This time of year can feel heavy in more ways than one. The holidays bring excitement, but also endless choices about what to buy, what to use, and how to make our homes cozy and inviting. At Living Well Holistics, we often remind families that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Every intentional choice we make, no matter how small, can help the body function with more ease.
When our liver, lymphatic system, and gut are full or stagnant, every single toxin matters. The body can handle a lot when it’s clear and supported, but when the systems that process and eliminate toxins are overloaded, even a little bit more can tip the balance. Just like when a bucket is already full, a single drop can make it overflow.
Think about histamine as one example. If your histamine load is already high and the pollen count rises, your body may react with sinus pressure or allergy symptoms.
But if your internal load is low, you might experience that same rise in pollen without symptoms at all. T
he difference isn’t the pollen. It’s your body’s overall load.
The good news is, when you lower the load in one area, you help the whole body heal. You give your organs space to cleanse, repair, and restore. This is the heart of holistic wellness: working with the body instead of against it.
I was on four prescriptions every winter....
When I was in college, I worked at a very popular body care and candle shop. Every fall and winter, I would get very sick.
I relied on a nebulizer full of prescription medications before and after every shift, and I was taking four pharmaceuticals a day for asthma and breathing issues. I assumed I was just prone to seasonal illness until I learned about the inflammatory and asthmatic effects of synthetic fragrances.
When I began removing fragrances from my environment, starting with the candles and then my personal body care, everything changed. My nebulizer started collecting dust. I was able to stop all pharmaceuticals, and the yearly illnesses disappeared.
My body hadn’t been weak. It had been overwhelmed.
Side note, I still have a nebulizer, but I use it naturally.
Simple Swaps with the Biggest Impact
At Living Well Holistics, we encourage starting with the spaces and items you use most often. This is where change brings the greatest impact.
1. Start with Your Bed
We spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping. During that time, the body restores and detoxifies. Choosing natural fibers for bedding and sleepwear can make a significant difference. Consider 100% cotton, linen, or a cotton-linen blend for sheets and pillowcases. Pajamas made from natural fabrics like bamboo, rayon, linen, or cotton allow the skin to breathe and support healthy rest.
One family we worked with saw this firsthand. Their young daughter was waking several times each night. After reducing EMFs in her room, completing a gentle parasite cleanse, and switching her bedding and pajamas to natural fabrics, her sleep completely changed. She began resting deeply and consistently through the night.
2. Purify the Air
Indoor air quality often goes overlooked, yet our homes can harbor mold spores, dust, allergens, and chemical residues from cleaning and fragrance products. Running a HEPA air purifier in bedrooms and main living areas can help reduce that load. Several of our clients, including one of our own children, had nightly coughing that resolved completely after adding a purifier to their room. Sometimes, the simplest changes allow the body to finally rest. We find HEPA air purifier deals regularly for you in The Curated Cart.
3. Filter the Water
Clean water is another foundation for lowering toxic load. Many filtration systems can remove some impurities, but we find distillation to be the most consistent and thorough. A quality distiller made with stainless steel parts and a glass or stainless collection carafe removes microplastics, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical residues that other systems may leave behind. Reverse osmosis can be a good option as well, though it depends heavily on the setup.
4. Remove Synthetic Fragrances
If you can only make one swap right now, start here. Artificial fragrances act as neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors. They cling to the lungs, alter hormone balance, and burden the liver and respiratory system. They can be found in candles, body sprays, laundry products, and air fresheners. Replacing them with a high-quality diffuser and pure essential oils makes an immediate and lasting difference. A few drops can scent your home for pennies a day. For budget-friendly essential oil options, you can find our recommended resources on our website.
How To Easily Start Without Adding More To Your Plate
Lowering your toxic load isn’t about fear or perfection. It’s about awareness and stewardship. When we care for the spaces we live in, we create room for the body to do what it was designed to do. Healing begins when we remove what hinders it.
It can feel overwhelming to see a list of all the possible changes, but take it one step at a time. A helpful approach is to decide not to bring new unhealthy items into your home. For example, if you’re buying new pajamas for your children, choose cotton or organic cotton. Maybe you’re purchasing Christmas pajamas; pick ones that are natural fibers so they can be worn long after the holidays. Nobody says Christmas pajamas can’t be worn in March. This approach spreads out the cost and helps you build a healthier home over time.
You can also follow a simple replacement rule: when you run out of something, replace it with a cleaner option. When you finish your toothpaste, choose a clean one. When your hand soap runs out, switch to a safer formula. Over time, your home environment transforms in a way that feels doable.
We share cleaner options, deals and ideas daily across our community platforms, including Living Well Holistics Community and The Curated Cart (Amazon Deals), both on Facebook.
As we move into a season filled with shopping and gift-giving, this can be a wonderful time to make meaningful choices. Many natural brands offer deep discounts right now, so if there’s something you’ve been wanting to try, sign up for their deals or reach out to ask if we know of any current offers.
If this resonates with you, we invite you to explore what your body may be carrying and how to lighten that load in a way that’s right for you. Maybe your body needs a parasite cleanse, or liver support, or something you haven't thought of that's the key to moving you one more big step forward.
That’s exactly what we explore together at Living Well Holistics. You can learn more or book a session with us by tapping the Wellness Sessions tab above.
