How I Cleansed My Body, Mind, & Spirit
When I commit to something, I give it everything I’ve got. So when Dry January came around this year, I decided to take it up a notch. Not only would I ditch alcohol for the month — I was going to cleanse my entire body, mind, and soul.
At the time, I was dealing with a laundry list of nagging issues: a stubborn rash around my nose and mouth, reddish-brown patches on my legs, constant under-eye bags, irritability, poor memory, sleep teeth grinding, painful periods, anxiety, depression, bloating, back pain — you name it. I wasn’t working, so I couldn’t blame it on stress or burnout. Yet I’d wake up in a terrible mood, completely drained, with zero motivation or joy for life.
A friend first mentioned Dry January, and I actually laughed. But after a rough December, I figured it couldn’t hurt. Two weeks in though… I still felt like crap. So I dug deeper.
After some research and a conversation with my husband (who happens to be a physician), I learned that detoxing is a process. You have to cleanse your gut and colon first, then your liver, and finally address parasites and toxins. It made sense: if your colon’s backed up, anything you detox will just recirculate in your body. From there, I mapped out my plan: a gut cleanse, followed by a liver and gallbladder flush, and finishing with a candida and parasite cleanse.
Step 1: Gut and Colon Cleanse
I knew the first step was to give my gut a break. I started with simple broths and steamed veggies to calm inflammation and get my digestion moving smoothly. By eliminating anything heavy or irritating, I could create the clean foundation my body needed to begin truly cleansing and detoxing.
Step 2: Liver & Gallbladder Flush
Once the gut was prepped, it was time to cleanse my liver and gallbladder. This helps flush out built-up toxins, improve bile production, and support hormone balance, digestion, and skin clarity. The liver is your body’s main detox organ, and when it’s sluggish, everything else suffers.
I followed a traditional liver flush protocol (with my husband’s guidance) — and trust me, it’s intense, but worth it. You can find the exact flush we used here.
Step 3: Candida & Parasite Cleanse
A candida cleanse helps restore balance in the gut by reducing excess candida yeast and encouraging healthy bacteria to flourish. After years of partying and eating whatever I wanted (justifying it because I worked out), I was overdue.
I cut out sugar, grains, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine for several weeks and incorporated candida-fighting herbs. I chose Primal Herbs Ex-Candida Botanical Extract because it was clean, well-reviewed, and affordable — but any blend containing wormwood, pau d’arco, black walnut, oregano, and cinnamon will do.
Parasites are far more common than people realize. You can pick them up from pets, soil, walking barefoot, sushi, unwashed produce, contaminated water, doorknobs — even the air. Symptoms include bloating, fatigue, skin issues, and mood swings.
I started incorporating anti-parasitic foods like pumpkin seeds, papaya seeds, raw garlic, raw honey, bitter greens, and probiotics. I also added Zuma’s Complete Para-Clear and Gut Restore Protocol (use code the.yin.life for a discount). Zuma also provides great education on how to cleanse safely.
Step 4: Spiritual Cleanse
Detoxing isn’t just physical. Your mind and emotions will come up for healing too. I made it a point to rest, journal daily, meditate with Tibetan bowl music, and go on nature walks with soul-nourishing podcasts. Some of my favorites:
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Expanded by To Be Magnetic
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Out of Our Minds
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Thinking to Being
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Alignment Academy
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Highest Self Podcast
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It’s F*cking Spiritual
My Cleanse Timeline
Days 1-2: Gut Reset
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Drink veggie broth (onion, garlic, celery, kale, salt)
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Lemon water and chai tea
Days 3-6: Clean Eating
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Add steamed leafy greens
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Continue broth, water, and light salads
Night of Day 6: Liver/Gallbladder Flush
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Light breakfast/lunch (fruits & veggies, no fats)
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Begin the liver /gallbalder flush
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Series of magnesium citrate doses
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Olive oil + lemon juice mix at 7pm
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Rest, hydrate, and clear out toxins
Day 7:
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Eat cooked veggies and light proteins
- Consider taking the day off work – you will feel run down
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Begin parasite cleanse with 1 tbs of chia seeds in water
Days 8-14:
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Avoid sugar, grains, dairy, processed foods, tap water, raw meats/seafood
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Focus on non-starchy veggies, easy to digest protein, berries, lemon, garlic, pumpkin seeds
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Add candida/parasite herbs, probiotics, binders like activated charcoal, consider coffee enemas
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Expect ups and downs, but stay consistent
After 2 weeks:
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Slowly reintroduce healthy carbs like sourdough and sweet potatoes
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Add fermented foods like kefir and kimchi
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Listen to your body and adjust accordingly
The Results
Six months later, I can honestly say I feel better than I have in years. About 90% of my symptoms are gone. My skin is clear, my mood is stable, I sleep better, and I have the energy and clarity I didn’t realize I was missing.
Final Thoughts
Everyone’s journey will look different, depending on your symptoms and how deep the imbalances run. I strongly recommend working with a naturopathic or functional medicine doctor, and having a solid support system in place. Detoxing can be physically, mentally, and emotionally intense — but it’s worth it.
This experience taught me to trust my intuition, honor my body, and never underestimate the power of natural healing. If you’re feeling called to reset, listen to that nudge. You might be surprised where it leads.
Your body will thank you.
Awesome Post!