As winter draws to a close and warm breezes coax early spring flowers to brighten the landscape, you might be inspired to clean out your home. You may even do a deep cleaning, throw out clutter, get organized, and open windows and doors to welcome in the fresh air and sunshine.

Tradition also suggests that spring is a good time for cleansing the body. During the winter, people living in colder climates are typically less physically active and before the advent of modern transportation, people’s dietary choices were limited as well. Having no access to fresh fruits and vegetables their diets were mostly animal proteins, fats and oils, and heavy starches like grains and potatoes.

Thus, when the first green plants of spring emerged, they would be welcomed and appreciated as the first sources of fresh plant food. Many of these plants weren’t just thought of as food either; they were considered spring tonics and many health benefits were attributed to them. They were believed to thin the blood and invigorate the circulation to prepare the body for summer after the heavy diets and inactivity of winter.

Examples of traditional spring tonics include dandelions, red clover, stinging nettle, cleavers, sassafras, various docks such as yellow dock or sheep sorrel, lamb’s quarters or goosefoot, raspberry and strawberry leaves, young garlic and onion greens, burdock, and various mustard-family plants like watercress, shepherd’s purse, and peppergrass. Herbal medicine classifies many of these plants as blood purifiers or alteratives, which help cleanse the body by improving the flow of blood and lymph, flushing the kidneys and liver, and alkalizing the system. But, these spring tonics not only help the body detoxify, they can also reduce pain and irritation, clear up skin conditions, enhance immune function, and invigorate the body and mind.

Springtime Fasts

In certain spiritual traditions, spring is also the time for a major fast. Fasting is one of the oldest methods of cleansing the body. In times past, fasting in the spring may not have been completely voluntary, as long winters may have left food stores depleted. This is another reason the spring tonic herbs would be highly welcomed.

In keeping with this idea, the forty-day fasts in some spiritual traditions are not total fasts. Instead, they typically involve abstaining from the heavier foods eaten during the winter months, such as meat, dairy, eggs, and oil. Even today, a modified fast that involves abstaining from or reducing intake of heavier proteins, fats, and starches and eating more low-calorie, nutrient-dense vegetables is beneficial for health and can be part of your spring cleaning program.

Modern People Need Spring Cleaning

At first glance you might think that the traditional of spring cleaning the body is no longer relevant. After all, in modern society we have access to fresh fruits and vegetables all year long. But the truth is that many people eat what used to be diets limited to the winter months all year long. Many people’s diets largely consist of animal proteins, vegetable oils, and simple starches or sugary foods. Think of hamburgers and fries, steak and potatoes, chicken and waffles, and pizza as perfect examples.

At the same time, few modern people ever consume significant quantities of the fresh, green foods traditionally thought of as spring tonics. Furthermore, modern people may also be physically inactive all year round, not just during the colder months of winter. Which is why we this spring cleaning might be more important than ever.

In this issue of Sunshine Sharing, you’ll learn how to create and implement a spring cleaning program, the use of traditional and modern spring tonics, modified fasting programs, and several complete cleansing programs to help you clean out your system to improve your health.

If you’re never done a cleanse before, hopefully this will encourage you to do one. You may be pleasantly surprised by the benefits. Most people report that they have more energy, less pain, and can even think more clearly after a good cleanse.

Strategies for Health by Steven Horne