Today let’s talk tongue scraping, dry skin brushing, vagus nerve tone, herbal medicine and supplements…you might be thinking what on earth is she talking about? These are fantastic detox tools to add into your daily or weekly practice.
In my last blog I spoke about 5 crucial things that we need optimised to really detox properly on the daily. They were Elimination, Fibre, Hydration, Exercise and Detox Tea then putting it all together with Habit Stacking! You can read Part 1 here
Developing a routine that optimises your detoxification system can be really easy! I know you’re busy (I’m currently trying to unlearn this but that’s another blog topic!), yes we are all busy but once you commit to adding in one of these a week then you’ll soon feel on top of the world!
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Let’s jump in to my next top 5!
1. Supplementation
It’s a well known fact that in our modern world we lack many essential nutrients from our food, add stress and a fast paced life into the mix and we chew through what we have. My two main favourites that we all seem to be deplete in are magnesium and B vitamins and we need both of these for good detoxification to happen. Certain B vitamins (B6, B9 & B12) are lipotropic agents which means they help decongest the liver and improve liver function and fat metabolism. Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic processes in the body! Including preventing damage from environmental toxins, heavy metals and chemicals. Lastly a really good probiotic is essential to improve your gut microbiome diversity and keep your gut communities healthy and able to digest your food. There are many more supplements you can take however it is always better to get the advice of a professional (eg: degree qualified naturopath like me!) so you get the right supplements for you! For more info on supplementation check out my blog here
2. Herbal Medicine
Utilsiing natures gifts is so rewarding, nature has so many options to support us. As I eluded to in my previous blog Part 1 herbal tea can be an excellent way to support your liver and kidneys. If you want to go one step further then book in with a naturopath and medical herbalist to have a herbal prescription made up for you. We can do this in two ways; in liquid herb form or in capsule or tablet form. Liquid herbs are fantastic for bioavailability and quick results but often taste not so great…especially the liver herbs. Liver herbs are quite bitter and these days we aren’t really used to the taste. The bitterness stimulates bile flow which helps to emulsify fats and supports liver function: win! The other option which has more client compliance is capsule or tablet form….because you can’t taste them! My favourite herbs for supporting the liver are St Mary’s Thistle because it is an antioxidant and prevents damage to the liver…it has also been shown to have positive effects in treating liver disease like cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It also increase glutathione the body’s master antioxidant. Other great liver herbs are Dandelion, Globe Artichoke, Turmeric and Licorice.
3. Tongue Scraping
This ancient Ayurvedic practice is a great daily ritual to get into. When I get up in the morning I always head to the bathroom first for my first “elimination” of the day, followed by tongue scraping (washing hands in between of course! haha). I use a tongue scraper like this one but you can always start with using the back of a spoon or teaspoon gently. Strat at the back as far as you can without the gag reflex kicking in and gently scrape forwards into the sink, rinse the scraper in between scrapes. Move down the sides but not underneath. This takes about 20 to 30 seconds if that.
This scrapes the build up of bacteria and any other toxins from the tongue and clears the oral cavity…you won’t believe the gunk the comes off! Rinse and spit. Then brush your teeth as you normally would after your breakfast.
4. Dry Skin Brushing
This is another Ayurvedic ritual which is amazing for your skin…your largest detoxification organ! I do this about twice a week before I shower. The main benefits are it helps to unclog blocked pores on the skin, stimulates the lymphatic system which in turn helps the body get rid of toxins, energizes you as it increases circulation and energy and it may help break down cellulite. It basically sloths off the dead skin cells leaving the skin to “breathe” better.
I love using essential oils as well, a few drops of peppermint or grapefruit essential oils onto my brush then using sweeping up to heart strokes. Focus on the lymphatic areas of the groin and armpits (gently!!) in a circular motion. Use a natural bristle brush with a long handle so you can reach your back.
5. Vagus Nerve Tone
This is a hot topic in natural health circles and more and more research is coming to light of this amazing part of our anatomy, it’s part of the autonomous nervous system. The vagus nerve runs from the brain to our gut and is often called the Gut/Brain Axis. Having poor tone (the bi-directional messages not getting through) means you may suffer from poor digestion, IBS, SIBO, anxiety or depression, and is also a key player in the neuroendocrine-immune axis. Tips to work on your vagal nerve tone include cold showers, humming, singing and gargling…easy things we can do every day!
Putting it all together
Here we go with the habit stacking!
Let’s Habit Stack these 5 detox areas:
Get up in the morning…
- Tongue scrape and rinse, then gargle to work on your Vagus Nerve Tone
- Before your shower, dry skin brushing.
- While in the shower sing or hum then finish with a cold blast of water.
- With your big glass of water after breakfast (but 45 minutes away from coffee) take your supplements and/or herbal medicine.
Easy…done!
So there are many things you can add into your day to improve your detoxification pathways.
If you are feeling like you are sluggish, exhausted, bloated and overwhelmed it's quite likely you are taxing your liver but there is a solution…Come and join us on our 14 Day Body Reset Cleanse Group Program…find out more here Not sure if your ready for a cleanse…then take my FREE Quiz…sign up here
