7 Tips to Detox from Poor Air Quality
Live in San Jose or anywhere in the South Bay? Then you know that clean air isn’t always guaranteed, especially during wildfire season.
Even when the skies look clear, California’s wildfires leave behind smoke, chemicals, and fine particles in the air. Breathing those in can drain your energy, cloud your focus, and weaken your immune system.
You can’t avoid the air completely, but you can help your body cope with it, and bounce back. In this blog, we’ll share how to detox from air pollution so you can start feeling more like yourself again.
Key Takeaways
- Breathing in polluted air or wild fire smoke puts extra stress on your body. Over time, it may also raise your risk of serious health issues.
- Hydrotherapy and nasal rinses are simple, effective ways to clear toxins and support circulation at home.
- NAC supplements support lung function and reduce mucus thickness, making it easier to breathe during smoke exposure.
- IV therapy delivers high-dose antioxidants directly to your cells for faster recovery and immune support.
- Personalized naturopathic care speeds healing and protects your long-term health through targeted detox protocols.
Why Detoxing From Air Pollution Matters
Your body’s built-in air filter works non-stop, but wildfire smoke in the Bay Area pushes it past its limits.
Tiny particles in the smoke stress your lungs and enter your bloodstream. They trigger inflammation that causes fatigue, poor sleep, and skin problems. Over time, repeated exposure can raise the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, fertility issues, and even cancer. Protecting oxygen efficiency and immune balance is key, something we also focus on in therapies like ozone therapy.
Detoxing helps your body reset. It clears out toxins, supports your natural defenses, and lowers long-term health risks.
7 Tips to Help Your Body Detox From Air Pollution Exposure
Curious how to detox from air pollution? Here are our top easy, science-backed tips:
1. Rinse Your Sinuses With a Neti Pot
Your nose filters dust and pollutants with tiny hairs (cilia) and mucus. But polluted air can irritate your nasal lining and slow mucus drainage, causing congestion.
A saline rinse with a neti pot flushes out debris, loosens mucus, and helps your breathe easier. Regular use can ease pressure and even reduce swelling.
Think of it like pressure-washing your nostrils. Gross? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely.
Here’s how to use it:
- Mix ½-1 teaspoon of non-iodized salt + ¼ teaspoon of baking soda in 16 ounces of warm distilled, filtered, or previously boiled water. Or use a saline packet, and fill your neti pot.
- Tilt your head over the sink, pour into one nostril, and let it drain out the other.
- Repeat on both sides. Gently blow your nose afterward to clear any remaining water or mucus.
Cleaning Tips:
- Wash your neti pot after every use (bacteria thrive in damp spaces).
- Replace plastic pots every 3–4 months. It’s safe for children but not for infants.
- Avoid using it if your nose is completely blocked or if you have an ear infection.
2. Use Hydrotherapy to Stimulate Circulation
Contrast hydrotherapy, or alternating hot and cold water, might sound like medieval torture, but it’s been a naturopathic go-to for centuries.
Switching between temperatures expands and contracts your blood vessels. This can boost circulation and improve lymph flow, helping your body clear toxins, reduce swelling, and recover faster from polluted air and other stressors.
Yes, the cold part sucks. No, you won’t die. But your detox pathways will come alive.
You can try it at home with this simple shower routine:
- Take a warm shower for 2-3 minutes
- Switch to cold water for 30 seconds
- Repeat this cycle 3 times
If you have asthma, heart problems, or poor circulation, use mild temperatures. Avoid the steam room and stop immediately if you feel dizzy or short of breath.
For better results, combine hydrotherapy with good nutrition, herbal remedies, and healthy lifestyle changes.
3. Soak Your Feet in an Epsom Salt Foot Bath
When you’re exposed to toxins in the air, your skin and lymphatic system help clear them out. Don’t underestimate the power of warm water and a little science-backed sorcery. A warm Epsom salt foot soak is one of the oldest natural ways to support these systems.
All you have to do is mix ½ cup of Epsom salt into warm water and soak your feet for 30–60 minutes.
Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is rich in magnesium, which may help calm your nervous system, lower inflammation, and fight oxidative stress from wildfire smoke and other pollutants.
The warm water can also improve circulation and encourage gentle sweating and lymphatic flow.
Want to get additional detox and anti-inflammatory benefits? Add ginger powder or bentonite clay to the foot bath. Ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, whereas bentonite clay acts as a detoxifying agent.
4. Sweat It Out in a Sauna
A sauna gently heats your body and opens your pores, helping you sweat out toxins like smoke residue and heavy metals. This can help take some of the detox load off your liver and kidneys.
It can also relax your blood vessels and improve circulation to your skin, improving detox and recovery. Just 3-4 sauna sessions a week may cut your risk of heart disease by up to 50% and respiratory illnesses by around 40%.
If you feel tired or short of breath, a sauna is a gentler alternative to intense workouts.
There are two main types of saunas:
- Traditional saunas use dry or steam heat to raise your body temperature.
- Infrared saunas use light to heat your body at a lower temperature, making them more comfortable, especially if you have respiratory issues.
Not sure which is best for you? Book a consultation and we’ll help you choose the right detox approach.
5. Support Your Lungs With NAC
Your body relies on antioxidants like NAC, which is converted to glutathione to fight pollution. But repeated exposure can drain those defenses. NAC (N-acetylcysteine) can help restore glutathione levels and protect your lungs from damage.
It’s the supplement your lungs would order on DoorDash if they had fingers.
It also breaks down thick mucus, reduces inflammation, and clears your airways. In people with chronic bronchitis, taking less than 1,200 mg NAC daily for three weeks improved breathing and lung function.
Always consult your doctor before starting NAC, especially if you’re on medication or managing a health condition.
6. Boost Your Body With Glutathione IV Therapy
Glutathione is your body’s powerhouse antioxidant, shielding your lungs from wildfire smoke, toxins, and daily stress. Heavy smoke exposure can deplete its natural levels, making it harder to control inflammation.
At YNC, we don’t just stop at capsules – we deliver glutathione via IV, IM, or nebulizer for faster, deeper impact. We also offer IM or IV NAD+, and yes, we even nebulize exosomes for an advanced respiratory and cellular reset.
IV therapy delivers glutathione directly to your bloodstream, helping remove toxins, improve liver function, and strengthen your immune defenses.
This is clinical-grade detox support for people who don’t have time to mess around.
Glutathione can also help recycle antioxidants like vitamins C, D, and E, which boost your recovery and resilience.
7. Recharge With High-Dose Vitamin C Drips
Vitamin C can help keep your lungs strong by reducing inflammation, boosting immunity, and neutralizing harmful free radicals from pollution.
While you can take vitamin C orally, large doses may upset your stomach and cause issues, like diarrhea. Our high-dose IV vitamin C bypasses digestion and delivers more directly into your bloodstream. This can help your body reset and recover from toxins faster.
We often pair vitamin C with glutathione and B vitamins for a full-body reboot. Book your Vitamin C IV and feel the difference.
Relief Timeline for Each Method: What to Expect
| Method | Onset of relief | Use frequency |
| Saline rinse | Immediate to 1 day | 1-2x daily during symptoms |
| Sauna | Same day (temporary relief) | 3-4x/week for ongoing benefit |
| NAC IV vs supplements | IV within 1 week. Supplements Within 2-3 weeks | IV weekly Supplement Daily (Best to ask your doctor) |
| Epsom salt soak | Within 20-30 mins | As needed |
| IV glutathione | Within 1-3 days | 1-2x/week; requires clinical supervision |
| IV Vitamin C | Within 3-5 days | Requires clinical supervision |
Support Your Detox With Professional Care
At Young Naturopathic Centre for Wellness, we take a personalized, functional medicine approach to help you detox from air pollution.
Here’s how we support your body:
- One-on-one consultation: Our doctors carefully assess your environment, symptoms, and goals.
- IV therapy: From high-dose vitamin C and glutathione to NAD therapy and custom blends, our infusions neutralize stress from the inside out.
- Comprehensive lab testing: To detect hidden toxins, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation, so your treatment plan is precise and effective.
- Customized detox plans: Tailored to your body, lifestyle, and daily exposure.
Ready to feel more like yourself again? Schedule your visit today!
Start Feeling Better, Naturally
Finding it hard to recover after smoke exposure? We’ll help you regain your energy and resilience. Book your consultation today and reclaim your energy.
