.
Enjoy all the potential and possibility sprouting up, and please call or email with questions, or to set up an appointment for some cleansing support!
Posted by Brooke Moen
