How to Spring Clean Your Health: Detox, Reduce Inflammation & Bloom This Season

# Intro: Why Spring Impacts Your Immune System, Mood & Energy

**[0:00]**
*"It's like, well, why do I even care about lymph? Because it impacts your immune system. It impacts your appearance. It impacts your fluid balance. It's actually really important."*

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**[0:10] — Josie Santi (Host)**
Hello, every girls, and welcome back to the show. There is a very specific energy shift that happens this time of year, right? Winter feels really long. It's heavy. It's slower. And then suddenly we're craving sunlight and lighter meals, fresh routines — a full reset, a spring clean of our entire lives.

And as we talk about a lot on this podcast, our bodies have totally different needs in every season. So as we're slowly moving into spring, I wanted to give you a blueprint for how to support your body and what your body might need differently this time of year than it did in winter.

So of course, I asked my friend and one of our most trusted returning guests, Dr. Erin Stokes, to come back on the podcast. She's a naturopathic doctor, and every time she comes on, we walk away with practical, grounded tools that actually make sense for real life.

Today we're talking about what is actually happening in your body right now, and why the transition into spring can feel both energizing and a little chaotic — you know, sluggish digestion, inflammation, seasonal allergies, mood shifts, that "I want to glow up, but I also need a nap" kind of feeling.

Instead of forcing a dramatic detox or trying to overhaul everything at once, Dr. Erin breaks down how to move *with* the season — how to adjust your routines in subtle, powerful ways, how to support your nervous system, your lymphatic system, your gut. All the things that we don't always think about, but absolutely *feel*.

You will learn how to shift your sleep, hydration, and nutrition habits for spring; the connection between gut health and seasonal allergies; simple habits that actually reduce inflammation; and how to create a reset that feels aligned instead of restrictive.

Think of this episode as your grounded spring reset. Welcome back, Dr. Erin, to the Everygirl Podcast.

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## Winter vs. Spring Energy (And Why You Feel Sluggish)

**[1:59] — Josie**
From a naturopathic perspective, what is actually happening in the body during winter, and why does this transition into spring act like a natural reset?

**[2:07] — Dr. Erin Stokes**
There is an opportunity in winter — as there is with every season — that can also be a bit challenging. It's a time of going more inward for many people, due to the weather. This has been a rough winter for a lot of the country. So if you're ready for spring, I'm right there with you.

What we do in winter — and we see this in nature all around us — is go more inward. It's a time of more rest, more reflection, and really starting to plant the seeds for spring. That's kind of a metaphor: planting the seeds for what's next and what's to come.

So winter brings shorter days, we might be getting more sleep, and then we're all craving renewal. But one thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't happen overnight — and that's actually good news, because we have this great opportunity to ease into the next season.

**[3:14] — Josie**
Yeah, I think that's a great point. Especially after a tough winter, people are like, "Okay, I want to put away all my winter jackets, I want the sun to shine." I grew up in Chicago — I know that feeling. I remember March 1st being like, "Okay, I'm done with this forever. Even if it's still 50° outside, I'm going to wear my shorts." But there is something to be said about that slow progression into new energies. There's this really strong energetic difference between each season, and really being able to relish in that transition instead of rushing through it. I think there's a lot to be said for allowing that to happen slowly.

**[3:49] — Dr. Erin**
I think so too. And it also puts a little less pressure on ourselves. Maybe people aren't always feeling amazing in the spring right away — the shift doesn't happen immediately. But that being said, let's go! We're going to have those teaser days, you know? Like, "Oh, it's so warm, I'm going to get outside, I'm going to wear my spring outfit." And then, in a lot of the country, we could get a snowstorm right after that. It's going to fluctuate back and forth. We'll have our days where we're just feeling it, and then other days where we've got some more inward work to do. But the good news is there's a lot we can do to just flow with the season, and it's not that complicated either. There are some really easy healthy habits we can start to incorporate.

**[4:41] — Josie**
So as the seasons are changing, how should our routines change? What does our body need in the spring and getting into the warmer months?

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## Spring Health Reset: Sleep, Morning Light & Balanced Routines

**[4:48] — Dr. Erin**
The good news is that there's naturally a shift toward more balance. We're in early March coming up on the spring equinox — and both the spring and fall equinoxes are points of literal balance. It's not exactly equal daylight and night, but it's pretty even. What we can do is go with that energy in terms of healthy habits.

Let's start getting up at the same time every day — going to bed and waking up at the same time. Speaking of balance and moving into a season of more balance, let's ditch going to bed at all different times or hitting the snooze button. We really thrive by getting up at the same time and getting outside in the morning light, even just for a few minutes with your cup of coffee. That morning light will trigger your serotonin. So you can start feeling better immediately by doing that.

So regular bedtime and wake time — that's one. Getting more greens in your diet is another one.

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## Why Greens & Hydration Matter More in Spring

**[5:58] — Dr. Erin (cont.)**
We're going to see greens springing up all around us, and that's signaling us to get more greens. We're going to move toward lighter foods. In the winter, we went for comfort foods — as we should — those warming soups, stews, root vegetables. That's totally appropriate. And we can still eat some of that. Again, it's not going to all change overnight. But we start moving into lighter, brighter foods. The farmers markets will open back up and we can have more spinach and kale. Think about greens. And I also like to think about green herbs — herbs can be incorporated this time of year as well.

So: regular bedtime and wake time, more greens, and hydration. If you are not already carrying your water bottle everywhere with you — bringing it in your car — water is going to help with seasonal allergies, with sluggishness, with your lymph. This is a time to start if you're not hydrating well.

**[7:06] — Josie**
It's not always sexy, but it is sexy. It's a great habit to just drink more water. In summer, I think it's top of mind — we're sweaty, it's hot, you want water. But then the rest of the year, we forget how much our body just needs water to function. Not because you're sweating or it's hot or because you're doing a lot of activity, but because your body just needs hydration to function. I always call it my emotional support water bottle. Like, it's with me at all times. Even if I'm going on a five-minute errand run, my water's coming with me.

**[7:43] — Dr. Erin**
I love that. The emotional support water bottle! Another thing to do is to always have snacks, because what happens is we leave the house thinking we're just going to do one thing — but then we get some momentum, do a few more errands, and might start getting hangry. I'm a big fan of keeping snacks in the car. Open the center console of my car and I've got little packs with nuts and all kinds of things, because who knows when you're going to need that for your blood sugar.

**[8:13] — Josie**
Do you prep little snack packets ahead of time — pack nuts and things like that and keep them in your car?

**[8:18] — Dr. Erin**
Yes — I mean, pre-packaged ones. No pressure if you don't want to put together a little ziplock bag or container. You can get pre-packaged ones. I grabbed one that's got almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds. I've had a couple of times where I got stuck out and didn't have time to stop for a meal, and so now I just have that in my car. Water bottle, snacks — I'm ready for whatever life's going to bring my way.

**[8:57] — Josie**
So smart. Keep it in your purse, keep it in your car. I'm such a big proponent of having a snack with me at all times, because I would never want my blood sugar to dip and then just grab the closest, quickest thing. You want to be able to make those decisions. I love that tip.

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## The Rainbow Diet: Phytonutrients & Reducing Inflammation

**[9:15] — Josie**
When you were talking about greens and how important it is to get more greens and herbs right now — why are greens specifically so important right now? Because I think we think all year round, "Oh, we should get in our greens," but why *now* can they really support us?

**[9:28] — Dr. Erin**
You're right — we should always get greens year-round. But I think in particular, as we're moving toward a lighter, brighter time of year, it's natural for us to shift toward more salads and smoothies. And this time of year with allergies, you think about what foods help stabilize histamine — greens, and foods high in vitamin C (which actually includes broccoli, a green vegetable).

So it's really this opportunity to lean into more broad-spectrum nutrition — and a super easy way to look at that is to eat a spectrum of color. When you look at your fruit bowl at home after grocery shopping, you should literally see a rainbow. It's something that's taught in kids' nutrition classes and that we forget as we get older. Those colors represent different nutrients in plants — they're called phytonutrients. "Phyto" just means plant. So things like anthocyanins in blueberries are super healthy for all of us. This is a way we can reduce inflammation and feel our best.

So it's like greens and beyond. If you look at your fruit bowl and it's looking a little sad — today is the day. Go out and get that spectrum. Feel that energy, that vitality of spring, and bring it into your home through the fruits and vegetables you're eating.

**[11:21] — Josie**
Yeah, that rainbow — having the variety of colors to get the variety of antioxidants. And you bring up a great point, because we think of spring as, "Oh great, you feel more energized and refreshed," but a lot of people actually feel *worse* in spring. Some people notice they feel more inflamed, heavy, swollen. Allergies are part of this. So why does this happen?

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## Seasonal Allergies Explained: Gut Health & Histamine

**[11:47] — Dr. Erin**
As everything is starting to bloom and grow, there is going to be a lot more pollen in the air, and many of us will react to that. And also — it's kind of like what doesn't move, stagnates. That's true of everything. Fluid balance is part of why hydration is so important: you really want to keep everything moving.

I like to look at the whole big picture. It's not just as simple as pollen and histamine — though that's important. It's also that accumulation, if you think about it more energetically, of the heaviness of winter and what we haven't been moving through, in addition to reactivity to pollen.

This can be a great time of year for a massage, or to do some self-massage — especially in your face. Your lymph system needs support. We have a Lymph Mover formula that's really great to focus on this time of year. And it doesn't have to be some kind of really restrictive detox program.

**[13:09] — Josie**
I am obsessed with lymphatic drainage. I did not know there's a tincture for lymph drainage. Can you talk about this? I had no idea. So now I'm like, I need this one.

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## Lymphatic Drainage 101: Why It Impacts Immunity & Appearance

**[13:20] — Dr. Erin**
If you look back in traditional herbal medicine, there are certain herbs — cleavers is one example — that just help support lymph movement. The lymph is throughout our entire body. It's this whole system, and it's really important for healthy immunity and healthy skin.

We've all had the experience of getting a massage or even a facial and thinking, "Wow, I look better, even just from a regular massage." Part of it is because you're getting things moving. And this is a time when we can't have that stagnation from winter. It's like — why do I even care about lymph? Because it impacts your immune system. It impacts your appearance. It impacts your fluid balance. It's actually really important.

And it's a good time of year for it. A lot of the herbs that support lymph start shooting up from the earth in spring — it's almost symbolic that it's the right time. And lymphatic health and lymph movement have really become more popular and mainstream in the last several months.

**[14:43] — Josie**
It's definitely blown up. You hear a lot more about lymphatic drainage than even last year. My understanding is that you support your lymph by physically moving it — through exercise, lymphatic drainage, massage, dry brushing. How do herbs help your lymph?

**[15:02] — Dr. Erin**
Great question. They just help promote the circulation and movement of lymph fluid. And I should say — these aren't super powerful, intense herbs. Lymphatic herbs are actually very gentle. They gently work with your body. To compare it: Kick-Ass Immune or Kick-Ass Allergy have really specific, targeted, in-the-moment action. Lymph Mover and those lymphatic herbs are more gentle over time — which, actually, is what our lymph needs in general.

**[15:39] — Josie**
Yes! I always had this idea that I have to go really hard when I'm massaging in order to move the lymph. But I've learned that actually targets deep muscle and can cause a lot of inflammation. You just need the lightest touch — your lymph actually requires a gentle energy. So it makes sense that with the physical touch, and also with the herbs, they're more gentle.

**[16:02] — Dr. Erin**
Absolutely. Yes, that's exactly how they work. And it's really exciting that there's more awareness and education around this.

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## Dairy, Food Triggers & Allergy Flare-Ups

**[16:17] — Dr. Erin (cont.)**
This is also a really good time, if you have seasonal allergies, to lean into looking at food sensitivities. As a naturopathic doctor, I have so many people tell me they kind of know they have an issue with dairy — but during the winter, it's comforting to have some dairy with their latte and so on. People will often say, "If I just avoid some of those dietary triggers — and a lot of times we kind of know what they are — then my seasonal allergies are better." That's one of the things we really want to keep connecting the dots on: our gut is connected to our seasonal allergies.

**[17:04] — Josie**
I personally notice when I drink kombucha — it's a probiotic-rich food, like kefir, miso — my allergies are better. I actually don't drink kombucha in winter almost at all because it feels too cold. But in the spring, I notice for a fact — because I've tested it — I drink kombucha and I'm like, "Oh my gosh, my allergies are better."

**[17:30] — Dr. Erin**
It's just so interconnected.

**[17:35] — Josie**
It makes so much sense. But I think when we think of seasonal allergies in spring, we're like, "Ugh, this is just what we have to deal with." But it makes so much sense that it's actually our body's reaction, and if our body is healthy — if our gut feels good, if we lower inflammation — our body doesn't have to respond poorly to nature's changes. Our body's response is another way it's telling us: maybe our gut health isn't great, maybe we have a little inflammation, maybe our immune system's off. So when we take care of the other systems of our body and tweak our routines to support them, we don't have to deal with the seasonal allergies as much.

**[18:22] — Dr. Erin**
That's true. And I also just want to preface that — if you are having seasonal allergies, it's not your fault. There's also a genetic predisposition that some people have to being more allergic. I 100% agree with everything you said, and we may still have allergies, but potentially to a lesser degree.

And that's where a formula like Kick-Ass Allergy comes in — it's incredible because it can work in the moment to support allergies. A lot of times people don't think about herbal remedies being as powerful in the moment, but they can be. Another great example is Sleepy Nights. Another is Emotional Ally. Certain remedies are a really powerful blend intended to work right when you need them. You take it in the moment, Josie, and if you don't feel clear allergy relief within 5 to 10 minutes, you can take it again.

**[19:27] — Josie**
Wait — so it clears your sinuses, or what does it do?

**[19:33] — Dr. Erin**
It helps. It's a blend of herbs, but I'm going to highlight one plant that's really unique in that formula: Yerba Santa. It's really neat because WishGarden Herbs is a Colorado-based company — 46 years old, woman-owned and family-run. It's an incredible company. And I mention where we are because Yerba Santa is a southwestern herb. It actually grows in parts of California and other parts of the Southwest — it's a regional herb that helps with the histamine response. And what's great is the blend is not sedating or stimulating, and it doesn't cause the really dry mouth or eyes that some conventional options can.

Kick-Ass Allergy works. It helps people in the moment. So, absolutely — all the lifestyle and dietary things, and then it's really great that we can lean on herbal remedies when we need them.

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## Histamine Imbalance, Wine & Puffy Skin

**[20:47] — Josie**
I have a question about histamine, because I recently got really interested in learning more about it. I've never thought of myself as someone who has allergies — I don't have food allergies, I don't really get bad seasonal allergies — but I started getting a lot of itchiness in my skin a few months ago, like randomly, and puffiness. I basically worked with my doctor to figure out it came down to a histamine imbalance. Can you talk a little bit about that? And does this tincture help with puffiness specifically?

**[21:17] — Dr. Erin**
Yes, great question. We typically think of histamine specifically in the context of seasonal allergies, but histamine is a chemical messenger secreted by the immune system. It can be triggered by stress, different foods, and pollen, and it has impacts beyond what we classically think of — like itchy nose or sneezing. It can impact your digestion and can cause you to release more stomach acid. It can actually even impact your mood.

So we want to think about how to keep histamine balanced. I don't like people getting too restrictive with their diets, but I like to think about the Mediterranean diet as a really great blueprint. If you look across so many different health situations, the Mediterranean diet has stood the test of time. It's not a trendy new way of eating — healthy fats, healthy proteins, fish, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, minimal processed foods, no trans fats, whole foods rich in nutrients. That's kind of the short answer for histamine. It has far-reaching effects beyond just allergies.

**[23:09] — Josie**
Even if I drink a few glasses of wine — because wine is high in histamine, right?

**[23:14] — Dr. Erin**
Yes! Oh gosh, such a good point. Alcohol in general can trigger that histamine response.

**[23:21] — Josie**
And I'm like, is this 30? Because now I drink a couple glasses of wine and wake up so itchy and puffy. I love the tip for the Mediterranean diet. I think that way all the time, but especially if I'm drinking wine, I'm like, "Okay, I have to get as much fiber as I can, a lot of those whole vegetables to help my body process the histamine." Because apparently when I turned 30, it doesn't like to do that anymore.

To your point, it's just about being mindful of the balance — knowing that if wine is starting to impact me, it's about either drinking less because you don't want to wake up itchy and puffy, or supporting with fiber and the Mediterranean diet to help your body process what it's clearly having a harder time with.

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## Fiber, Gut Health & Daily Detoxification

**[24:11] — Dr. Erin**
Great point. Again — water and fiber. Think about elimination. When you're drinking a lot of water, you go to the bathroom and you're moving things through your kidneys. When you're eating a lot of fiber — and by "a lot," I heard a podcast the other day saying that 95% of Americans are not getting enough fiber.

**[24:35] — Josie**
I would have guessed a really high number — maybe 75 to 80% — but 95% blew me away.

**[24:46] — Dr. Erin**
Fiber acts as what we call a prebiotic. Prebiotics — simply put — are just food for the probiotics. We need to feed our gut bacteria. It's great to eat probiotic-rich foods, and maybe even take a good probiotic supplement. But even before that is eating prebiotic-rich foods, which is basically fiber.

I heard them also talking about how the gut bacteria we have now is not as diverse as our ancestors' — even just a generation or two ago. It's more of a call to action to eat more fiber. I literally came home and ate an apple after hearing that.

**[25:47] — Josie**
All the fiber! I mean, I love flaxseed in my yogurt and things like that. But it doesn't have to be as obvious as flaxseed. Eat the apples, eat some raw carrots — just think about crunchy vegetables. I think sometimes we forget to go back to the basics.

**[26:10] — Dr. Erin**
The reason you want healthy fiber is for your gut bacteria — the whole world that exists in your microbiome. It promotes regular elimination, and we talked about this when we did the episode on hormone health. Pooping at least once a day is absolutely crucial to eliminating everything, including hormonal byproducts. When our hormones break down, everything needs to be eliminated. And then you feel lighter, brighter, happier — because you're just more clear.

**[26:56] — Josie**
And I love that you bring up the concept of elimination, especially when we talk about spring as a "detox season." We know now how restrictive and harmful cleanses and fad detoxes can be. A healthy detox is just your body literally being able to detoxify — meaning having a bowel movement, being able to go to the bathroom. That *is* the detox.

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## Why Detox Doesn't Mean Cleansing or Restriction

**[27:26] — Dr. Erin**
It is the detox. And I think sometimes people want to move toward a cleanse and go to the bathroom multiple times a day. You just want to be gentle. One of the messages of moving into this season is: let's be gentle with ourselves. And I really mean that. The power of these daily habits is profound, and they start to shift how you feel in your body. Even just getting up at the same time every day — you don't want to lie in bed too long, because we have this cortisol awakening response where cortisol naturally elevates in the morning. It's just good to get out of bed, get going, and not start ruminating too much in bed.

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## Nervous System Reset: Morning Habits That Change Everything

**[28:19] — Dr. Erin (cont.)**
Get up, get moving, and then sit and meditate. If we lie in bed and keep hitting the snooze button, we can start to get too much into our own heads. Definitely not looking at the news or checking email first thing in the morning — really start with you. That's why I'm such a big proponent of meditating first thing. I've been thinking about this idea lately — Josie, you talk a lot about "main character energy."

**[28:56] — Josie**
Yes, I love that.

**[29:02] — Dr. Erin**
The most important and the loudest, proudest, most predominant voice I want to hear is mine — not what so-and-so said, or my parent, or my boss, or coworker. All those voices are important, but the most important voice is your own voice. And so it's like getting to that place where you're like, I've got you. We are each the heroine of our own lives.

**[29:27] — Josie**
Amen to that. And I love what you say too about whose thoughts are really in your brain. I think if we did a one-day thought audit where we looked at, "Okay, this thought came up — where is this really coming from? Whose is this?" — most of us would find that we have a lot of other people's opinions besides our own. The "oh, I'm being so lazy" thought? That's not your own thought. That came from toxic productivity culture, or maybe for some people, from a parent saying, "Why are you lying around?" Every thought we have typically comes from an external source. So just being alone with your own thoughts — going for a walk or sitting in silence without any other voice — is so important. And that's such a powerful form of detox: coming back to what is really my voice, instead of all the other opinions and voices I consume.

**[30:52] — Dr. Erin**
I agree. And I love that because it's so perfect for spring — I was listening to a podcast with Jay Shetty and he was talking about doing an "opinions fast."

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## "Opinion Fast" & Main Character Energy for Spring

**[31:10] — Josie**
Oh, I love that concept. What does that mean? What did he say?

**[31:16] — Dr. Erin**
At first he suggested doing it for a month, but then he said, "Okay, if you can't do a month, do it for a week." Basically, when you're tempted to ask somebody else what to do — or even just think about what somebody else would prefer before deciding what *you* want — you just don't. You decide: What do I want? Where do I want to go? Just having that awareness of the times where we basically abandon ourselves for what we think other people want is the whole point. Take a fast from it.

**[31:58] — Josie**
Isn't it genius? I think it is, too. So wow — I think this is really great, especially for spring. If it's not a full-on fast, at least start with *me*. Check in with yourself first. Because there are times when we have to check in with other people — we can't completely go rogue all the time depending on our responsibilities. But we can start as the heroine of our own life. What do I want? Start there. And then, yes, maybe we accommodate and do some bending — because that's part of life — but we do that with the knowledge of knowing our baseline.

**[32:57] — Dr. Erin**
Yes — there's still our baseline. And I think so often we just abandon ourselves and go along. That's one thing as we move into spring: keep checking in. And the other part I want to really add is — let's have fun. I think about this all the time with health. When did health become something that wasn't fun? Health is *supposed* to be fun, and fun is a part of health.

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## Why Fun & Joy Are Essential for Your Health

**[33:31] — Josie**
Absolutely. I love that you bring this up. We're living in these bodies. We get to experience the joy of spring. We don't have to take it all so seriously.

**[33:42] — Dr. Erin**
We can start to incorporate some of these healthy habits — and fun, laughter, play, I don't think, I *know* they are so good for your health. Let's bring in more laughter and curiosity. It's a time of wonder. You see little kids checking out the birds and the flowers — they're all over the place in a park. Let's bring that back: that sense of joy and fun and spontaneity, embracing the season.

**[34:17] — Josie**
I love that tip. Something I like to do — because I do love to listen to podcasts and meditations — but there are a lot of days, especially this time of year, where I just play fun music that makes me want to dance instead of listening to something that's teaching me. That is wellness too. It brings joy and that leads to health.

I love you for this, and this is why you're the doctor I want to come on all the time — because the fact that fun, laughter, and joy are health tips in a conversation about detox and cleansing and elimination is so powerful, because it is so deeply true. If we are not laughing every day and feeling such joy in our lives, why would our bodies want to be healthy?

**[35:23] — Dr. Erin**
I think it's so important. And there's also this shedding that can happen. It's different than the shedding of the leaves in fall, but there's still a shedding — a shedding of the layers of winter. I did something at New Year's that I think is so apropos I'll probably do again in the spring, and I want to invite people to try it.

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## The Sunrise & Sunset Letting-Go Ritual

**[35:48] — Dr. Erin (cont.)**
What I did on New Year's Eve is I watched the sun set, and as the sun was setting, I literally spoke aloud everything I wanted to let go of and release. And then I came home and I wrote it all down. There were people all around me — everyone was watching the sunset — so I said it really quietly. And then on New Year's Day, I watched the sun rise and I called out loud everything I wanted to bring into the new year and beyond. And then I went and wrote it down.

**[36:24] — Josie**
That is powerful. And I feel like that is obviously so great for the new year, but right now — when there is this newness energy, this excitement, this promise — to really reconnect to what you're letting go of and what you're calling in... that is such a cool practice. I've never heard of anyone doing that with the sunrise and sunset. It makes so much sense.

**[36:49] — Dr. Erin**
I just did it spontaneously. I was watching the sunset and I was like, "I want to let go of these things," and I started doing it.

My invitation would be this — and I truly believe it, even if it can sound a little corny: every new day is a brand-new beginning. Choose your day. You could do it today. You could do it on the first day of spring, or the evening before the spring equinox — releasing all the things from winter. And then the next morning, it's a brand-new day, the sun's rising, and here are all the things you're bringing in from here on out.

**[37:40] — Josie**
It's so intuitive. I'm picturing those days where the snow is melting — those last little remnants of snow. That's the opportunity: to release and melt away what is no longer serving us, so that all these new buds get to bloom in its place. Clearing the way.

**[38:04] — Dr. Erin**
Absolutely. Cultures have celebrated this forever. In the Gaelic tradition, there's a festival called Imbolc — it's basically the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. What it represents is like when the ice just starts cracking. Even if you're not living somewhere with ice, it's like the *opening* — the beginning. We all see the days getting longer. The sun sets later. It's just cracking open.

And that's why it doesn't have to all happen overnight. In fact, there's beauty to it unfolding slowly. The releasing the night before, the bringing in the next morning — is it all going to happen in one day? No. This is an evolution. I go back and read my list on the regular.

One thing that winter can breed is a bit of disconnection. And now is our chance to come back into feeling more connected.

**[39:17] — Dr. Erin (cont.)**
Thinking about how plant medicine and the power of plants can support you — one of the things that I love, and is a favorite for both of us, is Liquid Bliss.

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## Liquid Bliss, Connection & Spring Social Energy

**[39:31] — Josie**
Yes! One of my faves.

**[39:33] — Dr. Erin**
This is joy. It's about joy and heart-opening. It has herbs like damiana — which increases a sense of connection — and Hawthorn berry, which is all about opening your heart. It also has cacao, which I should mention because cacao is becoming more popular. People are realizing it's been used in ceremony for a long time. These are herbs that help people feel more connected — with yourself, which is the most important connection, and then with other people.

**[40:04] — Josie**
Yes, we're in hibernation in winter — wanting to be inward and lower energy. And then spring comes and we're like, we want to connect again. We want to go out and fill our social calendars. I love that extra intention. I feel like there are almost two stages we're talking about, but they happen so inherently and intuitively. The cleansing, the detoxification — getting rid of limiting beliefs, getting rid of what's not serving you, cleansing your body — and then there's what's blooming in its place. It's literally like the two different steps of spring.

**[40:55] — Dr. Erin**
Let's lean into that connection and that pull toward community that we might not have had so much in the wintertime. That's beautiful. And also: be open to something new. That's the other part about spring — that newness. Maybe there's a new friend around the corner for you. I went to this really hard power yoga class yesterday morning, had never done it before, and I was like, "Maybe this is a new class for me." Just try something new. Do something new, and keep your eyes and your heart open — because spring is a time of possibility.

**[41:55] — Josie**
Going through life being like, "Okay, this is the season of newness, of possibility." I have this affirmation I say in my head a lot of days, which is: *"All right, world — show me how good it gets. Show me all the possibilities I don't see otherwise."* Even just setting that intention — "I'm open, I'm signing up for things I've never done before" — is so powerful.

**[42:24] — Dr. Erin**
And it's not woo-woo at all.

---

## Rewiring Your Brain for Positivity (Neuroplasticity)

**[42:36] — Dr. Erin (cont.)**
It's actually reprogramming our brains. Our brains will pay attention to whatever we decide for them to pay attention to. You know that exercise where you look in a room and find everything that's red — "red, red, red" — and then somebody asks you to look away and name everything in the room that was blue. And you're like, "I don't know," because you were focusing on red. The idea is that we are training our brains. If you tell yourself, "Let's just see what new, exciting thing might happen for me today," you're programming your brain to look for something new and exciting. Neuroplasticity is real. If we say to ourselves, "Something exciting or interesting is going to happen for me today," you're all day long looking for it — and you're honestly looking for the good. It will reinforce itself, and next thing you know you're on a roll.

**[43:52] — Josie**
We do that all the time. We look for all the bad things and we don't even notice how much good there was. So why not reverse it? Why don't we look for the good things we might not otherwise notice? That is so freaking powerful.

Erin, I love that. Yet again, another amazing conversation. I was like, "Okay, let's talk about spring," but my god, we covered so many things I couldn't even have planned for. Remind everyone where they can shop these herbs, and I know we have an amazing discount code — **EVERYGIRL20** for 20% off. And maybe give us a starter kit — if someone is dealing with seasonal allergies or just the typical things right now, where would you point them?

---

## Best Herbal Remedies for Spring (Allergies, Sleep, Joy)

**[44:44] — Dr. Erin**
So wishgardenherbs.com is an excellent place, and that's where you can use the discount code. We're also available at natural food stores throughout the country and on Amazon, but the code works at wishgardenherbs.com.

A great place to start for spring: if you are suffering from seasonal allergies, consider all the nutrition and lifestyle changes we talked about, combined with **Kick-Ass Allergy**. It's also a great time for **Lymph Mover**. And if you're really working on prioritizing sleep, going full circle to where we started the conversation, you may want to consider **Sleepy Nights**.

We have a whole line of herbal tinctures for digestion, sleep, stress support — but those are a good place to start for spring. And then if you want to bring in the joy and beauty of spring and just want a little more feel-good energy, **Liquid Bliss** is an incredible one that we both love. It's really good to take right before a podcast or a presentation, honestly.

**[45:56] — Josie**
Wait, I should start doing that — that's genius! Okay, I'm going to start taking it before podcast interviews.

**[46:01] — Dr. Erin**
It's heart-opening. It makes you feel in such a good mood. Erin, I don't know why I didn't think of that!

*(Note: Erin continues as host here — context suggests she means Josie's comment was directed at her)*

**[46:07] — Josie**
How I take it — and I've shared this on the podcast before — it's like my favorite mocktail in the world. Like when I don't want to drink, which I'm trying to do less these days, I love making sparkling water and putting some Liquid Bliss in. And it does make you feel so happy. I feel that heart connection opening up. So that's how I like to use it. But before a podcast is genius — or before a meeting, or spending time with friends. There are so many times you want to get into that energy.

**[46:44] — Josie**
Can't wait to try the Lymph Mover — that one is fascinating. And the allergy one. Okay! Remind us again where we can find you.

**[46:50] — Dr. Erin**
You can find me on Instagram at **@ErinStokesND**, and you can find me at **wishgardenherbs.com** — on the website with blogs and education as well.

**[46:58] — Josie**
I'm sure everyone loves your tips on the podcast, but they can also find your tips on WishGarden Herbs — you give a lot of great advice there as well. Erin, thank you so much. Yet again, so much fun.

**[47:06] — Dr. Erin**
Thank you, Josie. It was such a great chat. I can't wait for our next one.

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## Final Thoughts: Your Gentle, Aligned Spring Reset

**[47:14] — Josie**
I hope you enjoyed the episode — I know I sure did. Please do not forget to rate, review, and subscribe. It really makes a huge difference for our show so we can keep growing and bringing the content that you love. If you want more info, you can find us at **@TheEverygirlPodcast** on Instagram, or at **theeverygirlpodcast.com**.

Talk to you next week.