Detoxify Naturally
Detoxification is the process of clearing ‘toxins’ from the body or neutralising or transforming them.
We detoxify/cleanse for many reasons and many authorities claim the detoxification process helps clear wastes and old or dead cells and revitalises the body’s natural functions and healing capacities, including: Preventing disease, Reducing symptoms, Treating Disease, Cleansing the body, Resting organs, Rejuvenation, Weight loss, Clearing the skin, Slowing aging, Improving flexibility, Improving fertility, and Enhancing the senses.
Toxicity is of much greater concern in the twentieth century than ever before. There are many new and stronger chemicals, air and water pollution, radiation and nuclear power. We ingest new chemicals, use more drugs of all kinds, eat more sugar and refined foods, and daily abuse ourselves with various stimulants and sedatives. The incidence of many toxicity diseases has increased as well. xxxxxx and cardiovascular disease are two of the main ones. Arthritis, allergies, obesity, and many skin problems are others. In addition, a wide range of symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, pains, coughs, gastrointestinal problems, and problems from immune weakness, can all be related to toxicity.
Toxicity occurs on two basic levels – external and internal. We can acquire toxins from our environment by breathing them, by ingesting them, or through physical contact with them.
On the internal level, our body produces toxins through its normal everyday functions. Biochemical, cellular, and bodily activities generate substances that need to be eliminated. When these substances are not eliminated, they can cause irritation or inflammation of the cells and tissues, blocking normal functions on a cellular, organ, and whole-body level. Microbes of all kinds – intestinal bacteria, foreign bacteria, yeasts, and parasites – produce metabolic waste products that we must handle. Our thoughts and emotions and stress itself generate increased biochemical toxicity. The proper level of elimination of these toxins is essential to health. Clearly, a normal functioning body was created to handle certain levels of toxins; the concern is with excess intake or production of toxins or a reduction in the processes of elimination.
Our Body’s Detoxification Systems
Through detoxification, we clear and filter toxins and wastes and allow our body to work on enhancing its basic functions. These are our body’s ‘waste processing and elimination units’:
· Respiratory – lungs, sinuses and nose
· Gastro-intestinal – liver, gall bladder, colon, and whole digestive tract
· Urinary - kidneys
· Skin – sweat and sebaceous glands, tears
· Lymphatic – lymph channels and nodes
DIET
Detoxification involves dietary and lifestyle changes that reduce the intake of toxins and improve elimination. Avoidance of chemicals, from food or other sources, refined food, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and many drugs helps minimize the toxin load. Drinking extra water (purified) and increasing fibre by including more fruits and vegetables in the diet are steps in the detoxification process. Moving from a more to a less congesting
the diet helps improve detoxification. Appropriate foods are preferably organically grown or produced.
Water is likely the most important detoxifier. It helps clean us through our skin and kidneys and it improves our sweating with exercise. Eight to ten glasses a day on average of clean filtered water are suggested.
We can think of fresh juices as natural vitamin pills with a very high assimilation percentage, and we do not need to do the work of digesting them. In general, diluted fresh juices of raw organic fruits and vegetables are best. Canned and frozen juices should be avoided.
Juice + Uses
Lemon Liver, gallbladder, allergies, colds, cardio
Citrus Cardio-vascular system, veins
Apple Liver, intestines
Pear Gall bladder
Grape Colon, anemia
Paw Paw Stomach, digestion
Pineapple Allergies, arthritis, inflammation, oedema
Watermelon Kidneys, oedema
Black Cherry Colon, menstrual problems, gout
Greens Skin, eczema, digestive problems, cardio
Spinach Anemia, eczema
Parsley Kidneys, oedema, arthritis
Watercress Anemia, colds
Wheatgrass Anemia, liver, intestines
Cabbage Colitis, ulcers
Carrots Eyes, arthritis
Beetroot Blood, liver, menstrual problems, arthritis
Celery Kidneys
Cucumber Oedema
Garlic Allergies, colds, hypertension, high fats, cardio
Radish Liver, high fats
Potato Intestines, ulcer
HERBS
Many herbs can support or even create detoxification including blood cleansing, cleaning the tissues or strengthening the function of specific organs. The old term for blood cleansers is “alteratives”, which is found in many books on herbs.
‘Detox’ herbs include:
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Garlic
Red Clover
Echinacea
Dandelion Rt
Fenugreek
Ginger Root
Liquorice Root
Sarsaparilla
Burdock Root
Juniper Berries
Calendula
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Blood cleanser lowers blood fats, antibiotic
blood cleanser, good during convalescence
lymph cleanser improves the immune system
liver and blood cleanser, diuretic, filters toxins
blood cleanser, lymphatic, immune booster, loosens mucus
stimulates circulation and sweating
a mild laxative, immune booster, energy tonic
skin and blood cleanser, lymphatic cleanser
ultimate detox herb – liver, skin, kidneys, blood
diuretic stimulates the kidneys.
Stimulates white blood cells, blood purifier, skin healer
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Ishta 10 day Detox Herbal Tea Blend is a superb blend of detoxifying herbs. It contains Dandelion root, Burdock, Pau d’arco, Rosehips, and Black Walnut, St Mary’s Thistle, Juniper Berries.
Ishta Purify Herbal Tea Blend is a superb blend of detoxifying herbs. It contains Dandelion root, Burdock,, Red clover, Fennel, Juniper, Calendula, and Nettles.
Skin Brushing
The skin is the largest organ of the body and the largest area from which toxins are eliminated. Skin brushing not only removes the build-up of dead skin cells but improves the circulation of blood and lymph, which helps the body in its removal of cellular waste.
See our Brochure on Body Brushing for more information.
Aromatherapy
Pure essential oils can be used in body & massage oils or bath oils to help the body with detoxification. They include the following essential oils
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Fennel
Grapefruit
Cypress
Lemon
Juniper
Mandarin
Orange
Tangerine
Black pepper
Ginger
Rosemary
Carrot seed
Chamomile
Geranium
Lavender
Lime
Peppermint
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Diuretic, alterative/blood cleanser
Diuretic stimulates lymph & tissue fluid circulation, liver
Diuretic, liver
Diuretic, alterative/blood cleanser,
Diuretic, alterative/blood cleanser, stimulates lymph & tissue fluid circulation
Diuretic
Diuretic stimulates lymph & tissue fluid circulation
Diuretic stimulates lymph and tissue fluid circulation
Stimulates blood and lymph circulation
Stimulates blood and lymph circulation
Stimulates blood & lymph circulation & tissue fluid circulation, alterative/blood cleanser, liver
Alterative/blood cleanser, liver
Alterative/blood cleanser, liver
Alterative/blood cleanser
Alterative/blood cleanser
Stimulates lymph and tissue fluid circulation
Stimulates lymph and tissue fluid circulation, liver
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Exercise
To improve elimination through the skin, regular exercise is important to stimulate sweating and circulation. Exercise also improves general metabolism and helps overall with detoxification. On the other hand, exercise also increases the production of waste so it must be accompanied by adequate water intake.
Exfoliate
In addition to skin brushing, body scrubs use a combination of exfoliating particles such as polished nut shells and milled legumes with detoxifying essential oils and toning clays to work on several levels. Use a body scrub once a week as part of a
detoxifying body treatment, shower it off, apply a body mask or clay then hop into the bath for a cleansing soak.
Ishta Detox Body Scrub contains green detoxifying clay, pumice & walnut exfoliation particles, potent antioxidants and detoxifying essential oils. It will cleanse and rejuvenate your skin and prepare it for a massage oil application, of ishta detox massage.
BATHING
Regular bathing is essential to cleanse the skin of the toxins it has released and to open the pores to eliminate more.
Ishta Detox Bath Salts contain essential oils of grapefruit, lemon, juniper, geranium and green clay, Epsom salts. The essential oils along with the Epsom salts encourage waste elimination.
Masks - Green Clay
The Plant Essentials Green Argiletz Clay can be mixed with purified water into a paste and smoothed over the body. It will draw and absorb toxins from the skin. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before removing.
Flower Essences
Detoxification occurs on many levels. Physically, it can help clear congestion, illnesses and disease potential. It can improve energy. Mental detoxification is also important. Cleansing our minds of negative thought patterns is essential to health; the physical detoxification also helps this mental process. Emotionally, detoxification helps us uncover and express feelings, especially hidden frustrations, anger resentments, or fear, and replace them with forgiveness, love, joy and hope. On a spiritual level, many people experience new clarity and/or an enhancement or their purpose of life during cleansing processes.
Detoxification is part of a transformational medicine that instils change on many levels. Change and evolution are the keys to healing. Enhancing elimination helps us deal with and clear problems from our past, from childhood and parental patterns to recent job or relationship stress.
When our body has eliminated much of its toxic build-up, we feel lighter and are able to really experience the moment and be open for the future.
Australian Bush Flower Essences that can help with clearing out and change include Bottlebrush and Boronia, Spinifex, Mountain Devil, Dagger Hakea. Purifying Essence is a blend specifically for this purpose.
Bach Flower Remedies that may assist with clearing out, letting go and change include Crab Apple, Honeysuckle and Walnut.
Meditation and Relaxation
Meditation and relaxation are also an important aspect of fasting to help attune us to deeper levels of ourselves and clear the stresses that we have carried with us.
Detoxification is an individual affair, and many personal aspects are involved in devising a complete plan. It would not be appropriate for those with deficiency problems such as extreme fatigue, underweight people, those who experience coldness, blood sugar instability, or those with heart weakness. People with xxxxxx need to be very careful about how they detoxify. Prior to or just after surgery is not a good time to detoxify, but after healing i.e. about four to six weeks later. Pregnant or lactating women should not do any detoxification regime.
- Toni McMahon
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