Starting the New Year in Hong Kong with 5 simple, easy cleanse and detox hacks
Updated: Jan 12, 2019
How to do a quick, easy Cleanse this January 2019 - for the busy woman
The last month of the year, December has been a month of indulgence and I suspect it may possibly be the same for most of you ladies! Hence, I am kicking start the first week of 2019 with a blog post: five (5) easy steps to detoxing in the comforts of your own cosy apartments in Hong Kong (without too much ‘down time’):
1. Add MSM to your water
MSM (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane) is a natural sulfur that when used as a supplement or applied topically /mixed into skin creams, works MAGIC (in my own experience).
Do not underestimate this plain looking salt/sugar like bitter powder- I like to add two teaspoons of these in my morning smoothie, plus a third teaspoon in a glass of water in the evening (on an empty stomach). Works best if you were to also squeeze lemon into the glass of water with MSM.
Approach please with caution, as with everything in life especially if you are using for the first time, please do so slowly, and make sure to read up how to use it.
If you would like to find out more, here are some helpful links:
2. Cold showers
Cold showers have been proven to strengthen the immune system & basically jumpstart one’s state - both physically & mentally. I also personally find taking cold showers in the morning (even in the winter) to be an effective way to wake up & truly start the day with a clear mind. If you are interested to know more, here are some my favourite light read articles:
3. Oil pulling
Power up your oil pulling routine by adding oregano, tea tree oil and clove in the coconut oil.
Oil Pulling Benefits & Side Effects
4. Liver flush
Six (6) years ago I learnt of Andreas Moritz’s Liver Flush protocol and I have been faithfully doing the liver flush annually.
Learn more about The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush by Andreas Moritz
For colonics session in Hong Kong, click here

5. Sip on Cleanse (detox tea)
Two years or so ago, I was looking for an easy detox tea, and since I couldn’t find a blend at that time in the supermarkets in Hong Kong or in Singapore that included schisandra berries, I thus decided that in the creation of the Cleanse blend for Zippysparkles, to include this super beauty herb. Along with peppermint and dandelion, the Cleanse blend helps to aid digestion, support the liver cleansing functions and in turn, helps with skin health and radiance.
So much can be said about the benefits of the schisandra berries, one of the main herbs in the Cleanse blend, and to summarise, this adaptogenic herb helps to :
Alleviate inflammation/stress markers. Schisandra berries have been shown in studies (list of references below) to help build resistance to stress and anxiety.
Helps with sleep & mood swings
Aid the liver cleansing functions & detoxification
The anti-stress and anti-oxidative properties together with the cleanse in turn helps skin health and aid repair at cellular level (hello, clear glowy bouncy skin!)

''...Schisandrae Fructus, the dried fruit of (Turcz.) Baill. (Magnoliaceae), is one of the most important traditional herbal medicines and has been extensively used in Asia (Korea, China, and Japan) as well as Russia.12,13 It has originally been used as a tonic and has been traditionally used for the treatment of many uncomfortable symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, dysentery, insomnia, and amnesia.12,13 Previous reports have shown that Schisandrae Fructus and its related compounds possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiaging, hepatoprotection, immunostimulating, and anti-cancer activities.14–24...''
Source: Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill Fruit Through the Inactivation of Nuclear Factor-κB and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Signaling Pathways in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Murine Macrophages.” .
To shop Cleanse blend, click here
As always, please note this is my opinions based on my own research and personal experience in my quest to live at my best possible especially in a busy city like Hong Kong. In case of any doubts or if you have any existing medical conditions, please do seek professional advice from your doctors/physician.
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LIST OF REFERENCES
Chiu, Hui‐Fang, et al. “Improvement of Liver Function in Humans Using a Mixture of Schisandra Fruit Extract and Sesamin.” Phytotherapy Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 21 May 2012, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.4702/abstract. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22610748
Government of Canada. National Research Council Canada. “Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill Fruit Through the Inactivation of Nuclear Factor-κB and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Signaling Pathways in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Murine Macrophages.” Journal of Cancer Prevention, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4285959/
Chan, SW “Panax ginseng, Rhodiola rosea and Schisandra chinensis.” Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2012 Mar;63 Suppl 1:75-81 < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22039930>
Panossian, Alexander, and Georg Wikman. “Evidence-Based Efficacy of Adaptogens in Fatigue, and Molecular Mechanisms Related to their Stress-Protective Activity.” Current Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 4, no. 3, Jan. 2009, pp. 198–219., <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19500070>
Panossian, Alexander, and Georg Wikman. “Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity.” Pharmaceuticals, vol. 3, no. 1, 2010, pp. 188–224., <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3991026/>