Detoxification: How to help your body detoxify
Ways to help your body detoxify
- Eating a balanced healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet ensures
that you get proper nutrition and helps the cleansing process. Eat plenty
of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown fresh fruits and
vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina,
chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods. Avoid foods that
contain additives or are nutritionally bankrupt. Avoid sugar, salt, saturated
fats, caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol, all of which act as toxins in
the body and are obstacles to your healing process. Avoid meat, as animal
protein puts a tremendous strain on the digestive system. You should also
eat yogurt, as this helps maintain a proper bacterial balance.
- Antioxidants. The use of antioxidants, like vitamins A, E, and especially C, is very essential for detoxification. Antioxidants are involved with helping cells to neutralize free radicals that can cause mutations and cellular damage. As these free radicals are neutralized, the antioxidant vitamins will be used and exhibit low levels. Vitamin C is also involved with many other important bodily functions, like collagen formation, wound healing, energy production and fighting off colds (viruses).
- Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.
- Drinking water is instrumental in detoxification. Water flushes toxins and waste from the body and transports nutrients to where they are needed. Try to drink at least 2 quarts of pure water per day.
- Baths, Saunas and Steam rooms are great for removing toxins from the skin and regenerating health and energy. Hot water increases blood flow and capillary action near the surface of the skin, causing faster release of toxins. The heat also increases sweating and opens up pores. It has been documented that our skin's sweat glands when combined can perform as much detoxification as kidneys. Therefore, it is very important to support our skin for detoxification to be maximal. If our kidneys are damaged, then helping the skin will help the kidneys indirectly, but effectively.
- Skin Brushing. This helps the skin to remove its outer dead layers and keep the pores open. Besides brushing, one can try toweling off vigorously until the skin is slightly red after bathing. Thus, towels have to be changed regularly as they may contain toxins.
- Bowel Cleansing. When the bowels slow down, toxins are not eliminated and are reabsorbed and carried back to the liver for recycling and elimination. The easiest way to get the bowels moving is by using a high fiber diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables. One of the best ways to improve the bowel function is with herbal remedies that act as bowel stimulants or laxatives. These products range from the very mild - slippery elm - to the stimulant - cascara sagrada - to the very harsh - aloes and senna.
- Colon cleansing. Colon cleansing has been used for 4000 years
as a health practice of detoxification. Through this process, the large
intestine or colon can be healed, rebuilt and finally restored to its
natural size, normal shape and correct function.
- Exercising. Lack of exercise contributes to toxicity, too. Exercising
stimulates body systems so that metabolic efficiency is stepped up. During
exercise, the lymphatic system is being flushed and the cells are being
flooded with health-giving oxygen. Walking, aerobics, sports, stretching
and light exercise can assist detoxification. This is also can be beneficial
for your mental health.
- Use all-natural products for personal hygiene. Look for alternatives to the chemically items offered in most stores. Using organic products decreases the number of preservatives and chemical additives your skin comes into contact with and therefore, that may enter your body.
- Use natural cleaning products. Minimize use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products (cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.
- Herbs, Fiber & Supplements. Taking herbal supplements is the most convenient form of detoxification for those with a busy lifestyle. Using herbs, fiber, and supplements can be very important to a cleansing program. Many herbs facilitate the cleansing program and contribute important vitamins and minerals. Fiber "sweeps" the digestive tract clean and quickens the transit time of waste elimination. It absorbs toxins and escorts them out of the body. A probiotic supplement helps balance the good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract. Milk thistle supports liver function. Herbs such as garlic, red clover, echinacea, or cayenne may also induce some detoxification.
- Detoxification bath. Daily bath using natural soaps is essential. Take care of your skin using only natural oils and natural products. Detoxification baths should be done once a week and maintenance once a month. We also need to consider our clothing materials carefully as they can have a tremendous effect on our health. Natural fiber clothing is favored over synthetic fiber as the former can help eliminate toxins.
- Hydrotherapy. Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.
- Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.
- Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.
Herbs that induce detoxification
Detoxifying herbs stimulate the elimination and expulsion process, helping remove toxins and waste from the body. They also provide the body with essential nutrients that stimulate and support vital organs, including the skin, liver and digestive system.
Herbs commonly used for detoxification:
| Herb | Uses |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa | natural diuretic and laxative. It is an excellent source of fiber and provides natural chlorophyll, which has deodorizing properties, helping to sweeten the breath and freshen body odors. |
| Black Walnut Hulls | known to help remove parasites from the intestinal tract and facilitate the removal of toxic buildup and fatty materials |
| Burdock root | skin and blood cleanser, diuretic and diaphoretic, improves liver function, antibacterial and antifungal properties |
| Cascara Sagrada | supports healthy bowel function by acting as a mild laxative. This herb can also be helpful in the treatment of gallstones and liver ailments. It also increases secretions of the stomach, liver and pancreas and is a potent cleansing herb. |
| Cayenne pepper (Capsicum) | is an alterative, antioxidant, antiseptic, and circulatory stimulant. It is rich in vitamin C and helps improve metabolism, thus contributing to weight loss. |
| Chaparral | strong blood cleanser, with possibilities for use in cancer therapy |
| Dandelion root | good for the whole body, specifically the immune system. It works to eliminate toxins from the cells in the body. It also increases bile and helps it move along. It is credited with boosting white blood cells thus strengthening the immune system |
| Echinacea | lymph cleanser, improves lymphocyte and phagocyte actions |
| Garlic | classic kitchen-pharmacy remedy and has been used for centuries as an antiseptic. It detoxifies the gut and helps the bowels function properly. |
| Gentian root | an alterative, antiseptic agent, and cholagogue. It is extremely bitter and works as an excellent digestive secretions. It also helps in the breakdown of protein and fats. It even helps improve the assimilation of nutrients like iron and vitamin B12. It has a cooling effect upon the body, helping to reduce inflammation and infection. |
| Ginger root | stimulates circulation and sweating |
| Goldenseal root | well known for its cleansing power. It can rid the body of toxins and help to remove obstructions. |
| Licorice root | known as "the great harmonizer" in Chinese medicine. It is mildly laxative, nutritive, and considered a rejuvenative. It soothes irritated mucus membranes and nourishes the adrenal glands. Also has properties that work like an antioxidant, fight viruses and helps the body produce antibodies |
| Marshmallow root | an alterative, demulcent, diuretic, mild laxative, nutritive, and rejuvenative. Its high mucilaginous content soothes an irritated digestive tract and provides moisture to dry tissues. |
| Milk thistle | The active ingredient is silymarin, which is reputed to repair liver damage due to alcohol, drugs, hepatitis, and exposure to toxins. It also is a hepatoprotective (liver protector) agent. Milk thistle is considered a natural antioxidant, helping to detoxify a wide range of potentially damaging contaminants |
| Oregon grape root | skin and colon cleanser, blood purifier, liver stimulant |
| Parsley leaf | diuretic, flushes kidneys |
| Pumpkin seeds | help the body expel parasites and are also highly nutritive, containing beneficial linolenic acid. |
| Red clover blossoms | blood cleanser, good during convalescence and healing |
| Sarsaparilla root | blood and lymph cleanser, contains saponins, which reduce microbes and toxins |
| Yellow dock root | skin, blood, and liver cleanser, contains vitamin C and iron |
| Yucca root | effective as an alterative and laxative agent. It helps break down organic waste in the body. One of its primary uses in folk medicine is to relieve the inflammation associated with arthritis. |
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