Health
Spring Cleansing for
NATURAL Nutmeg
Enhanced Fertility
By Dr. Nicole Kerr, ND, LAc
MAY / JUNE 2022
24 “A wide array of toxins are detrimental to male and female fertility, impacting eggs and sperm directly and increasing the importance of a detox prior to becoming pregnant.” —Dr. Nicole Kerr, ND, LAc
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pring is a time of rebirth and renewal. Buds explode everywhere and the bleakness of winter is washed away with warm spring rain. A spring cleanse can wash away the burden of toxins your body has endured and accumulated. Seen as a time of transition, spring is an ideal time to slough off the old and usher in a fresh new start for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Cleansing for Body and Mind
Cleansing (or detoxification) practices date back to 2000 BCE and are used around the world to prevent disease and improve overall health. Historic cleansing practices have fallen out of the norm in the US, though are still commonly practiced in other countries as prevention of illness. Examples of cleansing practices include: • India: Panchakarma or five cleaning actions— purge (laxative), enema, vomiting, nasal cleanse, and bloodletting. Purification therapy helps draw out toxins from the blood and deeper tissue, moving the digestive system. • China: Fasting (chlorophyll-rich foods), movement (acupuncture, qi gong, tai chi, yoga, meditation) to decrease irritability and anger, and purge (saunas, detox teas, dry skin brushing, water, cupping, bloodletting) to help remove toxins out of the body. • Native Americans: Fasting gives the digestive tract a break to repair and recover, smudging can clear the lungs and balance the emotions, and sweat lodges help purge toxins. • Religious sects: Fasting.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver and gallbladder are associated with springtime; the liver controls the smooth flow of blood and emotions while the gallbladder is responsible for excreting bile and governs decision-making, planning, dreaming, inspiration, and assertiveness (if your gallbladder has been removed, think about how difficult these tasks may be for you). This organ association emphasizes the importance of a spring cleanse to support and heal functions of the liver and gallbladder, especially if you have a difficult time with decision-making or controlling your emotions. A healthy, properly functioning liver is needed to constantly rid the body of harmful toxins, medications, and even your hormones. Though TCM emphasizes the importance of liver and gallbladder function, all organs of elimination are addressed during a cleanse. The intestines are of utmost importance as they remove harmful byproducts made by the liver.
Cleansing for Fertility
Implementing a gentle cleanse prior to becoming pregnant can improve fertility outcomes and the overall health of your baby. A wide array of toxins are detrimental to male and female fertility, impacting eggs and sperm directly and increasing the importance of a detox prior to becoming pregnant. Research from ten years ago showed an average of 212 industrial chemicals and pesticides, banned over 30 years prior to the study, in the placenta of unexposed and unborn babies. Take this into consideration and understand that if you
