DETOXIFICATION AND CLEANSING

Cleansing is Natural.   The bible frequently refers to fasting as a means to physical and spiritual purification. Great persons such as Hippocrates, Plato, Socrates and Galen all used fasting as a tool in health.  The tradition of cleansing comes from many authentic cultural healing systems from Ayuvedic and Sufi to Native American and European folk medicines.  Even animals instinctively fast when ill.

Why Cleanse?  We clean our homes on a regular basis, wash our car and our clothes……why not our bodies?  History has witnessed countless reports of dramatic results stemming from intense cleansing regimes for ailments such as asthma, arthritis, cancer and more.   Many of us suffer from such things as fatigue, burn-out, poor concentration and other symptoms of over taxed bodies.  Cleansing can provide us with bountiful energy and motivation, and if done regularly may help prevent or delay the onset of many chronic diseases. 

What Does Toxicity Do to Our Bodies? Everything from common problems such as fatigue, poor circulation, constipation and headaches to more serious chronic diseases such as heart disease, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, skin diseases, osteoporosis and cancer, begins with the accumulation and retention of waste and morbid matter in our bodies.  This waste causes chronic inflammation which damages our bodies at a cellular level.  Radiation, artificial food additives and preservatives, commercial cosmetics, processed foods, pesticides, polluted air, poor water quality, heavy metals and toxic cleaning detergents, are only a few examples of the bombardment of toxins we face daily. 

How Does Cleansing Work? Cleansing includes any undertaking that assists your body in releasing stored toxins from your glands, tissues, muscles, fat cells and organs.  These toxins are more efficiently eliminated when we actively improve the functioning of our lungs, kidneys, intestines, liver and skin.   These organs all play a vital role in detoxifying.  For example, the liver alters toxins into forms that are more water soluble and therefore can be flushed out by the kidneys.  Different cleansing regimes, such as a kidney flush, target different organs.  The extent to which each organ requires assistance differs for everybody. 

Do Health Food Store Cleansing Kits Really Work?   Many people visit health food stores to purchase cleansing kits.  These provide different substances to assist various elimination processes.  For example, fiber supplements assist our bowels in removing built up waste. These kits do however have their limitations.  Firstly,   they are often 1-2 week regimes.  For most people this short period of time is very unrealistic.  Depending on your lifestyle and the number of past cleanses you have done, one might need up to 6 months to really cleanse the body.  A maintenance cleanse can be much shorter, but is only appropriate to those who have cleansed repeatedly and maintain a very clean lifestyle.  I would not however suggest using any kit for prolonged periods unless under professional advisement.  Secondly, the formulas commercially available are very generic, often throwing together many substances that are not necessarily appropriate for every individual.  For example, many colon cleaning kits contain laxatives which are definitely not appropriate for everyone.  Often the doses of the herbs used are too low because of the catch-all, ‘throw everything in approach’ used by companies creating formulas.   Lastly, when if comes to serious cleansing it is important to follow a program that supports the bodies natural abilities to heal itself.  This means approaching things in a particular order and at an appropriate pace for that individual.   My advice to anyone with existing health conditions is to stick to simple dietary based cleanses.  For example, one might do a few weeks of only whole organic foods with lots of fruits and vegetables.   If you intend to add herbs and supplements seek professional advice.