Hawkins Holistic

Although the liver is the body’s primary detoxifying organ, the skin – the body’s largest organ – is not far behind. The skin contains millions of pores which are constantly pushing out debris, while also allowing particles in. Our body’s fight against toxins from food, air, and chemicals is ongoing. These toxins build up if not efficiently excreted, often manifesting in unpleasant symptoms such as acne, rashes, headaches, bad body odor, lethargy, and even mental confusion. The skin – how it appears and what it emits – is a reliable indicator of what’s happening within our body. Thankfully, we can lovingly help our skin do its detox-job, while improving its texture, clarity, and overall radiance. Win-win!

With insight gleaned from my recent study in advanced detoxification, I’ve developed a simple skin-detoxifying ritual. I’ve been doing it for 6 weeks now, and have come to thoroughly enjoy the process and its benefits. It’s the most relaxing, rejuvenating, and decadent detox ritual that I’ve ever experienced!

Before proceeding, it’s important for me to make note of something. While this detox does seem to echo our nations relentless quest for radiant, blemish-free skin, perfect skin is not the goal here. Rather, the intent is to create the optimal condition for skin health, given our individual circumstance. And hey, if on any given day your skin isn’t glowing, your smile & soul can take on that task. 🙂

Here are the steps:

1) Dry brush the entire body (except face!). This increases circulation in the skin and massages the lymph nodes, preparing skin for detoxification. Start from the feet and work your way up, brushing in small, circular motions. Be gentle-yet-thorough, brushing for at least 2 minutes. You can find natural, soft-bristled body brushes in most health food stores.

2) Prepare a warm-hot Epsom salt bath, using 4 cups Epsom salt for detoxification effects. Why Epsom salt? Because it’s rich in minerals and contains the chemical compound magnesium sulfate. Magnesium helps to keep your bodily functions running smoothly, including some of the pathways that lead toxins right out of your body. Sulfate helps to strengthen the walls of your digestive tract so that it’s easier to release toxins. Magnesium is also an excellent muscle relaxant, which is why I tend to do my detox bath after a workout. The heat of the water is important because it opens pores and induces sweating – an excellent way to detoxify. Feel free to add a few drops of soothing essential oils to the bath water, such as lavender or bergamot. Bath bubbles are OK so long as the suds are made with gentle, natural ingredients (what’s the point of taking a detox bath if you add chemicals to the bathing water?).

3) During the first 5 minutes of the bath, sip a skin clearing tincture containing burdock root. Why? Burdock is known to enhance skin clarity by encouraging other organs, such as the liver and kidneys, to eliminate toxins thereby reducing toxic load on the skin. I recommend this tincture, available online at well.ca. If a tincture is too high maintenance, sip a herbal detox tea instead. I love this tea made by Yogi, but any herbal detox tea will do.

4) Soak for at least 20 minutes. If the thought of simply lying in the tub fills you with dread, learn what works for you in terms of passing time. Play some music, listen to a podcast, read a novel (one that you aren’t afraid to get a  bit wet). I like to light candles and have my iPhone nearby so that if I want to listen to something, I can. Keeping a towel within reach is handy.

5) After the bath, take a shower. There may be debris on your skin from the detox, as well as salt residue, which can be drying to your skin and hair. When washing, use gentle products so not to irritate the skin.

6) End your detox by downing a big glass of filtered water. You’d be surprised how much fluid you’ve lost via sweating, also making this bath a great way to banish bloat!

After your detox bath, expect to feel refreshed, calm and clean, inside & out. Take comfort knowing that you’ve done a great thing for your body & mind. Do this ritual 2x a week to see and feel results.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns I’d love to hear from you! My contact info can be found here.

Naturally Yours.

Sarah Hawkins, R.H.N.