Ten detox tips
By Tom Francescott, ND
http://www.eomega.org/omega/enews/article/?source=ENEWS
We live in a time of immense change and great potential for extraordinary growth. It can feel overwhelming and out of control at times. We can feel off balance and sluggish. We might be stressed and having sleep difficulties. We can easily gain weight or have digestive problems. The list goes on and on. But we always have the option of turning inward and listening to our bodies, hearts, and the wisdom of nature. We can take the change surrounding us and use it to empower change within us.
It might be the perfect time for a cleanse, to let go and to give yourself a much needed rest-physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a naturopathic doctor, I have become increasingly aware that toxic overload on all of these levels contributes to many people's health issues. I believe that toxins are blocking many people from living their truest lives. The cleansing of our mind of negative thoughts, behaviors, and memories is essential to health. Emotionally, detoxification helps us uncover and express hidden frustrations, grief, fear, and anger, and replace them with forgiveness, love, joy, and hope. Physically, taking a break from the obvious environmental toxins in our food can leave us feeling energized, renewed, and protected from disease.
Many of us want to cleanse but don't because we can't find the time or we feel intimidated by myriad cleansing options, from fasting to the Master Cleanse to colon cleansing. In the sea of detox regimes and ideas, I suggest getting back to basics. Here are 10 simple things that you can do at home to start the process of detoxification.
Ten Detox Tips
Wake-Up Drink. First thing upon waking, and on an empty stomach, drink 1 cup of hot filtered or spring water with the juice from half of one lemon and two pinches of cayenne pepper. The lemon stimulates your digestion and the cayenne enhances circulation and blood flow.
Contrast Shower. Try your own at-home version of an old naturopathic hydrotherapy cure. Each time you take a hot shower, follow it by a cold rinse (60 seconds). The "contrast" stimulates circulation, your immune system, and your ability to detox via your skin. Your pores will tighten and you will feel invigorated and ready for the day.
Shake It Up. Jump on a trampoline for 3-to-5 minutes at a time. This stimulates your whole body and is particularly useful for stimulating your lymph drainage system. If you are prone to allergies or cysts, this will be very helpful.
Fever Baths. Take a warm bath in the evening and add one cup of Epsom salts to soothe, relax, and detox. You can increase the benefits of a fever bath by drinking 2-to-3 cups of hot tea while in the bath to work up a sweat. Try this recipe: Simmer some fresh ginger slices in water, tossing in one tablespoon of dried yarrow flowers. Steep for 15 minutes, strain, and drink. Yarrow and ginger have been shown to stimulate sweating, which helps the body release toxins.
Take a News Break. Observe a news fast for 3-to-7 days to limit toxic thoughts, which can undermine your health. Avoid news or other emotionally disturbing information from the Internet, magazines, movies, newspapers, radio, and television. Detoxing these "stressful" exposures and replacing them with deep breathing, relaxing activities like walking or yoga, or reading a book, can give your mind and body a much needed rest.
Spend Time in Nature. Take a break from your routine of being inside your home, office, or car, and venture out to your favorite place in nature or a new place you have always wanted to go. Bring a journal with you and start listening to your body, and record what it is telling you. Surrounding yourself with nature and all its negative ions (which act positively on your mood) will help you de-stress and encourage the inherent wisdom of your body to come forth.
Detox Tea. For at least one week, try limiting all of your beverages to just water and herbal teas. This will ease the stress on your kidneys, help flush retained fluids in your cells, and help filter your blood and liver. I recommend drinking 6-to-8 cups a day of the following tea to help "crowd-out" less healthy beverages, maintain a state of fullness, reduce your appetite, and cleanse your liver and kidneys. In a quart of water, combine 2 tablespoons of each of the following and gently simmer the tea: burdock root, yellow dock root, dandelion leaf and root, licorice root, fennel, and ginger. Multiply the recipe accordingly to make larger batches, and drink it throughout the day.
Change Your Food Routine. Many of us unknowingly consume foods that we have allergic reactions to or that increase toxins in our bodies, causing symptoms like arthritis, headaches, water retention, and fatigue. The most common culprits are gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, and sugar. I suggest taking a break from all of these foods, or picking one that is predominant in your diet and taking a break from it. Often, if we simply eliminate foods that contain gluten (wheat, oats, rye, barley, spelt) and replace them with brown rice, millet, or quinoa products, we can change our eating habits and actually increase the variety of foods we eat.
Detox Your Dinner. For seven nights, prepare a simple meal of liver detoxifying steamed vegetables like carrots, broccoli, artichokes, beets, and onions, along with a 4-ounce portion of protein simply prepared with a little bit of olive oil. Consider wild fish, organic lean meats, or lentils for your protein sources.
Detox Your Surroundings. Decluttering and organizing your environment can help clear up your stagnant energy and free you physically and emotionally. Let go of papers, clothes, and boxes that you no longer use. This creates space and helps welcome new energy.
Each one of us must become an example of good health and healthy habits to inspire others to make healthy choices. Just as we tune up our cars and recycle for the environment, we must also regularly cleanse our bodies. Our bodies and the environment are reflections, or mirrors, of each other. As we cleanse our bodies, we cleanse our environment. If we all took it upon ourselves to cleanse, the world would be a much cleaner place.
Tom Francescott, ND, is a doctor, teacher, and lecturer, who seeks to inspire and transform people's lives with authentic and personalized natural health care. He is the founder and director of Rhinebeck Cooperative Health Center in Rhinebeck, New York, where he has an integrative naturopathic practice specializing in science-based detoxification. He is also the founder of Dr. Tom's Tonics, a natural pharmacy.
