Gentle Detox/Clease

Quick note on quality and approach to using essential oils. Not all oils are created equal. If it doesn’t have a supplement label on it, it doesn’t go in your body. Some brands of oils are like your average smell good candles. Full of toxic things. Others are not intended for therapeutic use or may not be as potent so you will not have the same experience as one that is sourced and intentionally crafted for therapeutic use. Brand new to using essential oils? Start here.

Approach to essential oil usage: In my mentoring and coaching I use an integrated approach to aromatherapy and teach others to use the oils safely topically, aromatically, and internally (when appropriate). For an overview of my approach start here.

Every year I do 2-3 gentle detox/cleanses. Every single time I have a boost in energy, I reset hormones, get breakouts under control, balance my emotions, and get my 💩 back on track. I also get my sugar and carb cravings under control (think Christmas cookies ya’ll!) when I haven’t been eating clean. I look forward to it. I normally do it with a small group of women and we support and encourage each other. I teach a short class on the why, how, and what of the approach we take and answer any questions that people may have.

It’s honestly an amazingly empowered time. A time when women step into the health they’ve seen for themselves but haven’t yet taken hold of. A time when emotions and hormones are put into check. A time to reflect and really look forward into the next quarter.

So why would you need to do a gentle detox/cleanse? Let’s talk about the toxic load. A toxin is a substance in the body that causes the body harm. The toxic load refers to the amount of toxins in our body at any given time as well as the burden placed on the body due to the toxic load.

Where we live, what we eat, what we put on and in our bodies, our environments at home, work, school, etc. all bring different types of toxins into our lives. Some of this we have control over and some of it we don’t. For example, we have no control of what other people do in our neighborhood, what co-workers do, or what other businesses do. What we do have control of is our home environment, what we put on and in our bodies, and the way we impact the world around us. We are going to focus on our impact and in this article specifically on how we can support our own bodies and those we take care of in the detoxing, cleansing, and restoring process so that we are ready to take on the world around us.

Before we dive into that process, let’s look at toxins and exposure pathways. The top three types of toxins that we come into contact with on a daily basis are:

1. Pathogens
2. Chemicals
3. Radiation

While all these factors vary for everyone as far as how many in each category, what type, form of exposure, and how often we all can benefit from doing a gentle detox/cleanse of the body. In order to best support our bodies, we will need to be intentional about what we do to give it a gentle reset and boost.

Let’s talk exposure pathways. There are three main exposure pathways through which toxins enter our bodies.

1. Lungs
2. GI Tract
3. Skin

Each of these have a physiological defense mechanism that tries to fight off toxins we are exposed to but when we are bombarded, we are unable to fight off all the toxins at once. This can cause our body to be sluggish and at minimum not function at a high level. Over time, this will cause chronic health issues. Due to biodiversity, everyone’s body responds differently and even if we were to be in the same exact environment, our bodies would not respond the same way.

We want to think about minimizing what we are personally adding to our toxic load on a daily basis. We can take intentional steps to be more mindful of what we were put on and in our bodies daily. We can shift into a more intentional place as a consumer and examine the impact we have on the environment around us.

Before we do any of this, the quickest way to reset and impact our overall health is the reduce the existing toxic load in our body and support the body’s natural healing process. Even if you already eat clean, take awesome supplements, drink enough water, and are mindful of the toxins you put in and on your body there are STILL toxins that come into our lives that we have no control over and may even be unaware of. It’s a good practice to do a regular detox/cleanse that is gentle and support our body’s natural detoxing process. I recommend doing one 2-4 times a year (as often as quarterly) when not pregnant or breastfeeding. Once you have breastfed for a year, you can participate in the full gentle detox/cleanse. Always listen to your body. This should be a gentle process. If you are experiencing mild discomfort, that can be normal but anything more is a signal to your body to shift what you are doing at this time. Also, go with your gut. If you do not feel comfortable doing a gentle detox/cleanse while doing extended breastfeeding for example, don’t. There is a modified version that I do when pregnant or breastfeeding. I will do another post on this!

I am a BIG advocate of working alongside your healthcare practitioner. While most people are a good candidate for a gentle detox/cleanse, there are circumstances and times where it is not the next step for you in your healing journey. Always partner with your healthcare provider (especially when you have a chronic health condition, are pregnant, or nursing!) in deciding what is best for your unique circumstances. Personally I choose to partner with a holistic doctor who takes a different approach to health. As a holistic wellness coach, I can help you learn to partner with a natural or holistic doctor, use essential oils and supplements effectively for your health goals, and start moving your body again so that you can hit your wellness goals. I do a free complementary consult to get you started. Feel free to comment below or send me a message if this is something that resonates with you.

We’ve talked about why you would want to gently detox/cleanse your body and how often, but we haven’t discussed how. Personally I like an intentional approach that leaves good bacteria but targets bad bacteria (think candida!). One that doesn’t force me to spend the whole day in the bathroom (although this does depend on where your digestive health is going into this… if it is HORRIBLE this may not be your first step in your healing journey). One that leaves me stronger than I was before not depleted. Once that nourishes my body and sets me up for success. For these reasons I reach for plant based ingredients. Enter the cleanse and restore kit from doTerra. You guys. This. Is. Amazing. I could write SO much about this product but I’ll keep it short and sweet(ish) for now and I am breaking it into the steps we do in our group cleanse/detox.

Step 1: Prep phase – Up H2O and add in lemon essential oil + the metabolic blend throughout the day.

When we up our water we want to ensure we are getting at least half our body weight in water. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, your goal is 60 ounces of water a day. There is not a once size fits all to water consumption. When we up our water not only are we giving our body what it needs to function optimally, we are supporting our natural elimination processes and preparing ourselves for the upcoming cleanse, detox, and restore steps.

Adding lemon essential oil to our water gives us a boost of energy, gently supports the body’s digestive system and protects our body. All that limonene does some amazing things that we can benefit from daily. Hop on PubMed and check it out! We are going to start the day with 2-4 drops of lemon essential oil in our water. This is a super gentle thing and is a great daily habit to hold onto after the gentle detox/cleanse is over.

The metabolic blend (aka Slim and Sassy!) is added because it is amazing for our overall metabolism. It supports healthy insulin levels and reduces sugar and carb cravings. BUT the main reason we are adding it is because it reduces the size of fat cells in the body. Why is that important during a detox/cleanse? Because the bulk of toxins in our body are stored in our fat cells. We are going to do 2-4 drops in our water or in a veggie cap between meals throughout the cleanse. Warning. You may experience a side effect of happiness and a mild energy boost from this oil (citrus oils are like that you know…)

During the prep phase you are going to get organized and grab whatever you are missing. If you need all the things or are brand new, the most cost effective way is to grab the cleanse and restore bundle. If you need a budget option, you can leverage the Loyalty Rewards Program (LRP) and spread it out. It allows you to earn points back (kind of like a frequent flyer mile program for frequent oilers!) Reach out if you are wondering which option is right for you or to find the perfect fit for your budget.

Step 2: Nourish Your Body – Lifelong Vitality Pack (LLV) + Terrazyme + PB Assist

LLV is an AMAZING deal if you grab it through LRP. It’s three supplements in a bundle to give you significant savings (on top of the wholesale prices!). PLUS you can add on PB Assist and Terrazyme at half the price each. Enough about how to buy and all the money you can save if you do it right, why are these in step two?

Step 2 is all about nourishing our body. When we give our body what it needs, it functions better. When our body functions better, we are healthier. The wholefood vitamin (Microplex MVP) is sourced intentionally and is actually put together to make it bioavailable which means you actually absorb it instead of just peeing out your vitamins. The formula includes a balanced blend of essential antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, and an energy complex of B vitamins. Also contained in the formula are calcium, magnesium, and zinc for optimal bone and metabolic health. PLUS it has a tummy tamer blend of peppermint, ginger, and caraway to keep it from upsetting your stomach and which improves stomach health.

The omega supplement (xEOmega) is a marine based and plant based supplement (although there is a vegan option for those that want/need it!) that is tested for over 250 contaminates to ensure it is safe and effective. We need an omega supplement to make sure we are getting enough omega fatty acids in our diets. Omega fatty acids help support joint, cardiovascular, and brain health, and support healthy immune function. One serving of xEO Mega provides 900 milligrams of marine lipids (providing 300 mg of EPA, 300 mg of DHA, and 70 mg of other omega 3s), and a blend of 250 mg of plant-sourced fatty acids. xEO Mega also includes 800 IU of natural vitamin D, 60 IU of natural vitamin E, and 1 mg of astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant carotenoid harvested from microalgae.

The third supplement in the pack is the cellular vitality complex (Alpha CRS). This one is amazing and could be a post all by itself… let me try to keep it short. We want cells to do what they are supposed to. To thrive when they are living, and die when they are supposed to. This product ensures tour cells get the nourishment they need to do just that. Alpha CRS also supports: healthy cell response to oxidative stress, immune function, mental clarity, and reduces oxidative stress PLUS it contains a proprietary antioxidant cellular longevity blend exclusive to dōTERRA that includes potent amounts of powerful polyphenols including baicalin from scutellaria root, resveratrol from Polygonum cuspidatum, ellagic acid from pomegranate, proanthocyanidins from grape seeds, curcumin from turmeric root, and silymarin from milk thistle to help support healthy cell function.

Whew. That’s a lot of goodness in three supplements. Plus you can return the bottles back empty to get a refund if you are unsatisfied.

We are going to take these along with Terrazyme daily during the cleanse. Terrazyme is doTerra’s digestive enzyme complex. If you eat cooked, processed, or preservative laden food, you need help digesting it. That’s where Terrazyme comes in. It also helps support an overall healthy GI Tract. Without a digestive enzyme, we are leaching metabolic enzymes from our system. We are going to take this with every meal during the cleanse.

The last product in the nourish step is PB Assist. PB Assist is one that you will want to become a daily habit. It is a probiotic and prebiotic in a double layer capsule. The proprietary formula of pre-biotic fiber and probiotic microorganisms contained with PB Assist+ includes L. acidophilus, B. bifidus, B. longum, L. plantarum, and L. caseii to promote a positive balance and variety of beneficial gut bacteria. Take one a day during step two and one a day after the cleanse is complete. We will up it during the restore phase.

Step 3: Detox – Zendocrine Oil + Zendocrine Complex

When we are thinking about nourishing and fortifying our systems, the liver in particular needs a lot of support. We need to make sure it is functioning at a high level because it is essential to eliminating fat (and remember, fat is where the bulk of toxins are stored!). In order to support and promote the elimination process we are going to use the Zendocrine duo.

Zendocrine Complex is a plant and herbal complex that is made to complement and work together with Zendocrine Essential Oil. The complex promotes a healthy cleanse of liver, kidneys, colon, lungs and skin and supports these organs capacity for protective cleansing, and ridding the body of stored toxins. Zendocrine essential oil is a blend of tangerine, rosemary, geranium, juniper berry, and cilantro. Each of these are wonderful for detoxing but I want to specifically highlight two. Juniper Berry is wonderful for kidney support and cilantro is excellent at ridding the body of heavy toxins.

During this phase of the cleanse we will take both the oil and the complex internally for ten days. You can add the oil to a veggie cap with extra virgin olive oil or grab the premade gel caps. 2-4 drops 2-3 times a day. After ten days, you may continue the complex but do not continue the oil.

Step 4: Reset Gut – GX Assist

GX assist is a combination of oregano, tea tree, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint and thyme essential oils boosted with 75 mg of caprylic acid. Caprylic acid is a unique fatty acid that is detoxing to the body. It has a lyophilic structure that helps it to infiltrate the cell membrane of hostile organisms within the body and eliminate them. It helps feed the good stuff at the same time. We have both good and bad bacteria in our gut (example of bad- candida) and we want to eliminate the bad without taking out the good. This does just that!

We are going to take 1-3 with meals for ten days.

Step 5: Restore – DDR Prime & PB Assist

In this phase of the cleanse we are going to restore gut and cell health. We’ve talked about PB Assist already. It’s amazing. For ten days we are going to take it with every meal. Then after the ten days take one daily.

DDR Prime is going to promote a healthy response to free radicals, up immune health, improve cell health and response and recovery, promote healthy aptosis and renewals and reduce oxidative stress. We are going to take it with all three meals for ten days. Then you can maintain a daily dose if you wish. It is fantastic! This is one I highly encourage you to research on your own.

See the images below for what to take and when as well as an option for kids! I am doing a version for of the kids cleanse for my two littles! I’ll unpack it in another post. Want to join us the go around? Here’s the link to join our group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/799338757590074

Not on Facebook? You can still do it with us! Comment below or send us a message to join in!