Spring Cleanse

In time for Full Moon March 5, Spring holiday March 21, and the reality of an early Spring I am contemplating safe cleanses to organize for myself beyond the intake of herbs -- to address body-mind and mind-heart. I happen to be serving at a vipassana meditation retreat March 5-8, which is perfect timing.

First of all I need to follow up on the ideas I explored with "purity herbs" giving preference to bitter tonics, liver tonics, and alteratives - particularly of plants naturalized in Seattle. I plan to drink a decoction of barberry, chicory, dandelion, oregon grape, burdock and yellow dock as often as possible - if not daily. Also making a tincture of these plants with brandy (pictured here).

In Vasant Lad's book, Ayurvedic principles for staying balanced in Spring involve reducing heavy, inflammatory, congestive foods (like dairy and various forms of protein) and increasing bitter, astringent foods and herbs, as well as juice fasts. This would be the perfect time of year to explore a raw food cleanse (but keep it simple). Lad also promotes taking ginger fennel tea and morning walks. Personally, I am aiming for 70 percent fresh, preferably in-season produce like leafy greens, nettle, lettuce, and so forth. Because I am so fortunate to buy from the store I have many more options before me. It can be really hard to lay off comfort foods but it is worth it for stronger health.

An important question is, what is the point of detoxification, or what is being cleansed out of the body? Another book I recommend is Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Claudia Welch (De Capo Press, 2011). Welch claims hormonal balance is the mirror that reflects optimal health, because imbalance is the first stage of disease. Toxic buildup, or ama in Ayurveda, which derives from sluggish digestion and environmental toxins, will manifest as chronic inflammation, digestive/elimination problems, exhaustion, and so forth. Or simply "unwholesome" particles interfering with vitality of tissue states, which may produce countless symptoms. Detoxification opens blocked channels allowing deeper ama to leave the body.So not overeating, and only eating when hungry; eating fresh, whole foods; paying attention to what you are eating while you are eating. Gentle exercise, meditation, Sleep, herbs to encourage restful sleep, herbs to tonify digestive and eliminative organs. herbs to infuse massage oil for self massage. All wonderful self care practices.

Why bitter and astringent? Bitter compounds, such as iridoids and sequiterpenes,stimulate the gall bladder and liver and therefore digestion. And depending on the plant, may be anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, sedative, analgesic, laxative, anti-tumor and antibiotic, Astringent compounds expel excess fluid from tissues like a diuretic, enhancing cell wall strength to withstand foreign particle invasion. A way of purifying cells through the body. Both TCM and Ayurveda recommend avoiding too much bitter or astringency which may dehydrate the body - so my heavy preference for these tastes will not last beyond a couple weeks.Through it all I am trying to stay well hydrated.

   

Sattva - Purity

I'm still jiving on The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Vasant Lad, and I've dedicated this next full moon cycle, the month of February to eat foods traditionally regarded as "sattvic". A sattvic diet is composed of whole foods filled with "life force", and contributes to a sense of inner balance, peace and non-harming. To partake of these foods properly one needs to honor them by eating slow, and being grateful. I have not eaten vegetarian for many years, however I'm curious how this choice will impact my day to day mindset. I believe it will be a way of cultivating deeper self-love, therefore (we'll see) my ability to love others. Read more about my motivations here.

Lad specifies which types of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy and herbs to consume -- which I'm experimenting with. I'm fascinated how some fruits, vegetables and herbs might not qualify. I suppose within each category, the "safe" or mild tasting foods would be regarded as sattvic. For herbs and spices, Lad lists cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ginger, licorice, nutmeg, parsley, rose, saffron, tulsi, and tumuric. I thought I'd give preference to these in my cooking and tea making. It's really easy to forget this commitment without putting it in the forefront of my visual memory, i.e. keeping the list in my back pocket constantly.

I'm more curious as to which plants of the Pacific Northwest might be considered sattvic, or safe and balancing. Michael Moore's Therapeutic and Use Index delineates a few categories that probably work: alteratives, cardiac tonics, intestinal tract tonics, nervines, and bitter tonics. Tonics - "medicinal substances taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being" - are theoretically safe to consume every day, right? Some plants include: barberry, burdock, chicory, dandelion, motherwort, oregon grape, red clover, sage, skullcap, valerian, yarrow and yellow dock. I have experimented a little with these plants before and I am currently drinking a tea of chicory, dandelion, and oregon grape. Perhaps now's a time for deepening my study and knowledge of them. As well as to dedicate my year learning them, harvesting and experimenting.

The plants I know less about include barberry, motherwort and valerian. According to Moore, barberry is similar to oregon grape as - alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, intestinal and liver tonic, laxative and gall bladder stimulant. All very useful for maintaining digestive health. In addition barberry is particularly useful for treating mouth/gum inflammation, so would be a great addition to yarrow in toothpaste (which I currently need to make more of). Motherwort is described as quite mild as a cardiac tonic, a promenstrual, and for treating shingles, a stress-related nervous system symptom. Perhaps there's a connection between stress and blood health in the case of shingles. Valerian -- I have experienced it as stimulating but I will try again. Other than chamomile I don't really take many traditionally soothing herbs. Valerian is regarded as an analgesic (pain reliever), anti-spasmodic (muscle relaxant), nervine, and sedative. Perfect following intense yoga or hiking I would think.

I didn't do much this time around to celebrate the full moon for medicine making but I did finally bottle oregon grape tincture harvested at Discovery Park, and concocted last fall. Pictured below.

Works Cited

Lad, Vasant. (1999). The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies. New York City: Harmony          Books.

Moore, Michael. (2011). Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West. Albuquerque, NM: Museum of New
     Mexico Press.