WORKPLACE WELLNESS
There are 1001 ways to do it.
Hard-core, gentle, elaborate, simple, costly
or affordable.
People the world over have used various internal cleansing methods for thousands of years to rid the body of accumulated toxins. Some cultures do a one-day fast every week or every month; in many traditions the changes of the seasons are
key moments to detoxify, especially in the spring and fall.
In Vancouver, spring comes early. Being from the Appalachian Mountains, it is still a wonder to me to see new life rising from the fertile ground in February. Actually I am in awe every spring. In February or in April, the smell of earth
awakening makes me quiver and vibrate.
In Chinese medicine, the seasons are an integral part of a system including internal organs, body parts, sense organs, body fluids as well as emotions. Spring is associated with the liver and gall bladder, the marrow and tendons, the
eyes, tears and the extreme emotion of anger. It’s element is wood, it is rising yang energy, rebirth.
Leaving winter with its full yin energy, spring leads to the fullness of yang energy in the summer. Fall as well as spring are transitions from one polarity into another. The cycle starts with spring/wood/ little yang then goes to big
yang in summer/fire to little yin in the fall/metal into big yin in the winter/water. In the old tradition, the earth element comes in between seasons, nine days in the leaving season and nine days in the new one. These 18 days are said
to be the best time for cleansing since it is a balancing time, where the qualities of the old mix with the new at the onset of a new cycle.
From March 11th - 28th it is an excellent time to give your body a tune-up in order to get rid of the accumulation and depletion of winter!
Liver cleanse, Colon Cleansing, Master Cleanse, the Three Part Cleansing Program, the Rice Diet, fasting, juicing, alkaline diet, colonics, enemas, Pancha karma, liver flush, Wild Rose, Arise and Shine to name but a few. Oh my, oh my
what to do? Which is the best cleanse for me?
Today’s lifestyles can put great toxic strain on the vital organs associated with digestion: colon, stomach, spleen/pancreas, small intestines, and liver. A good cleanse will focus on all aspects of the digestive process as well as
address the specificities of your condition. The time of the year is also important, for example as we are moving into spring, giving special attention to the liver is appropriate.
Once you have decided on a time and the kind of cleanse you want to do, prepare yourself mentally and physically. A week prior, favor a wholesome diet with lots of fresh organic vegetables. Avoid all processed food. Green drinks, fresh
juices and lots of water are also beneficial. A pre-cleanse will make the cleanse less of a shock on the body.
Dandelion and milk thistle - two indigenous herbs – are very good for the liver. Combine in a tincture, tea or capsule they can be taken everyday without side effect. There are many liver cleanses available. I have also made my own
cleanse collecting all ingredients from scratch. LiverDetox by Renew Life has good combination and incorporates amino acids. It is a 30-day easy cleanse, with capsules taken in the morning and evening. I find it is a good start before
doing the Wild Rose Cleanse. Because of the drying properties of most cleanse, I make sure to use lots of omega oils and although they usually recommend a non-dairy diet I find Ghee to be helpful.
With the small intestines and colon clogged with toxic wastes not only is ingested food not properly assimilated but also autotoxemia is very likely to occur. Autointoxication is considered to be a major source of many health problems.
Elimination is really important, especially during cleansing. Aloe Vera, Cascara Sagrada and Trifala or Triphala churna powder are all safe, non-addictive and effective in helping proper elimination. They are usually taken at night for
the whole duration of the cleanse. Also to absorb toxins in the bowel prior to elimination many cleanses include a shake of psyllium seed husks with Bentonite clay added to juice (organic apple cider is great because of the pectin). Some
claim that without colonics the accumulation of toxins and mucoid plaque cannot be eliminated. Use your judgment and consult with a professional before doing anything too drastic.
Be mindful not to over do it. There is such a thing as over-detoxification where one loses too many nutrients and destabilizes the body’s natural balance.
A physical detoxification will influence emotional and mental states as well. A good bodyworker or acupuncturist can help you integrate the changes on all levels. Saunas, steams and exercise will also support this process bringing you
closer to your optimal potential.
After cleansing continue to avoid all processed food. Honor the food you eat and choose fresh whole and organic food. Incorporate lots of food rich in enzymes to rejuvenate the body now able to assimilate better. Wheat grass, Rejuvelac,
and cultured vegetables like unprocessed sauerkraut, are excellent tonic for the whole system. Their natural enzymes help recolonize the intestines with beneficial bacteria. Also yogurt and kefir are an excellent source of acidophilus. |
