Opening and Strengthening Your Body’s Detox Pathways: A Holistic Guide
We often think of detoxing as a one-time cleanse. But in truth, detoxification is a daily function your body carries out- quietly, effectively, and always in the background. Or at least, it should be.
Modern living has increased our exposure to environmental toxins, processed foods, stress chemicals, and heavy metals. When your body’s natural detox systems become overloaded, you might notice signs like fatigue, brain fog, skin breakouts, poor sleep, or sluggish digestion.
At Charlette Pomme, we take a functional and holistic approach to healing- supporting the whole person, not just isolated symptoms. This includes helping your body do what it’s designed to do: detoxify.
Modern living has increased our exposure to environmental toxins, processed foods, stress chemicals, and heavy metals. When your body’s natural detox systems become overloaded, you might notice signs like fatigue, brain fog, skin breakouts, poor sleep, or sluggish digestion.
At Charlette Pomme, we take a functional and holistic approach to healing- supporting the whole person, not just isolated symptoms. This includes helping your body do what it’s designed to do: detoxify.
If you have any of the following symptoms then improving your detox pathways is essential to your healing:
Fatigue, sluggishness, burnout
Pain, stiffness
Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
Diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating
Trouble sleeping
Feeling depressed, stressed, anxious
Brain fog, headaches, dizziness
Skin breakouts
Bad breath
Getting sick a lot
Slower recovery from illnesses and wounds
🌿 What Are Detox Pathways?
Your detox pathways are the routes your body uses to eliminate waste and toxins. These include the liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, lungs, and bowels.
When we strengthen these systems, we allow the body to process and release toxins more efficiently—bringing more energy, clarity, emotional balance, and resilience.
Let’s explore some of the key tools we use to support and open these vital pathways.
🌿 Understanding Detoxification: The Three Phases
Detoxification is a complex process primarily carried out by the liver, involving three distinct phases:
Phase I (Activation): Enzymes transform toxins into intermediate substances.
Phase II (Conjugation): These intermediates are bound to molecules like glutathione, making them water-soluble.
Phase III (Elimination): The water-soluble toxins are excreted via urine, bile, or sweat.
An imbalance in these phases, such as an overactive Phase I and underactive Phase II, can lead to the accumulation of harmful intermediates, causing oxidative stress and inflammation.
🔥 Infrared Light Therapy: Mitochondrial Detox at the Cellular Level
Infrared light therapy (particularly red and near-infrared) stimulates your mitochondria—the powerhouses of your cells. This improves cellular energy production and aids detoxification via:
Increased blood circulation, helping the body move out waste and deliver nutrients
Enhanced lymphatic flow, reducing stagnation and puffiness
Support for skin detox, your largest elimination organ
Boosted melatonin and glutathione levels, which help repair and neutralise toxins at night
How to start:
Begin with 5–10 minute sessions, 3–5 times a week. Use a full-body panel if possible. Always hydrate well before and after. Pair it with lymphatic drainage massage to enhance lymph movement (more on this below).
💦 Sweating It Out: Infrared Saunas and Detoxification
Sweating is a deeply effective way to remove heavy metals, plastics, pesticides, and other fat-soluble toxins that can’t be flushed out in urine alone.
Infrared saunas go deeper than traditional heat, allowing for a more efficient sweat at lower temperatures. With regular use, sauna therapy may:
Remove up to 7x more toxins than conventional saunas
Reduce inflammation and joint pain
Support your nervous system and improve sleep
Help with weight loss and cardiovascular health
Start gently:
Try a 10–15 minute session to begin with. Portable infrared sauna tents (with your head out) are a great entry point for home use. Always rest, hydrate, and listen to your body.
My main suggestion for anyone dealing with chronic fatigue symptoms or ‘burnout’ is to stay as calm as you can in the sauna, you will notice that your heart rate starts to elevate when you feel you get ‘twitchy feet’- you want to get out. Listen to this and get out. Allow your body to cool down, if your heart rate has lowered and you don’t feel ‘wiped out’ (very tired and empty in your head) then you can go in again and repeat the process.
Approach the sauna as something you are ‘building tolerance to’, NOT something you must spend a certain amount of time inside. Let your body guide you and you will be able to spend more and more time inside over time.
🛁 Epsom Salt Baths: Replenish & Release
Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) offer two key benefits: magnesium absorption and gentle detoxification. Magnesium helps regulate over 300 enzymes in the body, supporting muscle function, energy levels, and emotional balance.
Soaking in Epsom salts draws toxins out via the skin, soothes the nervous system, and reduces muscle soreness.
How to use:
Add 2 cups of Epsom salts to a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes. For added benefit, include a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Make this your evening wind-down ritual.
💩 Elimination: Your Most Important Detox Pathway
No amount of infrared or supplements can help if you’re not passing waste effectively. One of the most overlooked (but critical!) detox routes is your bowels.
You should be having at least one well-formed bowel movement per day. If not, toxins get reabsorbed into your bloodstream, placing a burden on your liver and brain.
Support your elimination with:
Hydration: Drink 2L+ daily, ideally with added lemon or electrolytes
Fibre: Aim for 30–35g daily (flax, psyllium, berries, leafy greens)
Movement: Gentle exercise stimulates peristalsis and lymph flow
Magnesium: Natural support for muscle tone and regularity
Gut health: Probiotics and fermented foods feed your microbiome
Salads and starchy vegetables : Don’t under estimate the power of real food. If you have chronic fatigue or burnout, have less salad and start with warm starchy veg.
💫 Lymphatic Drainage: Your Body’s Rubbish Removal System
The lymphatic system moves waste out of your tissues and supports immune function. But unlike your circulatory system, it doesn’t have a pump—it relies on movement, breath, and manual stimulation to flow.
Poor lymph flow can lead to puffiness, sluggishness, fatigue, and pain.
Support it with:
Dry brushing before your shower
Rebounding (mini trampoline)
Gentle stretching or fascia release work
Hydration
Breathwork
We dive deeper into this in our [Lymphatic Health article—coming soon].
You can use the video here to stimulate your lymphatic system with this massage technique:
✨ Why Support Detoxification?
When your detox pathways are open and supported, you may notice:
Clearer skin and brighter eyes
Deeper, more restorative sleep
Improved digestion and regularity
Reduced brain fog
More stable energy and mood
Less inflammation and pain
Better hormonal balance
🛠️ Complementary Strategies to Support Detoxification
Beyond these therapies, several lifestyle practices can bolster your body's detox pathways:
1. Hydration
Drinking ample water is crucial for kidney function and the elimination of water-soluble toxins. Adding lemon can support liver enzymes and bile production.
2. Nutrient-Rich Diet
Incorporate foods that support liver detoxification:
Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts enhance Phase II detox enzymes. (For my fatigue and burnout people, these can in some cases cause brain fog and other symptoms- listen to your body and remove these until you have completed mineral rebalancing if these symptoms occur).
Sulfur-Rich Foods: Garlic and onions aid in glutathione production. (as above, for my fatigue and burnout people).
Antioxidant-Rich Fruits: Berries and citrus fruits combat oxidative stress.
These foods provide essential nutrients like B vitamins, selenium, and amino acids necessary for detoxification.
3. Physical Activity
Regular exercise stimulates lymphatic flow and promotes sweating, aiding in toxin elimination. Activities like yoga and brisk walking can be particularly beneficial.
4. Dry Brushing
This technique stimulates the lymphatic system and exfoliates the skin, enhancing toxin removal through the skin. It is always best to start with the lymphatic drainage massage.
5. Supplementation
Certain supplements can support detox pathways:
Glutathione: A powerful antioxidant that neutralizes toxins.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): Boosts glutathione levels.
Milk Thistle and Reishi: Protects liver cells and supports regeneration. (I prefer Reishi for women before bed- It also helps with luteal anxiety and processing excess estrogen.
Consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplementation regimen.
💛 Final Thoughts
Detox isn’t a fad—it’s a function. One that your body is beautifully designed to do when we give it the right tools and support.
At Charlette Pomme, we believe healing happens when we work with the body, not against it. Every choice you make—from what you eat to how you rest—can help your system feel more safe, energised, and in balance.
If you’re looking for tailored support, book a consultation or explore our therapies. Your body already knows how to heal. Let’s create the environment that allows it to.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.