Cleansing With Tonic Herbs
It’s a rainy morning here in Louisville, Kentucky- in fact, it’s the first rainy anything in quite some time. We’ve been experiencing a prolonged period of excessive heat, humidity, drought and low air quality because of it. This is certainly a nourishing change in weather for our area, which has completely shifted the biology of not only our environment here, but also internally. Even listening to the rain from inside, I can actually FEEL the removal of stagnation and it’s got me thinking about cleansing. Much like how our biological environments need rain to thrive, our bodies need to be constantly cleansing in order to maintain health. No matter what our lifestyles may be, pollutants, free radicals, EMF’s, chemicals, fungi, bacteria, mold, and all sorts of foreign constituents are being processed through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the things we touch. It’s an inevitable part of existence, so adapting is essential to living a long, healthy, and happy life, and certainly more realistic than becoming “bubble boy.”
Over the last ten to twenty years, collective consciousness has become increasingly more aware of the importance of cleansing and detoxifying. Many products and fad cleanses have flooded the circuit, including some pretty inspirational and dramatic results and stories. There are countless ways to cleanse, some more radical than others, ranging from veganism, to juice fasting, to water diets, all the way to “breatharians”. Though these may fulfill the needs of some, and make each and every one of us say, “Oh man, maybe I should try that,” the truth of that matter is- every body is different. What may produce tremendous results for some could completely deplete and throw another off balance.
The question begs to be asked, “How can I cleanse daily without throwing my body off balance?”
Tonic Herbs offer a myriad of benefits, but one commonality with all tonic herbs is their ability to cleanse a detox the body. A daily integration of any tonic herb would allow daily removal of toxins and stagnation. In order for an herb to be considered “tonic,” it must be non-toxic. This means that these herbs are entering your systems, removing toxins, strengthening the functions of the organs that work to remove toxins, and adding absolutely no toxicity or additives that would inhibit these processes. Across the board, tonic herbs are anti-bacterial, anti-oxidative, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and immune supportive. The fun part is, you are then able to choose the one that is right for your body, and receive these benefits and more- and you can maintain the lifestyle that keeps you balanced, without the radical and unbalancing cleansing regimens.
That being said, there are a couple herbs that are simply made to cleanse, and are our personal favorites for keeping the toxins moving out, and the goodness coming in.
Chaga is known for being the most powerful herbal antioxidant on the planet! In fact, its 25% antioxidant makeup is 23% higher than any other mushroom. This powerful adaptogen is found and aged on birch tress, making this herb rich in betulinic acid. Unfortunately, we cannot eat the birch tree and digest betulin, but chaga can successfully “milk” the birch, making this amazing acid available to us. Betulin is anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immune-modulating. Chaga’s also harbors staggeringly high levels of superoxide dismutase, or SOD, that is second to none. SOD protects our bodies from free radicals and cell oxidation, which not only secures you from environmental damage, but aging as well. The levels of SOD and betulinic acid are not found anywhere else at the bio-availability that they are found in chaga, making this herb very special and unique, as well as a front-runner when it comes to cleansing.
Schizandra is a breathtakingly passionate part of any daily regime, especially cleansing. There’s a special place in my heart for schizandra, and there’s certainly no question as to why. This 5-flavored, 5-elemented, triple-treasured, 12-meridian-ed, and 100% awe-inspiring berry exudes transformation. Powerful, yet balancing, schizandra embodies profound properties that aren’t found all together anywhere else. Its astringent qualities start from the inside, improving lung, liver and kidney function, disposing of wastes and excess, and purifying the blood. Then, as if it had not already outdone itself, schizandra is renowned for being a beauty tonic, helping to clear the skin, brighten eyes, strengthen hair, and restore the color in your cheeks and lips. For cleansing and detoxing, schizandra is easily one of the most thorough and yet gentle enough and balancing for almost every body.
A Common Misconception
Many people begin their journey with tonic herbs with many questions, but one of the most popular is, “are there any side effects?” The answer is no. In order for an herb to be considered “tonic,” it must be non-toxic, thus unable to produce the harmful or unforeseeable side effects that some “medicines” may cause. On this note, if you are on medications, it always best to consult with a physician before taking anything.
What many people may experience when beginning to take tonic herbs are actually detox symptoms. Being that these herbs are so powerful and able to remove toxins from your body, it is common to experience the toxins leaving your body, especially if it is your first time taking them. It is always important to balance with a healthy diet, good drinking water, and an active lifestyle to get the most out of your herbs and help to support what your body wants to naturally do- which is detox daily!
Chaga and schizandra are just two of our favorite herbs for cleansing, but all tonic herbs have detoxifying properties! Just as the rain helps the earth flourish, tonic herbs inhibit toxins from drying up and stagnating within our bodies, and also are able to tenaciously remove them DAILY, without the need of a dramatic cleansing boot camp or lifestyle change.
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https://hyperion-herbs.myshopify.com/collections/chaga-mushroom-extract