SPRING CLEAN YOUR BODY AND MIND!
According to North American Indian traditions, detoxification or cleansing should be done at every change of season. With climate changes comes a change in food supply, temperature and sun exposure. Given that we are harmonious creatures with nature, it would seem wise to do a cleanse during these seasonal shifts. How many of get sick when the weather changes? We undergo stress whilst trying to shift our balance to match that of our environment.
What is detoxification?
Detoxification or cleansing stimulates the organs of elimination (the kidneys, liver, lungs, lymph, intestines, lungs and skin) to release toxic burdens, which in turn aids in health. Toxins are defined as a poisonous substance that may cause damage to the structure or function of the body’s cells. It can accumulate in the body and cause harm. Toxins can be external (such as pesticides, pollution or drugs) or they can be internal (such as hormones, cellular debris or waste products).
What are the signs you need to detoxify?
- Gastrointestinal: bad breath, body odour, constipation, nausea, poor appetite, gas, bloating, food cravings, dry hard stool, foul smelling stool or diarrhea
- Hormonal/Nervous System: PMS, dizziness, irritability, depression, insomnia, fatigue, brain fog and hyperactivity
- Joints/Muscles: muscle and joint pains, swelling of the joints
- Respiratory: sinusitis, coughing, post nasal drip
- Skin: acne, rosacea, hives, eczema and dry skin
- Overuse of drugs, alcohol or a poor diet
Who should not detoxify?
- If you have a serious health concern, seek proper medical counsel before your start.
- If you suspect you have heavy metal toxicity, it is not a good idea to cleanse without supervision. You may release some damaging toxins into your system that be better off hidden, until you get proper instruction on how to cleanse.
- Diabetics should not partake in a fasting type of cleanse.
What do I need to do to detoxify?
1. Dietary Detoxification:
Some people chose to diet to do their cleansing. I have scoured many good books on detoxification diets. Here is some good advice for doing a dietary detox:
Avoid the following for 21 days:
- Fruit juices contribute to yeast overgrowth and acidity because they have no fiber or solids in the liquid. They are empty calories.
- Wheat, rye, spelt and barley contain gluten that can cause problems with digestion, the nervous system and energy.
- Yeast, mould and fungi feed bad bacteria in the gut and are found in baked goods, wine, beer, whiskey, cheese, mushrooms.
- Refined products such as sugar and white flour contribute to poor bowel function, blood sugar instability and feed microbes in the body (parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungus).
- Artificial flavorings, colors and additives are chemical toxins that add toxins to the body.
- Red meat, beef, pork and shellfish are all proteins that add to inflammation. Pork is said to have many microbes, parasites and viruses. Shellfish are bottom feeders and not appropriate for a cleansing diet.
- Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, black tea and colas rob the body of nutrients and water. They also negatively affect the nervous system.
- Condiments such as jam, jelly, ketchup, vinegar and sauces usually add to the bad bacteria in the gut. These things usually contain food coloring and sugar. Vinegar is fermented and contributes to allergic symptoms.
- Dairy products such as cow milk and cheese can create mucous in the gastrointestinal tract which impedes digestion.
- Alcoholic or carbonated beverages are empty calories.
Consume the following foods freely:
- Plenty of organic vegetables and their juices. Organic foods decrease the toxic burden that pesticides cause.
- Cilantro, parsley, dark leafy greens help to bind up toxins, such as heavy metals, for excretion.
- Goat milk, yogurt and cheese are more readily digested then cow dairy products.
- Rice and soya milk are alternatives to goat or cow milk.
- Cottage cheese and plain cow milk yogurt are acceptable.
- Oatmeal, buckwheat, quinoa and brown rice are healthy grains that do not contain gluten. Sometimes oatmeal is cross contaminated with wheat, which contains gluten. If you are a celiac be careful with oats.
- Use seasonings such as olive oil, honey, Bragg’s seasoning, sea salt and spices.
- Drink purified water, spring water, filtered water and green tea.
- Choose lean protein such as chicken turkey, fish, egg whites, tofu and legumes.
- Drink 8-10 glasses of filtered water per day.
- Vegetables and their juices are beneficial such as ginger, kale, carrots, dandelion greens, celery, wheat grass, garlic, cabbage, broccoli and beets.
- Sprouts are used as a garnish or a nice addition to salads.
2. Emotional Detoxification:
Every thought and emotion has a direct impact on your physical body. Stress can affect your hormones. Have you ever felt energetic when you got good news? Did you get a cold after you were run ragged with work? Your mind can trigger hormones that affect your body’s physiological processes.
Focus on what you want, and not the opposite. The law of attraction will bring the negative or positive to you. Often people are a victim of themselves. Every choice has an outcome. Make choices for your higher good and release the burdens of your negative emotions. You have absolute control over what you put in your body, how you exercise and what you focus on.
People choose many ways to detoxify emotionally. They may seek out or partake in prayer, group meetings, talking to friends, attending church, spiritual counsel or through retreats. Some big decisions may need to be made in order to make the changes required. Consciously establish your intent to choose to heal while cleansing. If you are unwell now, you can meditate on an image of a vibrant and vital you.
3. Homeopathic Organ Cleansing
We have special blends at the clinic that target certain organ systems:
- Liver Mixture: contains chelidonium, carduus m., lycopodium, nux vomica, taraxicum
- Kidney Mixture: contains: taraxicum, solidago, berberis, cantharis, sarsaparilla, equisetum
- Lymph and Blood Mixture: trifolium, urtica, taraxicum, Echinacea, scrophularia, phytolacca
Take 15 drops of each, two to three times a day, inbetween meals and in water or straight under the tongue.
4. Bowel Detoxification
Whilst you are eating well, fighting your demons and detoxing, you should make sure your bowels are working well. Naturally waste products and toxins are released into the bowel from the liver. So you need to make sure the pooper is working! First take a good quality probiotic such as HMF or Multi Probiotic, and a fiber source, such as Fiber Plex, 3C or psyllium. That latter tends to constipate people if you do not drink enough water. If you are following the diet, you should be regular.
After three weeks of doing this detox, you should feel lighter, your digestive tract should be happy and so should you! |
