Self Care Tools to Strengthen Your Immune by Reducing Toxicity

Self-care is the cornerstone of great gut health. 70 % of our immune system lives in our gut.  Caring for yourself, making your body feel beautiful, and pushing toxins out from your body is necessary for great health and a wonderful life. Self-care is also a way to connect with yourself, to fall back in love with yourself, and to cultivate health and joy within and spread it to everyone you touch! Here are some of my favorite tools.
 
 
Skin brushing
Skin brushing is a must when it comes to eliminating toxins and restoring your gut health. Doing this supports your lymphatic system, kidneys and liver.
 
Using a skin brush such as the one by Yerba Prima, brush your skin in the morning before showing and at night for maximum results.
 
Always brush toward your heart with the flow of the lymphatic fluid.
Start at the soles of your feet and then move up your legs, brushing in a circular motion.
Brush your chest and shoulders toward your heart in long strokes, and then start at the fingertips and brush toward your body. Use small, circular strokes in your armpits.
Move in a circular motion counterclockwise on your stomach to respect the direction of digestion.
 
 
Tongue scraping
Tongue scraping is one of my go-to tools to relieve my body of toxicity. This removes mucus and toxic buildup in your mouth.
 
You can purchase a tongue scraper on Amazon or simply use a spoon. I use Dr. Tung’s Tongue Cleaner.
 
In the morning and at night, reach to the back of your tongue with your scraper and pull forward, scraping off the white film and then repeating.
 
 
 
Epsom salt baths

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is wonderful for supplying your body with magnesium, boosting nutrient absorption, relieving stress, improving sleep, and reducing muscle cramps.
 
Adding Epsom salts to your bath is a divine experience. To do this, add 1 cup of Epsom salts, ½ cup baking soda, ½ cup sea salt, and ¼ cup Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar (optional) to a warm bath. You can also add a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender or another favorite essential oil.
  
 
Advanced Tools

Rebounding

Rebounding is a great way to support lymphatic drainage. You can purchase a used rebounder on Craigslist or a new one on Amazon. I suggest rebounding for 15 minutes each day.
 
Castor oil pack
Castor oil packs are another way to efficiently remove toxins from the body. There are two ways to do a castor oil pack:
 
Rub castor oil on your stomach, the right side of your liver and upper abdomen. Some people prefer to soak a cloth, towel or old shirt in the castor oil, wrap the pack in plastic wrap (BPA-free preferred) and then apply over the desired organ. You can lay a hot water bottle or a heating pad on the top of the pack and relax as you release toxins for about 45 minutes.
 
OR
 
Lay down on a towel and rub the castor oil on your stomach, the right side of your liver and upper abdomen. Then re-apply every 15 minutes until you've reached the 45-minute mark.
 
 
Oil pulling

​Oil pulling is one of my favorite and most effective advanced tools because it cleanses the mouth of bacteria and yeast that can lead to infection and toxicity in the body.
 
You should oil pull in the morning on an empty stomach, and follow up with tongue scraping (above).

• Put 1-2 tablespoons of coconut or sesame oil in your mouth.
• Swish the oil for 5-20 minutes.
• Spit the oil into the trash to prevent it from clogging your sink.
• Rinse your mouth with water and sea salt, then brush your teeth.
• Follow up with tongue scraping.

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