Detoxification

What is detoxification? Most people associate the word detox with drugs or alcohol. Essentially it is the same thing except you don't just eliminate the drugs and/or alcohol you go beyond that in order to eliminate years of toxins that have built up inside your body since birth. Everyone has toxins, even people who have a relatively "clean" diet. No one can escape these toxins, they are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and whatever else is absorbed through the skin. Most toxins are eliminated through the following main pathways: Bowel Kidneys Liver/gallbladder Lungs Skin Other pathways of elimination are the lymph and blood. When our body gets overloaded with toxins these pathways can't do their job properly. Possible toxic overload includes allergens or substances each of us are allergic to like dust, pollen, mold, heavy metals and certain foodstuffs, just to name a few. This is when intervention through detoxification is needed. Detoxification is essential when a person is considering holistic therapy. Holistic Therapy is different from western medicine in that it uses the body to heal itself. The body can't heal itself if toxic substances are continually introduced into the system. This is one of the main reasons people get discouraged when starting a holistic therapy program because they don't see the results immediately. (see more about holistic healing) There is a certain order to detox. Are you kidding? No, seriously, your body is a very smart machine, you can't fool it no matter how hard you try. You can't just run out and but some pills or drink some tea and expect a good cleansing to take place. It must be done properly, otherwise you will just be going around in circles and re-introducing toxins into the body. First, you must cleanse your colon - during this time you will also cleanse the kidneys. Prior to and during a colon cleanse or liver/gallbladder flush it will help immensely if you follow the Recommendations for Better Health section of this website. Tip: First wean yourself from coffee/tea/soda that contain caffeine. This greatly lessens any cleansing reactions like headache and vomiting that accompany caffeine withdrawal. Second, you will do a liver/gallbladder flush. To properly detox the liver, a liver/gallbladder flush must be performed every 3-4 weeks until stones are no longer passed. Each liver/gallbladder flush should be followed by a colonic 2-3 days later. Last, you will work on the lymph, blood and the rest of the body. Can't I just fast for detoxification? No, this only works when the body is already fine tuned and running efficiently. It takes years of short fasts and proper eating to attain a clean fast. You also need proper supervision, especially if you embark on a long fast, otherwise you will get seriously ill from the amount of toxins and the swiftness of their elimination from your organs into your bloodstream. When Should You NOT Detox? So please remember do not start a detox regimen when you are sick. You need to start your healthy lifestyle FIRST, before you start detoxing, so you have a reserve that your body can draw on to allow your liver to do its job properly. If you fail to do this you can easily overwhelm your liver's ability to process these toxic substances that are being eliminated and you will become VERY sick, wishing you had never done the detox in the first place. So please use some caution. see Dr. Mercola for more information Ok so what do I do now? You need to drink plenty of clean water. Follow this rule for daily water consumption. Avoid sugar and sweets of all kinds, even artificial sweeteners. Avoid margarine and hydrogenated fats, especially fried foods. Avoid foods that contain preservatives and colorings. Cut down on animal protein during your cleanse, it overtaxes the digestive system, kidneys and liver. Do eat plenty of raw and lightly steamed vegetables. See Nutritional Counseling page for more. Exercise at least 20 minutes a day. Go for a walk during lunch instead of gabbing on the phone. Use herbal preparations to assist you in your detoxification. Get regular colonics. Some herbal products to help assist you in your detoxification program can be found at the Ventura Center office: Colonic Rinse 9 day Cleanse program by Isagenix Parasite Cleanse Candida Cleanse Master Cleanser Ultra Clear Colon and other cleansing products Liver / Gallbladder Cleanse Directions for "The Liver Flush"   Books about cleansing and detoxification: The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush by Andreas Moritz The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book by Dr. Sandra Cabot MD Cleansing Made Simple by Cheryl Townsley The Miracle of Fasting by Paul C. Bragg     We carry the following books by Kevin Trudeau         Disclaimer: The preceding is to provide information about Detoxification and the benefits that may be derived. It is not intended to claim a cure for any disease or condition. It should not take the place of medical advice or treatment.   Top of page