Entries Tagged as 'Detoxifying'
Detox Is Not a New Concept: Did Our Ancestors Know Better?
By Randa Khalil
Detox, a term previously used exclusively in connection with coming off alcohol, or “substances” withdrawal, has become the health buzzword of the 21st century. It’s a favourite topic amongst the cognoscenti in the global alternative health community, where it is hailed as a major breakthrough in the human race’s relentless quest for vibrant health, fitness, renewed energy and longevity.
Detox as perceived in alternative medicine circles is not recognised as necessary by the traditional medical profession. It’s even sneered at and treated as just another fad.
Come to think of it, how can a traditional doctor recognise detox when he or she constantly prescribes toxins in the form of various chemical tablets and pills?
Between one extreme and the other, one has to look at hard facts in order to determine whether detox makes sense on a personal level, especially now that the symptoms of toxicity are well recognised. Headache, digestive problems, bloating, IBS, muscular pain, cough, gastrointestinal problems, depression, immune system weakness and fatigue can all be attributed to toxic overload.
Do you suffer from any of the symptoms above?
Here is a fact for you. The majority of people who undergo detox report a feeling of extreme well-being as a result. They feel healthier, slimmer, cleaner, purer, more energetic and more focused. Surely all this cannot be imagined?
Louis Kuhne, a naturopath from Leipzig, Germany -hailed by his contemporaries as “a genius in the Art of Healing”- was an early pioneer of the detox concept back in 1883. His doctrine of the Unity of Diseases stipulates that all disease is caused by an accumulation of toxins in the body. He devised an ingeniously simple healing panacea based on hydrotherapy -specially featuring his famous friction sitz bath- accompanied by a wholesome, vegetarian diet.
Using these simple methods, Kuhne achieved phenomenal success in healing a wide spectrum of previously incurable diseases, and helping his patients recover and maintain good health and ideal weight.
M.K Gandhi (the Mahatma) praised Kuhne’s baths in a correspondence to Nehru on January 17th, 1929 saying: “I utterly distrust doctors’ reports, I strongly recommend Kuhne’s bath and sun baths.”
The Detox Bath is based on Louis Kuhne’s friction sitz bath. It is a tool that nature generously provides us with, to help us maintain our health and body in optimal condition.
According to Kuhne, internal body heat, -generated by movement, digestion, stress or shock- pushes excess fat and toxins out to the body’s periphery where they deposit and can no longer be eliminated. The Detox Bath’s working principle is to cool down the core area of the body, i.e. the groin and genitals by applying cold water for ten to twenty minutes daily, or at least 4 times a week (depending on your initial condition and the results you seek to achieve). This action provokes a vibration in the fascia, (interconnecting tissue covering all internal organs) which produces a roll- back effect driving excess fat and toxins back into the intestines, where they are eliminated. (A process similar to Myofascial Release)
The Detox Bath is a simple, 10-minute bath technique that offers a natural alternative for maintaining disease at bay by strengthening the body’s inherent ability to flush out waste deposits, toxins, excess fat and cellulite. When practised regularly, it’s a powerful energy and mood booster, at the same time promoting restful sleep, encouraging a natural and regular bowel movement, and enhancing skin tone and complexion.
Learn the Detox Bath:
http://www.pureinsideout.com/sg-learn
Co-author
Detox Bath
Ebook published by Dream team Publishing Ltd, UK
Visit: http://www.pureinsideout.com/sg-index to discover easy and natural ways to detox your body and your mind and achieve easy weight loss, fitness, beauty, optimal health and physical and mental well being.
Tags: Detoxifying
The Benefits of Effective Liver Detoxification
THE CAUSES OF TOXICITY
The liver is an essential part of your body’s ability to neutralize and eliminate toxins. In this regard, it is like the oil filter in your car. Over time, several factors can make the liver congested and sluggish, and overwhelm its detoxifying ability:
• Poor diet: refined & highly processed foods, fried foods, dairy products, refined sugars, hydrogenated oils, fast food, chemical additives, preservatives, pesticides and artificial sweeteners
• Drugs: medications, smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs
• Environmental pollution: air, water, noise, electromagnetic.
• Poor digestion, especially “leaky gut” syndrome: toxin absorption through gaps in the intestinal wall.
THE EFFECTS OF TOXICITY Your body manages toxins in three progressive stages:
1. Elimination
2. Inflammation
3. Isolation & Mutation
Normally, your body deals with toxins by eliminating them. If the toxic burden becomes greater than what your body can handle, toxins become deposited in body tissue and increase free radical production, causing systemic damage and inflammation. Compromised liver function also causes the other organs of elimination (lungs, kidneys, skin and colon) to become overburdened and toxic themselves.
If the toxin load continues and the liver is not allowed to recover, the body will wall off these toxins to separate them from vital tissues. Recent research shows that actual genetic alterations in cells may also occur, leading to mutation and abnormal cell production. The result can be the formation of masses or tumors. This does not a completely explain all cases of cancer, but the idea that body toxicity contributes to most chronic illness is growing in acceptance.
SYMPTOMS OF LIVER TOXICITY
In people with unhealthy liver function, toxins accumulate—especially in fat tissue, the nervous system and brain. These toxins also circulate in the blood and contribute to many long-term health problems: chronic fatigue, muscle, joint and nerve inflammation & pain (e.g. arthritis, fibromyalgia), atherosclerosis, blood sugar imbalance, food and airborne allergies, headaches, skin rash, chemical sensitivity, premenstrual symptoms, poor fat digestion, gastritis, colitis, weight gain, impaired concentration, asthma, decreased mental acuity, and much more.
In my experience, effective liver detoxification is one of the single most powerful tools for regaining and maintaining long-term health and vitality.
DIAGNOSING LIVER TOXICITY
With a thorough health history and a complete evaluation, a wholistic health professional can usually assess your relative level of toxicity. Some practitioners offer a urine and saliva test that measures measure how well your liver is doing its job of handling toxins. The test also points to specific nutrient deficiencies, helping your practitioner tailor a clearing program to your body’s unique needs. In contrast, the so-called “liver function profile” in a blood test has nothing to do with measuring liver function. It merely assesses damage already done from inflammation, infection or other insult.
TREATING AND PREVENTING LIVER TOXICITY
Over the years, helping hundreds of people through clearing programs, I have seen the potential that liver detoxification has for improving life quality. I generally recommend that people detoxify their liver in the Spring, the season associated with the Liver and Gall Bladder in Oriental medicine.
There are many ways to help the liver decongest and free itself of accumulated toxins. The methods I have found useful include a modified diet, specific herbal and nutritional medicine, light aerobic exercise, Bodywork Therapy and Acupuncture. I also draw on the profound power of inner work—meditation, gratitude, forgiveness, prayer, breathing exercises and journaling.
Meditation: Spend 5-10 minutes, upon arising and before sleep, to focus on your breathing, deeply into the belly. Simply observe thoughts as they come and go, and return your attention to the breath when you notice that your mind has wandered.
Gratitude: Write down five things you are thankful for each day. In the words of Lloyd Meeker, an American teacher of this century, “What’s right with you is the starting point. What’s wrong with you is beside the point.” Thankfulness in all things is a key to mastery. Pay attention to what is already good, true and beautiful in others and yourself.
Forgiveness: Lack of forgiveness — holding grievances or resentment against someone (including yourself) — blocks the flow of life force in the body. In Chinese medicine, the Liver relates specifically to emotions such as anger, frustration and resentment. One of the most powerful and essential healing questions is, “Who have I not forgiven?” Forgiveness is a potent means for healing and restoring the Liver energy, healing your life, and knowing peace
Breathing Exercises: This can take the form of mild aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling or swimming. If you are in at least average health, 30-40 minutes three times a week is a good start. You can also spend ten minutes doing full three-part breaths. Inhale first into your lower abdomen, then the upper abdomen, then the chest. Exhale in the reverse order.
Journaling: Spend time each day to record feelings, not just events. Bring what is true and real for you out on paper, without concern for grammar or spelling. Journaling is a powerful and lifelong tool for self-exploration.
Natural medicine: One of the most powerful liver cleansers is the juice of the grass grown from wheat berries. Wheatgrass juice cleanses and builds the blood, and provides concentrated chlorophyll, magnesium, vitamins and (colloidal) trace minerals. It is the supreme “green superfood,” and can be found at natural food stores. You can buy it fresh from a juice bar, frozen, or juice it yourself. If you suspect that your body is toxic, start out by eating a clean, whole foods diet for a few weeks before starting. One ounce per day is excellent for maintenance, two to three ounces for strong liver cleansing. Read Ann Wigmore’s classic The Wheatgrass Book for more details. If you are interested in taking other supplements for detoxification, consult a licensed health professional to find out what’s specific for your health needs and goals.
Hot lemon water: An old-time remedy and daily tonic for the liver and gallbladder. Soon after arising, squeeze 1/4 - 1/2 lemon into a glass of hot water, and drink slowly.
Intensive liver detoxification is not for everyone. Temporary “clearing symptoms” like headaches, fatigue, gas, changes in bowel habits and lightheadedness may occur. Consult a licensed health professional trained in natural medicine to create a clearing program specifically tailored to your unique physiology and health needs, and coach you through the process. After the initial clearing phase, people generally report improved mental clarity, physical energy and emotional balance. After your first detox program, you may wish to do one each spring as your internal “spring cleaning.” Each detox tends to be easier than the last.
Effective liver detoxification is one of our most powerful tools for restoring and maintaining health, vitality and wellness.
About the Author
Michael Gaeta, BPS, is a New York State licensed acupuncturist, licensed nutritionist, licensed massage therapist and certified Amma therapist, and holds a diplomate in Asian bodywork therapy. He is a graduate of the New York College of Health Professions, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. Michael is a certified instructor and state representative of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia. Michael also serves as President of the Acupuncture Society of New York. He writes for local and national publications, and presents seminars nationally on practice management, nutrition, medical ethics, herbal therapy and Oriental medicine. He is also a pianist and composer. His passion is to give, love and serve through teaching, hands-on therapies and music. Michael founded the Hands-On Health Wholistic HealthCare Center in 1990.
Tags: Detoxifying · Liver Health
Revolutionary H-bath - Natural remedy for your healthier life
Many years ago, during my Ph.D. program at Osaka University Medical School, I first heard of the half-body-bath (h-bath). My first impression of the idea to “Put the lower half of the body in warm water until the whole body is warm” was that it was hilarious. How could you warm up your body, while your upper half-body is out of the tub?
I had completely forgotten about it until 2 years ago, I was reminded of the h-bath by a friend, did some investigation on it, and then started the h-bath by myself. I read books about the h-bath and watched TV programs produced in Korea and Japan, and then I learned in detail about the h-bath. The h-bath was started by Dr. Yoshiharu Shindo, Japan, and spread into Korea and China over the years.
After I started the h-bath, first I was surprised at the amount of sweat in only in 20 minutes by putting lower body in the tub. Secondly, I felt my whole body was still warm enough even long after the h-bath (it lasted about 2 hours). I then recommended it to my wife who was suffering from “cold hands and feet”. Guess what! She was able to get rid of “cold hands and feet”, and was able to have good night sleep. Now even my 10-year-old daughter is enjoying the h-bath every night.
What other health benefits did we get from the h-bath practice?
I lost 17 lbs in 8 months and also was relieved of shoulder pain I had for more than 15 years. Best of all, is the daily stress management by the h-bath. As mentioned previously, my wife was finally relieved of “cold hands and feet” (Raynaud’s disease), as well as the long-time-suffering of GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease), a.k.a. acid reflux. We both gained much more energy than we previously had. Of course, I also did a daily exercise of 30 minutes of walking combined with 30 minutes of the h-bath. I am sure that the h-bath had a synergic effect in my weight loss.
Since I am not an exercise orientated person, like many of you, I knew that both walking and the h-bath were programs I could continue. My daily walking program is not strenuous; rather it is a relaxing slow walk of 30 minutes around the work place or on the treadmill during a lunch break. At night, I did 30 minutes of h-bath everyday. That’s it! I feel much energized now.
I am a scientist, majored in the medical sciences and quite often I couldn’t control the stress from research, discussions, and presentations and so on, until I started the h-bath. I never knew that a bath could be fun. Different from ordinary whole-body-bath, your arms and hands are free, which means you can read a magazine, book etc and fully enjoy the half bath experience.
I want to share the experiences and science of the h-bath with you and recommend the h-bath for healthier you. Best of all, you don’t need to purchase any special equipment for the h-bath, but you should learn proper instructions to start.
What is the half-body-bath (h-bath)?
The main purpose of taking a bath is to sanitize the body. After a bath, we feel relax and relieved of day to day stress. This implies that a bath has a stress relief effect. Fatigue can be relieved when submerging your whole body into the tub-full of hot water. And a bubble bath or few drops of essence oils can also help you to be relaxed. You may have experienced falling asleep while taking a bath, right? Taking a bath is not only good for cleaning purposes, but also for mental health.
The history of submerging-body-bath is older than we think. According to the history records, there was a public bath in Rome, AD 300. The ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes shouted “Eureka, eureka!” when he found the principle of buoyancy (Archimedes’ principle), while he was taking a bath. For a long time, taking a bath meant whole-body-bath (w-bath), which is submerging a body up to the neck. In the early 1980’s, Dr. Yoshiharu Shindo, an ENT clinician, established a revolutionary bathing method, the half-body-bath (h-bath). Dr. Shindo mentions this in his first book, [Remedy for all diseases - controlling the thermodynamics of the body];
“I have been suffering from the “cold hands and feet” especially during the winter, so I used to wear long boots and thick cloths. And, finally came across the thought that what if I warm up the lower-half-body in the bath. It was cold winter, but I tried everyday. I thought that winter is the best time to test the effect of the h-bath, since it is the most severe season for the “cold hands and feet”. After many trial and errors, I concluded that maximum effect can be obtained by using warm water (100-104oF = 38-40oC), which is slightly higher than the body temperature. And keep the water level up to the 3-4 inches above the belly button, and then stay in the water for 20-30 minutes.
I even tried that when I got a common cold. After 20-30 minutes for the h-bath, I started to sweat a lot, and experienced a complete cure from fever & cold the next day. I was also relieved of the shoulder and upper arm pains. They were gone after few months of the h-bath. Of course, a common cold is not the problem anymore. I used take a short nap during the day to have enough energy for the rest of the day, but after continuing the h-bath, I realized I could keep up my activity without a nap. After I investigated the relationship between coldness and diseases, I am assured that the unbalance of the thermodynamics of the body is what causes many diseases. By fixing this heat unbalance by the h-bath, many diseases related to thermal unbalance can be cured naturally. This can be confirmed through the observation of my patients. In combination with conventional medical treatments, the h-bath enhances the cure index in the most of respiratory diseases including common cold”.
Dr. Shindo not only found that the h-bath primarily controlled his “cold hands and feet”, the so called ‘Raynaud’s disease’, but he realized that the h-bath helped to restore the human body naturally by equilibrating body heat.
Blood flow is a prime method of distributing heat evenly throughout the body. Poor blood flow can cause a reduction in the temperature of the extremities, and researchers theorized that poor blood circulation can cause cold hands and feet, subsequently causing other problems such as insomnia. Needless to say, the heart is responsible for the delivering of “warm blood” throughout the body. However, for some reason, it does not go flow through to the end of the body, like the hands and feet. If you take thermography of the whole body, you can see that the heat distribution of the body is not even. The upper body has higher temperature (98.6 oF = 37 oC around the heart), however lower body has comparatively low temperature; especially the temperature of the feet which is below 87.8 oF (31 oC).
Japan was built up from volcanic eruptions, and has many naturally formed hot springs all around the country. So over a long period of time, they developed unique bathing culture. Taking a bath is a daily part of a life in Japan. Paradoxically, on average 10,000 people die in the bath every year. The majority of people who die in the bath are elderly, mainly caused by cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction and cerebral hemorrhage etc. If so, is taking a bath deadly for elderly?
The answer is “it depends on the way of bathing”. A traditional w-bath can produce a lot of stress to the heart, mainly caused by water pressure. Since the whole body is warmed up from the w-bath at the same time the heart is experiencing stress, the heart beat rate and blood pressure rapidly increases and sometimes can cause cardiac or vascular problems. Besides, body heat can hardly be equilibrated since 85 - 90% of your body is submerged in the same temperature, and head is the only place to get the extreme blood stream and excess heat.
However, with an h-bath, the blood circulation increases gradually and reasonably with less stress to the heart and also does not provide the added stress of the water pressure. According to scientists, the h-bath does not significantly increase the blood pressure, shown by measuring cardiograph during the h-bath. The h-bath is comparatively safe, and is hugely effective for blood circulation. However, it doesn’t mean that the h-bath is “totally safe” for elderly and cardiovascular disease patients. Consult your doctor prior to start the h-bath.
The h-bath has spread all around Japan, Korea and China in a short time period. Millions of people continue the h-bath everyday and are accumulating their experiences and pre-scientific data. According to the h-bath people’s network, the h-bath is very effective in weight loss, improving skin health, helps to decrease the discomfort during a woman’s menstrual cycle, and lowers the blood pressure by enhancing the blood circulation in general.
There is no need to purchase expensive equipment for the h-bath. A bathtub and warm water are basically enough. A thermometer, reading materials and a rubber ducky are optional. The rest is continuing the h-bath with consistency and making this part of your daily activity.
About the Author
Andy Lee, Ph.D. in Medical Science Andy got a Ph.D. in Osaka University Medical School. And now he is working in the Biomedical Institute in San Diego as a faculty. Andy is interested in the alternative medicine and trying to understand and explain with the western medical theory. http://www.hbath.com Send email to Andy at: andy@hbath.com
Tags: Miscellaneous · Detoxifying
Detoxification for a Healthier and More Energetic You
Do you feel tired all the time and have low energy? Do you have frequent headaches or are you sensitive to certain foods or chemicals? Are your hands and feet cold? These are some of the indications that your body may be toxic. Today there are 77,000 chemicals that are in active production in North America and more than 3,000 chemicals are added to our food supply. And one of the best ways to rid the body of these toxins is with the far infrared sauna.
Chemicals are everywhere. The EPA estimates there are more than 20,000 chemicals that our bodies cannot metabolize and everyday, we ingest tiny amounts of these chemicals. Pesticide residues are detectable in 50% - 95% of the food consumed in the U.S. “Silver” dental fillings contain mercury (a cause of Parkinson’s disease and many other neurological disorders) that leaches out and is absorbed by the surrounding tissue and lungs. The average carpet outgases more than 12 chemicals (such as benzene, a known cause of leukemia) all of which can cause disease.
Dr. Sherry Rogers in her book Detoxify or Die elaborates of the pervasiveness of chemicals. “Air pollution and water pollution are only a small part of the toxicity story. There are thousands of harmful environmental toxins, some of which we’re aware of — such as pesticides, chemicals, household cleansers, fertilizers — and others, which seem perfectly innocent, such as those ubiquitous plastic water bottles, styrene cups, dental fillings, and plastic wrap. These are just a few small examples of the alarming amount of harmful toxins our bodies are absorbing every day.”
Studies show that most of us have between 400 and 800 chemical residues stored in the fat cells of our bodies. The Columbia University School of Public Health reports that 95% of cancer is caused by diet and environmental toxicity. If the chemicals are unable to be excreted from the body, they find their way into our liver, and then migrate to fat cells in organs throughout the body where they are stored. When our bodies exceed the limit for toxins we can excrete, those too are stored. Chemicals and heavy metals make up our “total toxic burden”. This bioaccumulation compromises our physiological and psychological health and leads to chronic disease. As these chemicals build up, they alter our metabolism, cause enzyme dysfunction and nutritional deficiencies, create hormonal imbalances, damage brain chemistry, and cause cancer.
Because the chemicals accumulate in different parts of the body and at different rates and in different combinations, there is a disturbingly large variety of different chronic illnesses that can result. And because the complex interrelationship of these chemicals to the unique health history of each individual, the symptoms of chemical toxicity can manifest differently in each of us. Some of these may include:
HeadachesSkin ConditionsInflammatory DiseasesAutoimmune DiseasesChronic Fatigue and more
The sauna generates infrared light which is part of the Sun’s invisible spectrum. It has the ability to easily penetrate human tissue. You can be exposed to Far Infrared heat for hours, and it will never cause your skin to burn. Far Infrared heat is completely healthy and safe for all living things. It is what makes the sun feel warm to you. Infrared heat is not the UV rays that cause sunburn. The temperature range for an infrared sauna is from 100-130° F and is much less than a normal Finnish sauna which ranges from 150-220°F. The waves of the infrared sauna penetrate the skin about 1 _-2 inches deep. This creates a natural resonance, which has many beneficial properties. Primarily it causes water in cells to react, causing the release of toxins in blood, sweat and urine.
Some of the benefits of an infrared sauna experience are:
Enhanced circulation and oxygenated tissuesIncreased energy production facilitating healingIncreased metabolismEnhanced sex lifeElimination of toxinsOpening of nasal passagesMore rapid healing of infectionsHastened tumor deathImproved nervous disordersRelief from digestive disordersEnhanced weight lossNormalization of blood pressure These are some of the many benefits that may accrue to the user of an infrared sauna. The sauna can be used by just about anyone and there are very few contraindications. Everyone has some form of chemical toxicity in their bodies, the only difference is the amount of chemicals and how the symptoms manifest. The infra red sauna is one of the best ways to rid the body of these unwanted toxins.
About the Author
Mr. Krajovic earned his BS from Bucknell University and MBA from The Pennsylvania State University. As a CPA, he offers financial consulting services and has worked extensively in the corporate world including most recently as the Chief Financial Officer of an automotive supplier. A nationally certified massage therapist with advanced training in many alternative healing techniques, he is available for speaking engagements on a variety of health and wellness subjects, including energy healing therapy especially as they relate to the corporate world. Currently he works with clients, conducts seminars and teaches classes at his clinic, BodyWorks Healing Center in Plymouth, Michigan with his wife Pat.
Tags: Detoxifying
Kidney Cleanse for Good Health
Sandra Kim Leong
Why is kidney cleansing important? Every day, your kidneys process the blood and helps to sift out waste products (like mercury, copper, arsenic-bound chemicals and other toxins) and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine. The urine then flows to your bladder through the ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom. When your kidneys become overloaded with toxins, diseases of the kidneys and bladder can happen as you are unable to discharge the waste and urine from your body.
When you do kidney cleansing, you help to cleanse the toxin built-up from the kidneys and the bladder. A cleansed kidney works optimally in its function to filter out pollutants, drugs, chemicals and other harmful materials. When you do a kidney cleanse, you also help to eliminate urinary tract infections and dissolves kidney stones.
What are some of the other functions of the kidneys? Other than being vital in the elimination of metabolic wastes, your kidneys also help to regulate your blood pressure, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, activates Vitamin D, helps in maintaining acid-base balance (excretes alkaline salts).
What are the signs and symptoms of an ailing kidney? Lower back pain, edema (“water holding”) in the lungs, legs, abdomen, etc, pains that are manifested elsewhere due to poor kidney health.
How do you do a kidney cleanse? There are hundreds of herbal recipes, and many different homeopathic remedies used for cleansing kidney stones. One popular way to cleanse kidney is to a watermelon cleanse. Just purchase 20 - 100 kg of watermelon (which will make up a few huge melons) and sit in a bath filed with water. Eat all the watermelon throughout a day (as much as you can), while continually empting your urinary bladder into the water.
You will need a lot of liquid to cleanse the insides of your body. You can also choose to do water fast or a juice fast to help you produce a gallon of urine a day.
During fasting, avoid strenuous exercise. Light yoga, walking, gardening are all excellent means to stimulate your body metabolism.
However, do note that before you embark on any program, please first consult your health practitioner on how you can best do a kidney cleanse.
How to have good kidney health? It is possible to dissolve all your kidney stones in 3 weeks, but if you continue to drink tea, coffee, carbonated drinks and eat unhealthily on a consistent basis, you will begin to make new ones.
To maintain a healthy kidney, begin a regular exercise regime and also avoid alcohol, red meat, smoked meats, canned fish and canned pork. Continue to drink plenty of water and fluids everyday!
About The Author: Sandra Kim Leong publishes information on
detoxification and cleansing. Based on today’s diet and
environment, she feels that detoxification should form part of
one’s regular regime. Please visit her site at
http://www.detox-cleansing.com for more information on colon
cleansing, liver cleansing, kidney cleansing, etc.
Tags: Kidney Health · Detoxifying
