Every time Spring rolls around, many of us see it as the perfect opportunity to tackle home projects. Especially Spring cleaning! We go room to room – throwing out what we don’t need, giving things away, or setting up garage sales – all in an effort to clear clutter and make our homes more organized and livable. I’m always amazed at the vast amount of “stuff” that accumulates from year to year, and after purging the nonessentials from our home, I feel much more peaceful, content, and relaxed.
Much like Spring cleaning with our homes, our bodies also need to get rid of the unwanted “stuff” that accumulates – like toxins, stress, waste, etc. A normal, healthy body can usually do a pretty good job at detoxing on its own. And after it detoxes, you feel much better! Unfortunately, for many who are suffering from autoimmune diseases and MTHFR mutations (myself included), it’s not always so easy for our bodies to destress and detoxify without some extra effort on our part.
While my blog is food-focused, I’ve come to learn that food is only a small part of the healing process with autoimmune conditions. Another major component is supporting your body’s detoxification pathways (namely, the liver) and reducing overall stress. And since I had a major autoimmune flare-up earlier this year, I’ve really had to spend more time on this aspect of my health. So today, I thought I’d share my Eight Easy Ways to Destress and Detoxify your body and help give it that extra boost it might need on your healing journey. The great thing about these healthy habits is that no supplements or medications are necessary! And all of the methods are things I do on a regular basis, so I can personally attest to their benefits and hope they’re helpful to you, too! Plus, some of these items could make great Mother’s Day gifts, so keep that in mind as you browse this list!
1) Soak in Epsom Salts
When I first began working with a functional medicine practitioner, one of the first lifestyle changes they wanted me to make was to add in epsom salt baths. This was foreign to me, since I really always preferred showers over baths, but once I tried it, I was hooked. The epsom salts are great for soothing aching muscles and relaxing the body, but they also help pull toxins through the skin. For my soaks, I fill up my bathtub with hot water and add 2 cups of Epsom Salts, a Vitamin C tablet to dechlorinate in the water, and a few drops of essential oils, like lavender. I stay in for about 20 minutes. It’s normal to feel tired afterwards, but if you feel sick or lightheaded, cut back on the amount of salt you use or the length of time you’re in the tub. I do epsom salt soaks several times per week, or as often as time will allow. And if you don’t have a bathtub, not to worry! Epsom salt foot baths are also relaxing and helpful for detoxing! I recommend this foot bath bucket, filled with hot water and 1/2 cup to 1 cup of epsom salt. Relax and soak your feet for 15-20 minutes. I love doing this before bed!
2) Sip Dandelion Root Tea
Prior to my adventure on the AIP diet, I was a pretty heavy coffee drinker. Fast forward two years and now I’m a total tea-drinker! I still love the flavor of coffee, but there are so many wonderful teas out there that can aid in healing. One of the best for detoxification, digestive support, and liver support is dandelion root tea. My favorite brand is Traditional Medicinals, which you can find online or in most large grocery stores. It definitely has an earthy flavor, but it’s grown on me, especially since I know how good it is for my body! There are also a lot of AIP recipes where you can combine it with other flavors to make it more appealing. I often add gut-healing collagen powder to my cup, as well. Simply pour boiling water over the tea bag let it steep for 10 minutes before drinking.
3) Lie on an Acupressure Mat
For those who have a fear of needles and can’t fathom doing an acupuncture session, here’s a less scary and less expensive option! Now, I’m not saying that acupressure will give you the same results as acupuncture, but this acupressure mat does have its benefits! One of them being that it stimulates pressure points that help with pain levels – so for anyone with neck, back, and headache pains, this mat could be perfect for you. The other great perk of this mat is that it promotes relaxation. I’ve actually dozed off lying on this mat several times! It stimulates blood flow and increases circulation in your body while easing muscle tension and calming the nerves. I use my acupressure mat each night before bed. To start, lie on your mat on a soft surface, like a couch or bed. Begin with 10 minutes and gradually work your way up to 30 minutes. As you build up tolerance to the little spikes on the mat, I recommend moving to a harder surface, like the floor, and eventually lying on the mat with bare skin, since that is most effective. I’ve linked to the acupressure mat that I own, but there are many others out there that should work just as well!
4) Dry Brush the Skin
Dry brushing is a fairly popular detox method within the AIP community, but in case you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s pretty self-explanatory. You simply brush your skin with a dry, bristled brush so that it helps boost your lymphatic system and ultimately aids in exfoliating and detoxing your body. (Some also claim it helps eliminate cellulite, but I’ll let you be the judge of that!) I can’t say that dry brushing is my favorite method for detoxing, but mainly because it’s not super relaxing to me. You could follow it up with a soothing epsom salt bath, though! If you’re just starting out with dry brushing, I recommend trying Wellness Mama’s method, and make sure you don’t brush too hard! I do this daily, as it’s an easy and fairly quick detox habit. This is the dry brush I currently use.
5) Apply a Castor Oil Pack
Castor Oil has been used for many years in a vast number of ways, from healing skin and hair to even inducing labor. One of its popular uses among those with digestive issues and autoimmune conditions is in a so-called castor oil “pack.” These packs are used to increase circulation and improve liver function. They can also be helpful if you’re dealing with hormone imbalance. Prior to my latest health crash this year, I’d stayed away from castor oil packs because they’re kind of messy. But once I did my research and tried it out, it really wasn’t as difficult to do as I thought. You just saturate a wool cloth with castor oil apply it to your abdomen, cover it up with plastic and a heat source and lie down for about an hour. The heat combined with the oil helps it absorb into your skin and work its magic. The main precaution is to make sure you wear old clothes and have plenty of towels on hand because the oil can stain.
To prepare your castor oil pack, I recommend following these instructions. I purchased my castor oil and cloth on Amazon and store them in a large glass jar with a lid. What I love about using the pack is the warming, relaxing feeling. I also felt like it helped me sleep better afterwards. (Note: If you’re on your period or are pregnant, don’t use this method, as it increases bleeding and can induce labor.)
6) Diffuse Essential Oils
One of my favorite ways to destress at the end of a long day is curling up in bed with a good book and my essential oil diffuser humming softly in the background. Essential oils have gained so much popularity in recent years because they are a healthy alternative to toxic fragrances and chemicals that are found in cleaning products, detergent, hand soap, perfumes, etc. For those of us who have difficulty detoxing harmful substances, it’s really important to swap out chemical-laden home products and air fresheners for natural ones.
I definitely am not an expert in essential oils, but I am familiar with types that help relax and calm, like lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang, and frankincense, as well as oils like peppermint and eucalyptus that help awaken and energize the body. Combinations are endless, but if you want a safe, non-toxic alternative to air fresheners in your home, try diffusing essential oils. (I’m now such a fan that I have a diffuser in all the main rooms of my home!) And beyond just smelling lovely, they also have tons of health benefits! For an extensive list, check out this essential oils guide from Dr. Josh Axe. You can invest a lot of money in high quality essential oils, but if you’re new to it, Amazon has some great starter packs.
7) Use an Infrared Sauna
Okay, so this one is definitely a specialty detox method that I know not all of you will have access to. But if you CAN access an infrared sauna (or afford to purchase your own), I highly recommend it! They differ from regular saunas by using infrared heaters to heat your body, rather than just the air alone. And the heat is dry, not steamy. When I experienced horrible foot and hand pain with my autoimmune flare-up in January, one of the best aids in my healing has been the infrared sauna. In fact, the hand and foot pain would completely go away for a short time! After many uses, I’ve been noticing an overall decrease in pain that lasts. The sauna has also helped with reducing inflammation and detoxing my body through sweating. The intense infrared heat brings the body to a passive cardio state and actually burns calories! Since exercise is a natural detox for the body, the sauna has a similar effect. Obviously, physical exercise is still very important, but if you can’t work out due to pain (which has been the case for me), the sauna is certainly a great option!
Did I mention it’s also super relaxing?! It’s my new favorite way to relieve stress and anxiety. I just spend 30 minutes in high heat (145ish degrees) and I try to use it 2-3 times per week. I really can’t say enough good about it, but it is the most expensive detox method on this list. I’ve been fortunate to use the sauna that my in-laws own, so I can access theirs for free. If you don’t have that luxury, try searching for one through a wellness center in your city. If you’re interested in buying one, I’ve loved using the Sunlighten brand sauna. This brand has also been praised by many bloggers and functional medicine practitioners in the AIP community.
8) Pray and Read Scripture
When we think of detoxing, we usually think of our physical bodies only. But it’s just as crucial (if not more so) to detoxify our minds! So even though this healthy habit is last, it’s certainly not least! When you’re battling against sickness, autoimmune conditions, health flares, new diets, and more, it can be overwhelming and anxiety-producing. I know I tend to feel so much pressure to do everything “the right way” for my health. When I try to take on the full weight of my health journey on my own strength, I’m left feeling burdened, discouraged, and helpless. But when I pause and remember that I’m not in this alone, I can cast my cares on the Lord. He gladly takes all of my worries, fears, and health concerns and lightens my load.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” While our healing bodies crave rest and support, so do our weary minds. It’s easy to get bogged down by negative, worrisome thoughts when our health is unstable, but if we focus on Jesus, we can take every thought captive. So I encourage you to incorporate prayer and Bible reading into your daily life. I not only feel better spiritually when I pray, but the peace and calm it brings helps me physically, too. As it says In Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
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So there you have it! Eight Easy Ways to Destress and Detoxify your bodies this Spring! Don’t feel the need to try everything on my list. But if you do, definitely don’t try all of them on the same day – especially the more intense ones! Detoxing too much or too fast can cause negative reactions, so pick and choose depending on how much time you have, your mood, and how your body feels. If you have a serious medical condition, check with your doctor first before trying something new. And I’m sure there are plenty more ways to detox out there, but I’ve found that these “elite eight” are my go-to methods right now. I hope this is a help to you, or at the very least, a good Mother’s Day gift guide! Have a relaxing, restful weekend and best of luck with your Spring cleaning, too! 😉
**This post contains affiliate links to which I may receive a small commission if an item is purchased. This in no way changes my opinions on these products, since I only share things I love and am passionate about. For more information, read my full disclosure.**
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