The Living Beauty Detox Program by Anna Louis Gittleman, has been my beacon to health for many years. The book purports "eat right to clear out toxins, manage your hormones, and bring out your best looks". Based on Chinese Medicine each season is connected to different organs in the body. Each season has a dietary, mental, and physical protocol so that by the end of four seasons you have cleansed your major organs with herbs, teas, and foods specific to each season, toning and cleansing those corresponding organs.
I advise everyone to buy their own book, especially at the current affordable rate! You won't want to loan it out either, because you'll need to reference it regularly -or when you do you will want to be sure and have it. Dare I say a bible to your health!
Admittedly, it had been a while since I had done a cleanse religiously, but menopausal symptoms were setting in with night sweats becoming tiresome (no pun intended) and kind of creepy! I was motivated to clear out my system and rid myself of a major sleep disturbance.
I pulled my book off the shelf, made a grocery list, and because Valentine’s Day was approaching and then my birthday, I decided I would do the short version of the cleanse and cycle through it a couple of times. The cleanse is based on eating, so it’s very easy.
Omitted are the classic culprits of dairy, caffeine, alcohol, or sugar, but rather the diet consists of fruits, veggies, lean protein (a vegetarian protocol is available), teas and herbs. Based on the principal that a cell does not give it up unless nutrients are coming in, the protocols are based on bringing in superfood nourishment to detox your body.
The duration is 3 days up to two weeks with a maintenance plan to follow that introduces more favorite foods. So, who can’t do anything for three days? Plus you are eating! It’s so easy and you feel so good you just naturally want to keep going, especially with the small investment in supplements.
I always suggest splitting the supplements with a friend the first time, try a 3 or 4 day cleanse, and then figure it our for yourself. Make it easy and prove to yourself how doable it is.
Like I add a little more salt than she suggests and for this past winter cleanse and I allowed myself a morning cup of very weak ceylon tea that has caffeine.
Aside from following my seasonal cleanse, internet research on my current issues led me to adding Ayurvedic herbs into the mix. I included a triphala, shatavari protocol in the morning and ashwagandha at night. (see Natural Herbal Remedy For Western Menopause)
The first round of my winter cleanses started on a Sunday and worked wonders. My digestive issues disappeared, my body felt great, my sleep smoothed out, zero pms, and no night sweats. I broke the cleanse on a Thursday evening, took a long weekend off, then returned on the following Monday through Thursday again. I finished my round of cleanses with a three day version right before my 50th birthday. All of February went smoothly and I am still celebrating, really the rebuilding of my adrenals and kidneys. The big self nurturing protocol was rest! Minimizing stress through meditation, yoga, massage, self-care body treatments, and most importantly, as much sleep as I can possibly get, even still allowing myself to sleep in as late as possible.
As I continued researching my symptoms during this time I discovered kidney energy deficiency is one root cause of menopausal issues. Kidney energy powers the many functions of the body. Learning this connection definitely prompted my winter cleanse!
Another organ that is important is the Liver. It’s the number one organ in terms of women’s health. The Liver meridian runs through the reproductive area, so when Liver Qi is stagnant or weak this area will be impacted. The Liver also regulates the smooth flow of blood and emotions. It’s easy to see the connection between the Liver’s role in promoting regular blood flow and menstrual health, but most women are unaware of this organ’s function when it comes to regulating emotions.
In Chinese Medicine meridians are invisible energy pathways or channels that run through the body. Our vital life energy, or "qi", is thought to flow along these meridians, and anything that disrupts the smooth flow of chi is said to cause illness. Our life essence or vital qi is stored in our kidneys and apparently the herbs that tone and support the kidney also are major bone fortifying herbs. An interesting connection when you consider low kidney qi is common to menopause and osteoporosis occurs in menopause and the latter years. Since the skeletal system controls the endocrine system this seems to be the connection with the particular herbs prescribed for bone fortifying and menopausal symptoms that I write about in my blog Natural Herbal Remedy For Western Menopause.
In that blog I outline and attribute the cessation of night sweats and other symptoms I was having to the Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs I have started taking and the herbs and dietary protocol outlined in The Living Beauty Detox Program.
Here is the herbal protocol according to the seasonal diet for winter from The Living Beauty Detox Program with the addition of Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs for menopause. Hopefully, this will motivate you with an idea of the cleanse, but is no replacement for having the book as a direct resource.
I mix 1 tsp shatavari and 1/2 tsp of triphala with a couple of ounces of hot water first thing in the morning. Shatavari is an excellent herb for cleansing the gut, like triphala, so it made sense to take them together. Before bed I take 1/2 tsp ashwagandha with a couple ounces of hot water.
Nothing iced or cold
Breakfast- Lunch - Dinner: Cooked warmed foods from the meal plan lists - low glycemic - organic- lean proteins - veggies - warm/cooked fruit
nettle tea - alkalanizing minerals for kidney cleansing and adrenal support - 2 x per day
unsweetned cranberry juice mixed with a green supplement and fiber
Morning and night in teas or tinctures, capsules or as a food seasoning :
flaxseed oil - lignan-rich
juniper - diuretic/bladder infections
ginger - warming/ increases circulation in kidneys
marshmallow - sooth mucus membrane/urinary tract
horsetail - antioxidant and anti-inflammatory/diuretic
miso and sea salt - sodium and electrolytes assist both kidney and adrenal function. enzymes, calcium, iron
tamari - aides digestion
raw plain sauerkraut -
apple cider vinegar
A side note: I am working with my western doctor and going to a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner to cross check what I am doing. I am not prescribing for you, but rather sharing my research, personal experiment, and experience using these particular herbs. Please do your own research according to your symptoms, as the information is dense and I have only included what was pertinent to me.
Oh, and now it is spring and you bet, I’m starting a liver cleanse next!
Marna Woo
I advise everyone to buy their own book, especially at the current affordable rate! You won't want to loan it out either, because you'll need to reference it regularly -or when you do you will want to be sure and have it. Dare I say a bible to your health!
Admittedly, it had been a while since I had done a cleanse religiously, but menopausal symptoms were setting in with night sweats becoming tiresome (no pun intended) and kind of creepy! I was motivated to clear out my system and rid myself of a major sleep disturbance.
I pulled my book off the shelf, made a grocery list, and because Valentine’s Day was approaching and then my birthday, I decided I would do the short version of the cleanse and cycle through it a couple of times. The cleanse is based on eating, so it’s very easy.
Omitted are the classic culprits of dairy, caffeine, alcohol, or sugar, but rather the diet consists of fruits, veggies, lean protein (a vegetarian protocol is available), teas and herbs. Based on the principal that a cell does not give it up unless nutrients are coming in, the protocols are based on bringing in superfood nourishment to detox your body.
The duration is 3 days up to two weeks with a maintenance plan to follow that introduces more favorite foods. So, who can’t do anything for three days? Plus you are eating! It’s so easy and you feel so good you just naturally want to keep going, especially with the small investment in supplements.
I always suggest splitting the supplements with a friend the first time, try a 3 or 4 day cleanse, and then figure it our for yourself. Make it easy and prove to yourself how doable it is.
Like I add a little more salt than she suggests and for this past winter cleanse and I allowed myself a morning cup of very weak ceylon tea that has caffeine.
Aside from following my seasonal cleanse, internet research on my current issues led me to adding Ayurvedic herbs into the mix. I included a triphala, shatavari protocol in the morning and ashwagandha at night. (see Natural Herbal Remedy For Western Menopause)
The first round of my winter cleanses started on a Sunday and worked wonders. My digestive issues disappeared, my body felt great, my sleep smoothed out, zero pms, and no night sweats. I broke the cleanse on a Thursday evening, took a long weekend off, then returned on the following Monday through Thursday again. I finished my round of cleanses with a three day version right before my 50th birthday. All of February went smoothly and I am still celebrating, really the rebuilding of my adrenals and kidneys. The big self nurturing protocol was rest! Minimizing stress through meditation, yoga, massage, self-care body treatments, and most importantly, as much sleep as I can possibly get, even still allowing myself to sleep in as late as possible.
As I continued researching my symptoms during this time I discovered kidney energy deficiency is one root cause of menopausal issues. Kidney energy powers the many functions of the body. Learning this connection definitely prompted my winter cleanse!
Another organ that is important is the Liver. It’s the number one organ in terms of women’s health. The Liver meridian runs through the reproductive area, so when Liver Qi is stagnant or weak this area will be impacted. The Liver also regulates the smooth flow of blood and emotions. It’s easy to see the connection between the Liver’s role in promoting regular blood flow and menstrual health, but most women are unaware of this organ’s function when it comes to regulating emotions.
In Chinese Medicine meridians are invisible energy pathways or channels that run through the body. Our vital life energy, or "qi", is thought to flow along these meridians, and anything that disrupts the smooth flow of chi is said to cause illness. Our life essence or vital qi is stored in our kidneys and apparently the herbs that tone and support the kidney also are major bone fortifying herbs. An interesting connection when you consider low kidney qi is common to menopause and osteoporosis occurs in menopause and the latter years. Since the skeletal system controls the endocrine system this seems to be the connection with the particular herbs prescribed for bone fortifying and menopausal symptoms that I write about in my blog Natural Herbal Remedy For Western Menopause.
In that blog I outline and attribute the cessation of night sweats and other symptoms I was having to the Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs I have started taking and the herbs and dietary protocol outlined in The Living Beauty Detox Program.
Here is the herbal protocol according to the seasonal diet for winter from The Living Beauty Detox Program with the addition of Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs for menopause. Hopefully, this will motivate you with an idea of the cleanse, but is no replacement for having the book as a direct resource.
I mix 1 tsp shatavari and 1/2 tsp of triphala with a couple of ounces of hot water first thing in the morning. Shatavari is an excellent herb for cleansing the gut, like triphala, so it made sense to take them together. Before bed I take 1/2 tsp ashwagandha with a couple ounces of hot water.
Nothing iced or cold
Breakfast- Lunch - Dinner: Cooked warmed foods from the meal plan lists - low glycemic - organic- lean proteins - veggies - warm/cooked fruit
nettle tea - alkalanizing minerals for kidney cleansing and adrenal support - 2 x per day
unsweetned cranberry juice mixed with a green supplement and fiber
Morning and night in teas or tinctures, capsules or as a food seasoning :
flaxseed oil - lignan-rich
juniper - diuretic/bladder infections
ginger - warming/ increases circulation in kidneys
marshmallow - sooth mucus membrane/urinary tract
horsetail - antioxidant and anti-inflammatory/diuretic
miso and sea salt - sodium and electrolytes assist both kidney and adrenal function. enzymes, calcium, iron
tamari - aides digestion
raw plain sauerkraut -
apple cider vinegar
A side note: I am working with my western doctor and going to a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner to cross check what I am doing. I am not prescribing for you, but rather sharing my research, personal experiment, and experience using these particular herbs. Please do your own research according to your symptoms, as the information is dense and I have only included what was pertinent to me.
Oh, and now it is spring and you bet, I’m starting a liver cleanse next!
Marna Woo
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