Join Your TownLifestyle 
Clean up your health
By Diane Battistello
Wed Mar 26, 2008, 10:44 AM EDT
Spring cleaning is an American tradition that most people relate to a thorough cleaning of the house.
Spring is a good time for deep cleansing of the body as relief from allergies and general maintenance for well being.
Spring is a time of year when many allergies flare up. Winds carrying tree and grass pollens can trigger hay fever, sinus headaches and infections, asthma and other seasonal inflammations.
Additional irritants include dust, mites, animal dander, molds, mildews that have accumulated over the winter in the house. While dusting cleans the surface of furniture spores continue to float through the air. Changing the filters on air purifiers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers will help reduce exposure to airborne allergens as is washing the register vents, insides of windows, blinds and drapes, ceiling fans, refrigerators, and shower curtains. Since the chemicals in some cleaning products may aggravate allergies it might be helpful to try some of the natural cleaning products that easily available. I've found ones with tea tree oil and one with parsley work particularly good. While a deep home cleaning will help to manage pollutants in your living space, having to contend with offices and other public areas where you have little control over environmental factors is another problem.
Herbal remedies are one of the several options for those wanting an alternative from prescription drugs. Two popular herbs having antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties are nettles and eyebright.
The Netti Pot looks like a small tea pot. A saline solution is flushed through one nostril and out the other. Sounds too strange for you? Netti Pots are recommended today by many physicians and even the Mayo Clinic website gives directions on using the Netti Pot. They are inexpensive and effective and there are no side effects.
Spring is also the time of year when we wake up from winter "hibernation."
Typically over the winter months we've eaten a lot of heavy and sweet foods (holidays, Super bowl parties ...) and most likely exercised less than in the warmer months. Our metabolism works slower under these conditions and it's common to gain a few pounds. Typically the body has accumulated an excess of toxins. Indications of overworked internal organs include unexplained frequent headaches, acne and other skin ailments, sluggish digestion (gas, bloating, and/or constipation), stiffness, bouts of anger, and allergies. There are many natural cleanses and detox products available. I always favor the simple techniques as they are generally the least expensive and have the fewest cautions.
The primary organs of elimination are the intestines, liver, and kidneys.
Toxins that are unable to be eliminated are stored in body tissues.
Dandelion, violets, and nettles, are a few of the springtime herbs that are known to stimulate lymphatic flow, cleanse the blood, and aid the liver and kidneys in elimination. You can find these plants coming to life in your yard in the spring. Dandelion greens are loaded with iron, calcium, and B vitamins. They're most tender when they emerge. Steam them or add them to soups and salads. Violet leaf and flower are gentle detoxifiers and can add color to salads.
Nettle flower, loaded with minerals and chlorophyll, makes a nutritious tea. If you are picking fresh plants, use plants that have not been sprayed with pesticides. Wear gloves when picking nettles as they sting. While picking fresh herb is the least expensive way to go, many grocery stores and natural foods stores also carry these organic greens and teas. These herbs also are sold in capsules and liquid extract form. Liquid extracts have some benefits over capsules as the liquids start to work immediately upon entering the mouth and quickly absorb into the bloodstream. Capsules go into the digestive tract and have to be broken down by the stomach before beginning their work. Other helpful herbs that are known as spring cleaning herbs include: milk thistle - a liver regenerative herb especially good for people who work in toxic environments; turmeric - an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, blood purifier, and liver decongestant; burdock root - a blood purifier.
Other simple detoxification methods include body brushing and detox baths. Body brushing helps reduce toxins by stimulating the lymphatic draining system, improves circulation, and helps reduce cellulite. Brush dry skin with stiff natural bristle brush or sisal gloves. Start at the feet and brush upward towards the heart. Detox baths salts come packaged or you can make your own by mixing Epsom and sea salts. Soak in a hot tub and as the body sweats toxins are expelled.
Good health depends not only on what nutrients we eat. Maintenance and elimination of toxins are equally important. We've looked at a few aspects of spring cleaning and cleansing as a way to reduce allergies and detox from a stuffy winter. There are many natural options available for allergy and detoxification. I encourage you to read widely about them and talk with professionals about your specific needs.
