One of the best things you can do for your body is a regular cleanse. Cleansing can support your hormones by encouraging a healthy balance, reducing your risk of hormonal imbalances such as oestrogen dominance.
Let’s take a closer look at how to cleanse in a way that encourages a healthy hormone balance.
Signs that you might benefit from a cleanse
Some of the common symptoms that indicate a cleanse is warranted include:
- Skin issues such as congestion, blackheads, acne, melasma and dry skin
- Cognitive issues such as brain fog, memory problems, being forgetful, struggling to get your words out
- Yellow eyes
- Coated tongue
- Dandruff or scalp psoriasis
- Ridges on your nails
- Halitosis (smelly breath)
- Digestive issues such as wind, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea
- Menstrual issues such as heavy painful periods, longer bleeds, short cycle, dark clotted blood, spotting and pain before your period
- Heavy painful periods, longer bleeds, shorter cycle, dark clotted blood, spotting brown, pain
We want to look at these symptoms and conditions, trace back and figure out the root causes. For many people, impaired detoxification plays a significant role. This can lead to a build-up of hormones, as well as toxins, which can cause inflammation throughout the body
How cleansing can support your hormones
It’s quite simple. Cleansing helps with your lymphatic system, liver and gallbladder function.
Our lymph pumps dead cells, toxins and heavy metals for excretion. If this is slow and sluggish, it can lead to inflammation and fluid retention.
The liver and gallbladder can also slow down if they have a greater load. The more they have to detoxify and excrete, the slower the process. This can lead to hormones such as oestrogen to build up in your system, throwing off the delicate hormone balance.
The goal of cleansing is to encourage your body to process and excrete what it doesn’t need – including excess hormones.
Simple steps to include
Now that you understand how cleansing can support your hormones, you might wonder how to get started.
A cleanse that has been created by a qualified health practitioner is always your best option. But in the meantime, there are some simple cleansing steps you can start using today.
Include acid
Using acids such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar can support liver and gallbladder function. This stimulates bile production, even if you have no gallbladder. As bile is one of the main ways we excrete toxins from the body, this helps clear the load on the liver.
Take 10ml of ACV or lemon juice in a large glass of water.
Dry skin brushing
This works on the lymphatic system. It gives the system a helping hand to move lymph to nearby drainage points. It can also help keep your skin healthy and hydrated!
Oil pulling
This is a great option for mouth and gum health. The oil attaches to anything in the gum cavities, pulling them out. It helps to excrete any fat-soluble toxins and can also ease bleeding gums.
Eat your greens
Green veggies and sea vegetables are packed with nutrients that are needed for detoxification. It’s best to use a combination of cooked and raw vegetables.
Epsom salt baths
Epsom salts contain sulphur, a compound that is needed for one of the detoxification pathways. This is a great option if you don’t tolerate sulphur-rich vegetables such as brassicas. But it can also be a good excuse to soak in the tub and relax for a while!
Activated charcoal
This can help to detoxify the bowel. It binds to everything it can find in the bowels and then is excreted. However, do remember to avoid taking your supplements and medications alongside charcoal.
I often recommend 21 days of following these habits as a way to bring your hormones back into balance. This is particularly useful if you have hormonal conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis or oestrogen dominance.
Does 21 days sound a bit overwhelming?
Why not start with just 3 days? I have a free 3 Day Kickstart Cleanse you can join with right here.