When I was diagnosed with ITP back in 2003, I knew nothing about autoimmune disease, toxins, or liver health.
Like most of us, I trusted that what the doctors prescribed would simply “fix me,” and I believed that my immune system had somehow gotten broken. What I didn’t know then—and what I wish I had known much sooner—is that many holistic practitioners now believe autoimmune disease isn’t caused by a malfunctioning immune system at all.
Instead, they believe the immune system is responding exactly as it should to protect us from toxins and stressors that have made part of our body sick.
In the case of ITP, these toxins and stressors can burden the liver, disrupt cellular health, and ultimately trigger the immune system to remove what it perceives as “damaged”—including our platelets.
And that’s why cleansing matters.
The Holistic Perspective: Autoimmune Disease and Toxins
Holistic practitioners often ask a different question than conventional medicine:
“What is overwhelming the immune system in the first place?”
From this viewpoint, autoimmune conditions may begin when toxins accumulate faster than the body can clear them. These toxins can include:
- Heavy metals
- Medications and infusions
- Harsh ingredients in personal care products
- Artificial fragrances
- Processed and inflammatory foods
- Environmental pollutants
- Residue from chemotherapy or medical treatments
When these stressors overwhelm the liver—our body’s primary detox organ—it can become sluggish or “clogged.” A sluggish liver can’t properly filter toxins, and the immune system gets called in to help. For many of us, that was the beginning of our ITP journey.
My Detox Journey: What I Experienced
When I first began cleansing, I had no idea what my liver had been holding onto all those years. I had used fragranced lotions and soaps daily, had received vaccines and infusions, had taken medications, and had undergone chemotherapy. My body had been through a lot.
When I finally started detoxing, I experienced several noticeable symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Body aches
- Nausea
- Skin irritation
These weren’t random. And it didn’t mean something was wrong; just the opposite! They were signs that my liver was finally releasing toxins—but my elimination pathways were overwhelmed. When your body detoxes faster than it can eliminate waste, those toxins can exit through the skin, causing what seems like a skin reaction. I had this happen on a few occasions.
But something encouraging happened after I continued cleansing over the years:
My detox symptoms disappeared.
Over time, my liver was no longer sluggish, my body was no longer overloaded, and cleansing became much easier.
Do You Need a Liver Detox? Signs to Pay Attention To
If you’ve never done a cleanse before, the answer is almost always yes.
Even though the liver is a self-cleaning organ, it can still become congested from years of exposure to chemicals, stress, medication, and processed foods.
Consider these symptoms as signs that the liver may need support:
- Waking up consistently between 2:00–3:00am (the liver cleansing window in Traditional Chinese Medicine)
- Chronic fatigue
- Skin breakouts or rashes, including eczema
- Hormonal imbalances
- Digestive issues
- Trouble losing weight
- Headaches or brain fog
Your liver plays a role in every major system of the body. When the liver struggles, everything struggles. Pay close attention to skin issues. Your skin is the outward manifestation of what is going on inside; especially with the gut and liver.
Where to Start: Simple First Steps for ITP Warriors
If you’re new to cleansing—or you’re feeling overwhelmed—start here:
1. Shift Your Nutrition
Begin with small, supportive steps that will help your body prepare for deeper cleansing:
- Increase antioxidants (I have a favorite antioxidant supplement I can suggest)
- Add more whole, unprocessed foods
- Reduce inflammatory ingredients (gluten, dairy, refined sugar)
- Drink more water
- Add a squeeze of lemon to your water
2. Remove Toxins From Your Home
This step is so overlooked, yet so powerful.
This alone reduces the burden on your liver every single day.
Swap out:
- Artificial fragrances
- Toxic cleaning products
- Parabens + phthalates
- Personal care items that are full of disruptors
- Conventional candles, air fresheners, and detergents
3. Support the Liver With Targeted Foods & Supplements
The right support can make cleansing gentle and effective. Many options exist, including:
- Bitter greens
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Lemon water
- Milk thistle
- Dandelion
- Antioxidant-rich blends
- Gentle detox blends or essential oils (when used properly)
Why This Matters for ITP Warriors
If you’re living with ITP—or any autoimmune struggle—supporting your liver is one of the most foundational steps you can take.
Your cleansing journey doesn’t have to be extreme. It just needs to be consistent and intentional.
A healthy liver can help:
- Improve immune balance
- Support platelet health
- Reduce inflammation
- Clear chemical burdens
- Improve energy and sleep
- Strengthen overall wellness
I wish someone had told me this in 2003. It would have changed everything about my healing journey.
Ready to Learn More? Join Me in 2026
At the beginning of 2026, I’ll be offering a brand-new wellness program designed specifically for ITP warriors and autoimmune survivors who want to:
- Remove toxins from their lives
- Support their liver and immune system
- Rebuild their health naturally
- Understand the “why” behind their symptoms
- Create a simple, sustainable cleansing lifestyle
If you’d like to be added to the early interest list, just let me know. I’d love to support you on your healing journey.
In the 1950s, researchers at Harvard conducted a fascinating study with rats that revealed something far deeper than endurance—it uncovered the power of hope.
In the experiment, rats were placed in a container of water to see how long they could swim before giving up. On average, they lasted only about 15 minutes. But when researchers rescued them just before drowning, dried them off, let them rest, and then placed them back in the water, something incredible happened. The same rats swam for more than 60 hours.
What changed?
Not their muscles. Not their ability.
It was their belief that rescue was possible.
They had learned that help could come—and that hope changed everything.
How This Connects to Our Health and Faith
Like those rats, our health struggles can make us wonder: How long can I endure what I’m going through?
When I was facing ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia), there were moments I felt like I was barely treading water. With no experience and no hope, I didn’t know if I had the strength to keep going. But through each trial—and each rescue—I learned something powerful.
It wasn’t about my own strength or ability to “swim.”
It was about the knowledge that rescue was possible.
Once we’ve been pulled from the water a few times, our hearts begin to draw a new conclusion: I can be saved. God can meet me here again.
Just as those rats swam longer after experiencing rescue, we too can endure longer when we know that God has delivered us before—and He will do it again.
As we see someone survive, that can build hope and resilience in us.
That’s why sharing our testimonies matters so much. When you see someone rise out of a health battle—when you see someone walk through ITP and find healing naturally and spiritually—it plants hope in your heart that you can rise too.
What We Feed Ourselves Determines Our Strength
In the Harvard study, the rats eventually did die after 60 hours. But it makes me wonder: did they really die of exhaustion… or of starvation?
We, too, can only endure for so long if we are not feeding ourselves properly—physically and spiritually.
- We need nourishment.
- We need truth.
- We need the Word of God to sustain us through long nights of waiting.
“But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength;
they will mount up with wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.”
— Isaiah 40:31
they will mount up with wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.”
— Isaiah 40:31
When we feed on God’s promises, our endurance increases. We find that we can tread the waters of uncertainty a little longer—because we’re not relying on our own strength. We’re trusting the One who rescues.
From Struggle to Strength
Seeing how God brought me through ITP reminds me that He is always near and that no trial is wasted. Every time I’ve been “pulled from the water,” it prepared me to swim stronger the next time.
If you are struggling with low platelets, chronic illness, or any season of uncertainty—please remember: you are not forgotten.
God is near, even in the deep water. And because He is your rescuer, you can endure with hope.
God is near, even in the deep water. And because He is your rescuer, you can endure with hope.
Keep looking up.
Keep believing.
And keep treading—because your rescue is coming.
Keep believing.
And keep treading—because your rescue is coming.
🌿 For ITP Warriors Waiting on the Lord
If you’re walking through ITP or another autoimmune condition and you’re searching for strength—both naturally and spiritually—I’d love to walk with you.
In my community, Platelets, Plants, and Prayers, I share encouragement, natural wellness tips, and faith-filled hope for healing.
You don’t have to face the water alone.
Hope and healing are possible.
Hope and healing are possible.
💛 Want to be reminded that hope still wins?
My devotional, "Battles & Breakthroughs: Victory in Christ for Chronic Illness and Life's Toughest Battles", was written straight from my own seasons of deep water. Each daily entry and reflection is designed to lift your spirit, renew your faith, and remind you that God never wastes a battle.
My devotional, "Battles & Breakthroughs: Victory in Christ for Chronic Illness and Life's Toughest Battles", was written straight from my own seasons of deep water. Each daily entry and reflection is designed to lift your spirit, renew your faith, and remind you that God never wastes a battle.
Let these pages encourage your heart while you wait on the Lord.
