Natural herbal & homeopathic way to detox your body

Detoxification
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION - REMEDIES - DETOXIFICATION

· General Description · About the Toxins · What Can a Detox Program do? · Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies · Helpful Dietary Habits · Dos and Don'ts

About Detoxification Detoxification, or detox for short, is an amazingly popular health fad these days. There are reasons to be. The idea is that as we take in so many toxic substances through food, drink and air, our bodies become toxic and our immune systems get overloaded. To restore health, we have to remove toxins by fasting or flushing the colon. Although basic detoxification begins with diet, detox programs may (and should) include nutritional fortification for the liver, lungs, kidneys, bowels and blood, since these are the organs involved in detoxification of chemicals and toxins from the body.  The liver acts as an "in-line" filter for the removal of foreign substances and wastes from the blood, hence it becomes the most important organ to deal with in any detox program. Although the toxicity of a chemical may vary, it is the job of the liver to reduce toxins into compounds that the body can safely handle and eliminate through the kidneys (as urine), skin (as sweat), lungs (as expelled air) and bowels (as feces). When the liver can't accomplish its functions, you eventually begin to experience symptoms such as fatigue, skin eruptions, headaches, allergies, depressed immune systems, obesity, sluggish digestive systems, respiratory ailments and many other health problems.

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In the last 50 years, man-made chemicals and drugs of abuse have spread through the world at almost inconceivable rates. There are over 10,000 toxic chemicals in our food supply, and every day human beings are exposed to an inconceivable combination of these chemicals. Added to this are illicit drugs, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and prescription medicine. The final destination of many of these substances is the internal environment of the human body where these “xenobiotics”—chemical substances foreign to living organisms—accumulate in fat tissues, many times causing illness and disease. A growing body of research is raising concerns about the human effects of even low levels of chemical residues. It takes time, skill, dedication, and good detective work to determine which chemicals are causing what physical reactions and health symptoms. According to NHATS, 100 percent of Americans have xylene, styrene and other known carcinogens in their fat. If xenobiotics were merely stored, inert, there might not be a problem. However, there is ample evidence that they can be “mobilized” and released from fat stores. Even at low levels they can cause a variety of mental and physical effects. Mobilization may occur as a result of fasting, exercise, stress or heat. Moreover, toxicological evaluations of individual toxic chemicals do not account for the fact that there may be hundreds or even thousands of compounds and metabolites within the adipose tissue of any given individual. These may interact, with wide-ranging effects. The most common toxins affecting our health are Radiation: Uranium, Thallium and Thorium Heavy Metals: Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, and Copper Car fumes, factory emissions, and chemicals used in ordinary cleaning agents Toxic Food Chemicals: aspartame, sucralose, MSG, food colorings Pesticides: non-biodegradable chemicals, insecticides Chemicals at work including but not limited to clothing, carpeting, new plastics and aerosols Artificial hormones Yeast: Candida (generated within the body) Our bodies also generate Autogenous toxins as a by-product of our own metabolism Mold Microorganisms: Parasites Toxic by-products from drugs and pharmaceuticals Alcohol - Serious alcohol addiction results in a decrease in production of GABA neuro-inhibitor because alcohol acts to replace it Cigarette smoke Stress also plays a role in generating toxins within the body

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Full body detox can restore systemic balance & cleanse and detoxify the system rejuvenate liver functioning stimulate bile production and the breakdown of dietary fat Restore a balanced body pH Bring back essential nutrients: Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium into the system Restore trace minerals: Germanium, Lithium, and Rubidium Increase energy and stamina & reduce feelings of fatigue and listlessness Eliminate bloating Promote healthy sleep patterns Improve the body's ability to fight disease by facilitating immune functioning Help maintain normal libido Relaxation and stress relief Healthy hair, skin, and nails Healthy Vision Boost the effectiveness of Weight Management Programs Along with the new knowledge of toxins and their negative affect on physical health came a rush of detox diets and various detox methods that promise to cleanse the body of unhealthy impurities. The idea is that by detoxing, you’ll lose weight and feel great after expelling unwanted toxins and rejuvenating the body’s functioning. While this is all true, the problem is that many people detox to lose weight (hence the many varieties of starvation detox diets) or use it in order to continue with unhealthy and over-indulgent lifestyles! The dangers come in when people choose unsafe detox methods without considering the harmful side-effects, such as colonic irrigation, or liquid-diets that rob the body of essential nutrients. Highly restrictive detox diets such as Water fasting or the Master Cleanse are not the safest form of weight loss. These diets, if done improperly or for too long, may result in nutrient deficiencies. Of particular concern is lack of protein, which may result in wasting of muscle tissue, due to insufficient amino acids for repair. With less lean muscle tissue, the body's metabolic needs decrease, which hampers weight loss efforts unless calories are lessened further in the diet. It is therefore important to explore detox options and choose one that gently assists the body, without causing any harm during the process. It is also not advisable to use detoxing as a quick fix weight-loss plan as this promotes “yo-yo” dieting that has been linked with weight-gain. Instead, a reputable detox program can assist in initiating a healthier lifestyle and eating plan that is conducive to healthy weight loss. As for colonics – super-sized enemas that are supposed to remove bacteria and poisons from the colon and solve every health problem from allergies to chronic fatigue to pimples – they are risky even for people in the best of health. A pump pulses liters of water through a hose-like tube high into your colon. A second tube draws the water out. Within a 45 minute session, the colon is filled and emptied several times over. While there are valid reasons to have an occasional enema for cleansing the bowel, like before a colonscopy, getting rid of toxins is definitely not among them. The cells lining the gastrointestinal tract are replaced every two to three days, so toxins have no chance to build up.

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Detoxification should ideally begin in the mind. The first step towards full body todex should be your decision to start fresh and with a clean slate. Generic diets for detoxification are good, but may not stimulate the liver, lungs or the kidneys as much as one would like. Over time, by introducing supplements, herbs and other substances (which are usually organ specific) that will amplify your body's ability to process out the excessive level of toxins, a full body detox can restore systemic balance. Of course, herbs are foods too and provide one with vitamins, minerals and enzymes for excellent nutrition. Herbs are powerful, because they may be combined together to fortify those herbs that aid specific organs. For people suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or chemical dependency, detox can play a major role in helping you bring yourself back to a natural state of balance and harmony. Dandelion and Fennel are just two herbs that have been used throughout history to cleanse and aid body detoxification, rejuvenate liver functioning, and kick-start the body back to life! Pelargonium reniforme is another ingredient that also works on promoting optimal liver functioning and supporting the body's natural ability to break down and eliminate fat for a natural detoxification.

Detox Drops may assist in the body's natural elimination of toxins and help support realistic and healthy weight management programs. Detox Drops may also promote healthy energy levels and stamina.

Taraxacum officinalis (Dandelion) was commonly used in Native American medicine and is found in many parts of the world today. It contains bitter principles that have a tonic effect on the liver and digestive system. It is also a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, D, C, and B and iron, silicon, magnesium, zinc and manganese. In recent studies, Taraxacum officinalis was shown to have an effect on the body weight of laboratory animals. It is also known to support liver and gall bladder functioning and may help to maintain healthy blood pressure within the normal range as well as natural fluid balance in the body. Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) has been used since ancient times. In medieval times it was used to prevent 'growling stomachs' during church services! Apart from its naturally supportive properties for digestion, Fennel also helps to maintain liver, kidney and spleen health. Animal and test-tube studies hint at a number of potentially useful benefits for the liver and gall bladder – as well as the healthy production of bile. (Forster HB, Niklas H, Lutz S. “Antispasmodic effects of some medicinal plants”. Plant Med  . 1980;40:303–19). (Tanira MOM, Shah AH, Mohsin A, et al. “Pharmacological and toxicological investigations on Foeniculum vulgare dried fruit extract in experimental animals”. Phytother Res . 1996;10:33–6). Pelargonium reniforme is a medicinal plant known to generations of Khoi/San descendants and Xhosa traditional healers for its health-supporting properties. Also known as 'Umckaloabo', it is traditionally used for a range of therapeutic functions and is well known for its supportive capacity on liver functioning and as a digestive tonic. This species of pelargonium is indigenous to the Eastern Cape of South Africa and grows wild, sending out long bulbous roots deep into the ground. The active ingredients are found in the bitter tasting root of the plant. Recent studies have shown indicated this herb can be beneficial in supporting the body’s ability to maintain balance between various body systems. (Matthys H, et al. “Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides  (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial”. Phytomedicine.  2003;10(suppl 4):7–17).

While herbs may be taken at any time, they are best for detoxification purposes when they are used with a good diet also.  It does not make any sense to take herbs to cleanse the liver if the bowels are clogged with junk or refined foods, since the liver dumps its toxins into the bowels. And while detoxification diets are effective by themselves, they may be reinforced and speeded up with herbs, which stimulate the eliminative organs.   Detoxification diets help the body to eliminate toxins in many ways. First, natural vegetarian diets include the fiber needed for stimulating good bowel eliminate. They also contain the proper amounts of vitamins that feed and nourish the bowels and the liver, as well as other eliminative organs. They also include a valuable source of enzymes since most vegetarian diets are eaten raw. The elimination of meat from the diet for a short period enhances detoxification because meat is so difficult to digest and requires many enzymes for its digestion. Therefore, vegetarian diets are cleansing diets and aid the body in elimination of toxins.    Eat more raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and vegetable protein like beans, lentils and quinoa. Some great dishes ideal for a detox diet might include: kale salad, beet salad, quinoa salad, spinach stew, or brown rice balls. Leafy and green vegetables like kale, spinach, and broccoli are jam packed with vitamins and nutrients to help restore vitality, and have even been shown to be effective at protecting you from certain cancers. Kale is particularly good for the liver, as it is a bitter green, which stimulates the production of bile, increasing your digestive ability. Get more greens into your diet by putting them in salads, juicing them, making green smoothies - banana and kale is a surprisingly tasty combination, or lightly steaming them. Other vegetables include carrots, onions, turnip, swede, sprouts, cabbage, peppers, mushrooms, corn, peppers, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, salad, tomatoes, and cucumber.   Fruit: You can eat any fruit including fresh, frozen, dried or canned in natural fruit juice. This includes apples, bananas, pears, oranges, grapefruit, satsumas, sultanas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, nectarines, peaches, and melons. Either make homemade fruit juices or smoothies from fresh fruit, or drink ready-made juices. Make sure ready-made juices are labelled as pure or unsweetened.   Some other foods you can take are rice noodles, Rye crackers and rice cakes, potatoes, any fresh fish including cod, mackerel, salmon, lobster, crab, trout, haddock, tuna, prawns, Dover sole, red mullet, halibut, lemon sole, monkfish, and swordfish, unsalted nuts (any, including Brazil, peanuts, almonds, cashew, hazel nuts, macadamia, pecans, pine nuts), pistachio, and walnuts, and natural yogurt   Detox diets will generally eliminate trigger foods which may cause many problems with digestion and elimination such as caffeine, alcohol, processed food (including any bread), pre-made or canned food, salt, sugar, wheat (glutens), red meat, pork, fried and deep fried food, dairy (milk, yellow cheese, cream, butter and margarine), shortening, etc. Sugar is eliminated because of its "empty calories" and tendency to produce hypoglycemia. Meats are eliminated because they may contain hormones, antibiotics and are difficult to digest. Caffeine is wise to avoid, since it has many ill effects on the body's digestion. Sauces, pickles, store-bought salad dressing and mayonnaise and carbonated drinks are also to be avoided.    Water – We hear it all the time, but it bears repeating. Your body is 2/3 water, and water is essential to all the processes in the body. To improve your mood, skin and metabolism try to drink at least 8 – 8 oz glasses of water a day.   Start each morning off with a glass of warm water and lemon - Soak two slices of lemon in hot water and allow to cool and find a surprisingly refreshing morning drink. This gets the digestive system going while the oils and juices released from the lemon and the lemon rind will assist your liver to produce bile, one of the major fat burners in your body.   While detoxing, make sure that your meal times are relaxing and serene. Take time to enjoy your food and appreciate the tastes while making sure you chew your food properly as this helps with absorption and will cut the risk of digestion problems. Some proponents of detox diets emphasize it as a lifestyle rather than a diet, others have touted spiritual and psychological benefits of regular detox dieting. Of course, changing diets and lifestyle is easier said than done for majority of the people. There are very few people who want health and are willing go to any length to improve their health, including dietary changes. But there are others who do not want to change their life style for anything. These people will be difficult to motivate and will not stick with the detox programs for one day. They may not want to give up their sodas, or their cigarettes, their beer or their coffee.  They may make a few changes, like drinking more water, or they may give up completely in a very short notice. Our way of eating has been cultivated over many years and will not change over night. But to those who do want better health and do not want to rely on pills/drugs for their existence, nutritional changes will be welcomed, especially when they start feeling better and having more energy.

Emotional and mental preparation - Even natural detoxification is not always easy so it’s important to prepare yourself for the days to follow. Acknowledge and accept that you may get detox symptoms (e.g. headaches or food cravings) and keep in mind that they are a good sign – it means it is working! You will also be tempted at times to give in – so make a definite mental decision to stick it out.   Moderate aerobic exercise - This increases circulation, which ensures quick distribution of the niacin throughout the body and carries mobilized toxins to the excretory routes. Running is preferred, but this can be changed if medically indicated.   Intermittent sauna to force sweating - As shown in several studies on this procedure, sweat is a primary elimination route for toxins. Sauna temperatures range from 140 to 180 degrees, lower than the typical health-club sauna. The sauna must be well-ventilated. Subjects take frequent showers, both to cool down and to remove substances from the skin and prevent their re-absorption. Liquids are administered and participants are monitored for signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion.   Sleep properly - This is also a great time to instill a few good habits into your long-term lifestyle. Use this as an opportunity to establish regular sleep patterns (especially if you struggle with sleep problems), to stop smoking naturally and get used to the idea of eating healthier and drinking 8 glasses of water a day.