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The ultimate body detox plan recipes

The Ultimate Body
Detox Plan Recipes




“The food we put in our systems determines the health of every cell and organ in our bodies. The human body needs “live” foods to build “live cells.”
Jay Kordich,“Th e Juiceman”
In this chapter you will learn
• How to make delicious cleansing juices and smoothies, including ones to detoxify your blood, liver, skin, or to increase healing ability • How to prepare herbal teas to purify your blood, liver and gallbladder • How to make quick salad dressings and salads that are, not only delicious, but also lessen inflammation and pain while detoxifying your body • How to prepare ancient and whole grains • How to make delicious cleansing soups and main dishes • How to prepare decadent desserts (that still cleanse your body) Chapter ..: The Ultimate Body Detox Plan Recipes ...
JUICES AND SMOOTHIES Many of the smoothie recipes include frozen banana. I encourage you to peel several bunches of bananas (preferably organic since most conventional bananas are picked green and gas-ripened), set them on a tray, and freeze them. Once they are frozen, put them in a plastic bag and store them in the freezer. When a recipe calls for a frozen banana, simply pull one from your freezer bag as necessary.
Carrot Cleansing Juice
Ginger increases circulation to the muscles in the body, allowing the extra blood and oxygen to fight toxins. It also helps alleviate pain and inflammation. Carrots are an excellent source of beta carotene, which is needed for many detoxifi cation processes.
6 large carrots (remove tops)1 apple, cored1 1-inch piece of ginger
Pass all ingredients through a juicer. Drink immediately.
Body Cooler
This is an excellent summertime juice to keep your body cool. 4 carrots 2 celery stalks 1 apple, cored
Juice all ingredients in a juicer. Drink immediately.
Citrus Cleansing Juice
1 orange1 grapefruit½ lemon1 cup water
Juice all citrus ingredients in a citrus juicer. Alternatively, peel and juice in a standard juicer. Add water and drink immediately.
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Alkalizing Juice
3 carrots
½ cucumber
½ beet with greens Juice all ingredients in a juicer. Drink immediately.
Blood, Liver, and Kidney Cleansing Juice
Dandelion is useful for cleansing the blood (which removes toxins from the tissues and joints, thereby speeding healing and reducing pain and inflammation). Be aware that if you drink a fair amount of this juice over a short period of time it can quickly cause a cleansing reaction that initially might produce symptoms like fatigue or headaches. These symptoms will pass as your body becomes “cleaner.”
3 apples
handful of fresh dandelion leaves (if you are digging it yourself,
be sure to obtain organic dandelion where the land has not been
sprayed for several years and is far removed from traffi c areas) Pass all ingredients through a juicer. Drink immediately.
Skin Cleansing Juice
1 cucumber
4 stalks celery
1 to 2 apples (depending on preferred sweetness) Pass all ingredients through a juicer. Drink immediately.
Enzyme Power Healing Smoothie
Not only is this smoothie delicious and satisfying, it is an amazing healer. Papaya, pineapple, and ripe bananas are loaded with enzymes that help digestion and break down toxins, fat, and inflammation in the body. Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapple, breaks down cholesterol in the blood and reduces inflammation in the blood and tissues. Studies show that it helps to eliminate muscle,
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joint, and headache pain.1 Bromelain also helps break down fat. Papain, an enzyme that is plentiful in papaya, breaks down protein molecules in the blood, reducing inflammation that is linked to allergies or pain. Even cancer cells have a protein coating that papain attacks, thereby helping the body deal with these ominous cells. Drink up!
1 cup chopped papaya
1 cup chopped fresh pineapple (not canned)
1 frozen banana Combine with desired amount of water in a blender and blend to desired smoothie consistency.
Clenzyme Juice
½ pineapple, outer skin removed (juice the core as well as the fl esh)
1 1-inch piece of ginger Pass all ingredients through a juicer. Dilute with pure water to taste. Drink immediately.
Cran-Berry Melon Power Juice
This delectable treat cleanses the urinary tract and the liver, while reducing inflammation in the body. Consider the research behind this delicious drink: cranberries and blueberries line the cells of the urinary tract and bladder, thereby preventing harmful bacteria from anchoring themselves to the cells. Blueberries also contain a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient that is ten times stronger than aspirin (without the harmful side eff ects). Watermelon is one of the few foods that contain a potent nutraceutical called glutathione. Nutraceuticals are compounds found in food that have nutritional and medicinal properties. This super food greatly improves the Phase 2 detoxification pathway in the liver—a remarkable accomplishment that helps the body more eff ectively eliminate synthetic chemicals.
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2 large slices of watermelon
½ cup blueberries
½ cup cranberries Push all ingredients through a juicer. Serve over ice if desired.
Banana Nut Shake
2 bananas
4 pitted dates (soaked for at least half an hour)
½ cup almonds
water Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Add water until desired consistency is reached.
Bobbi’s Strawberry Daquiri
1 orange, juiced
1 cup frozen strawberries
½ lime, juiced Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Drink immediately. Alternatively, peel one orange and half a lime and blend in a blender with frozen strawberries.
HERBAL TEAS
Blood Purifier Tea
This warming tea not only purifies the blood, it lowers cholesterol, urea, and nitrogenous waste products that damage cells. It even cleanses the liver and skin, and soothes the gastrointestinal tract.
Mix the following dried herbs (found in most health food stores) in a jar:
¼ cup peppermint
¼ cup ginger
¼ cup globe artichoke
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Add one teaspoon of the mixture (per cup of tea) to a tea strainer or tea ball. Pour boiling water over the tea strainer and let sit for five minutes. Sweeten with one to three drops of stevia per cup (if desired).
Liver/Gallbladder Tea
This tea is also good to help with fat digestion. Many people suff er from headaches because their bodies cannot handle the amount of fat in their diet.
Purchase dried herbs at your local health food store for this recipe. In a jar, mix together the following:
1 part milk thistle seed
1 part artichoke leaves
1 part dandelion root Use one teaspoon of the herb mixture per cup of water. Simmer in a non-aluminum pot on the stove for fifteen minutes. Strain. Drink one cup of the liquid mixture three times per day.
SALADS AND SALAD DRESSINGS
TIP: For an even higher fi bre, higher protein salad, drain a can of beans and add to your favourite salad recipes.
Blueberry Cleansing Salad Dressing
Blueberries are excellent anti-inflammatory agents. They increase the amounts of compounds called heat-shock proteins that decrease as people age, thereby causing inflammation and damage, particularly in the brain. If you blueberries regularly, research shows that these heat-shock proteins stop declining, inflammation decreases, and pain decreases, not to mention that the blueberries just taste fabulous. Blueberries are excellent pain-fighters as well. If toxins in your body are causing pain or inflammation, you’ll be happy to learn that
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blueberries contain a substance that is ten times more potent than
aspirin at fighting pain and inflammation. ½ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen) ¾ cup cold-pressed flax seed oil (make sure it is refrigerated) . cup apple cider vinegar (with sediment in the bottom—purchase at a health food store) dash of Celtic sea salt (Celtic sea salt is a moist, greyish-coloured salt that contains dozens of minerals, not just sodium. It is not the same as sea salt. I recommend using Celtic sea salt whenever you would normally use salt.) 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Blend with a hand mixer or whisk together. If whisking ingredients together, mash the blueberries with a fork. Pour over mixed baby greens since they have the greatest healing properties of various types of lettuce.
Herb Cleansing Salad Dressing
¾ cup cold-pressed flax seed oil (make sure it is refrigerated) . cup apple cider vinegar (with sediment in the bottom—purchase at a health food store) ½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt ½ teaspoon basil ½ teaspoon thyme ½ teaspoon oregano dash of cayenne pepper Whisk all ingredients together. Or place in a jar and shake well. Pour over fresh mesclun salad greens (mixed baby greens).
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Miso Vinaigrette
. cup cold-pressed organic canola oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 heaping teaspoons red miso
1 level teaspoon honey Shake all ingredients together in a jar or blend with a hand blender. Toss with greens.
Raw Spa Wild Berry Dressing
I borrowed this delicious salad dressing recipe from Th e Raw Spa
Kitchen.
½ cup mixed berries, fresh or frozen
1 to 2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon orange juice Blend the ingredients and pour on your favourite salad greens.
Mom’s Coleslaw
½ cabbage, grated
2 carrots, grated
¼ onion, finely grated or chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
½ cup organic raisins
1 apple, grated (optional)
Dressing:
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons unpasteurized honey
¼ cup unpasteurized apple cider vinegar Mix all coleslaw ingredients together in a bowl. In a jar, mix together dressing ingredients and shake until blended. Pour dressing over coleslaw until well mixed. Serve.
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Healing 5-Bean Salad
I have another name for this recipe: “the power pusher.” You’ll dis
cover why within a day or so of eating it.
1 can cooked mixed beans (such as kidney, garbanzo, pinto, etc.),
rinsed
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
¼ purple onion, finely chopped
½ green pepper, finely chopped
½ red pepper, finely chopped
1 green onion, finely chopped
¾ cup cold-pressed flax seed oil (make sure it is refrigerated)
. cup apple cider vinegar (with sediment in the bottom—pur
chase at a health food store)
½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
½ teaspoon basil
½ teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon oregano
dash of cayenne pepper Mix the cooked beans and chopped vegetables together in a bowl. In a jar, whisk together the flax seed oil, apple cider vinegar, Celtic sea salt, maple syrup, basil, thyme, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Pour half of the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. For the best taste, let it marinate overnight or for a couple of hours. Store the remaining dressing in a covered jar in the refrigerator for later use.
Mexican Salad
1 head of leaf or romaine lettuce, washed and dried
1 tomato, chopped into cubes
1 avocado, chopped into cubes
dash Celtic sea salt
handful fresh cilantro
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1 tablespoon cold-pressed flax oil
1 lime
1 small clove garlic Cut or tear the lettuce and place it in bowls to form a base for the other salad ingredients. Put tomato, avocado, Celtic sea salt, cilantro, and flax oil together in a separate bowl. Squeeze the juice of the lime over the tomato-avocado mixture. Chop or press garlic and add it to the tomato-avocado mixture. Toss ingredients together. Serve the tomato-avocado mixture over the salad greens.
Sweet Broccoli Salad
My sister developed this recipe to find a delicious way to get raw
broccoli into her diet.
1 head of broccoli, chopped finely
1 carrot, grated
2 apples, cored and chopped
1 cup raisins (soak in water for at least half an hour before using,
then drain and discard water)
¼ cup raw, unsalted sunfl ower seeds
Mix all the ingredients together.
Dressing:
½ cup extra-virgin oil or Udo’s Special Blend oil
1 tablespoon unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon unpasteurized honey Mix the dressing ingredients together. Pour on vegetable mixture. Toss and enjoy.
Bobbi’s Complete Salad
1 head of romaine lettuce, cleaned and chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 avocado, cubed
1 tomato, chopped
½ red onion, sliced into thin rings
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½ red pepper, chopped
Dressing:
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon organic balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon unpasteurized honey
1 teaspoon crushed garlic, basil, oregano, or your favourite herb
(optional) Blend all the dressing ingredients together. Divide the salad ingredients into bowls. Pour the dressing over the salad. Serve.
Spinach Salad
1 small package baby spinach leaves
¼ cup raw, unsalted walnut pieces
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
2 hardboiled eggs, peeled and sliced (optional)
Dressing:
¼ cup cold-pressed walnut oil
. cup organic balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup Mix all the dressing ingredients together. Toss over spinach leaves. Place the dressed greens in serving bowls.Top with walnuts, avocado, and hardboiled eggs (if using). Serve.
Bobbi’s Zesty Salad
1 grapefruit, peeled and cut into sections
1 orange, peeled and cut into sections
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
½ red onion, chopped finely
2 cups bean sprouts (washed and drained) Mix all salad ingredients together. Dressing:
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¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup organic red wine vinegar
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon chilli powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed chillies (optional) Mix all the dressing ingredients together. Pour the desired amount over the salad ingredients.
Asian Rice Salad
½ cup almonds, chopped and soaked in water overnight (discard
water after soaking)
2 cups cooked brown or wild rice
¾ cup chopped celery
¾ cup chopped red pepper
1 green onion, chopped
large handful of fresh parsley, chopped
Mix all ingredients together.
Dressing:
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil or Udo’s Special Blend oil
½ tablespoons wheat-free tamari (available at most health
food stores)
dash Celtic sea salt Mix the dressing ingredients together. Pour over salad ingredients and toss.
Italian Pasta Salad
Bobbi-Jo Meyer created this healthy alternative to a traditional pasta salad.
3 cups cooked pasta (brown rice, spelt, or kamut)
1 ½cups chopped broccoli fl orets
1 tomato, chopped
1 scallion, minced
1 carrot, thinly sliced
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Dressing:
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried parsley
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons organic balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons unpasteurized apple cider vinegar Mix all the salad ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix all the dressing ingredients in a jar. Shake and pour over salad. Serve.
ENTRÉES When you’re cooking, never allow oil to get so hot it smokes. Th e temperature at which an oil will smoke varies from one kind of oil to another. The smoke temperature is the point at which the heat chemically alters the oil, making it no longer healthy to consume. It is far better to use a lower temperature when cooking with oils and take a few extra minutes than to destroy the health properties of the meal from overheating.
Some of the entrée recipes call for cooked whole grains. Here is a chart for cooking them. The amount of water is per cup of grain.
Grain Amount of Water Cooking Time Special Directions
Amaranth 2 ½ to 3 cups 20 to 25 minutes
Barley (Pearl) 2 ½ to 3 cups 50 to 55 minutes Millet 2 ½ cups 35 to 40 minutes Best if toasted first
Oat 3 to 4 cups 45 to 60 minutes Best if soaked overnight
Oats (rolled) 1 ½ cups 10 minutes Stir oats into boiling water
Quinoa 1 cup 15 minutes Best if toasted first
Brown Rice 2 ¼ cups 35 to 40 minutes
When using legumes, be sure to drain and rinse them thoroughly. Th is helps to prevent the flatulence commonly associated with legumes.
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Lentil Dahl
This Indian curry tastes so fabulous you may forget you are on a cleansing regime. This healing food stabilizes blood sugar, cleanses the intestinal tract, protects the liver from toxins, lowers cholesterol, and reduces joint inflammation. It is also quick and easy to make. It is one of my favourites.
1 yam, cubed
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
4 dried red chillies
1 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups cooked lentils (or two small cans, rinsed)
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
fresh cilantro (if desired)
½ cup water In a medium to large pot, boil the cubed yam in water until soft. Pour off excess water, leaving enough to mash the yam with a hand blender until smooth. In a frying pan, cook the onion, mustard seeds, chillies, ginger, and garlic in the olive oil over low heat until the onion is transparent. Add the onion mixture to the mashed yam. Th en add the lentils, turmeric, Celtic sea salt and ½ cup water. Stir together. Let the mixture simmer over low heat until warmed and the fl avours mingle. Serve in bowls with fresh cilantro as a garnish.
Italian White Bean Stew
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ bunch spinach, chopped coarsely
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4 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 can lima beans or other white beans, drained and rinsed chopped basil for garnish Celtic sea salt to taste
In a large skillet, sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil over low heat until translucent. Add the spinach, tomatoes, and lima beans. Stir. Cook uncovered for about 10 minutes or until the tomatoes and spinach are cooked and the stew has thickened. Add the chopped basil and Celtic sea salt and stir. Serve.
Hot and Sour Soup
This is one of the easiest soups to make, but don’t let its simplicity fool you.
It is a meal in a bowl (or pot depending on how you choose to serve it). Broth: 1 medium onion, chopped 4 teaspoons freshly grated ginger (approximately 1 1-inch piece of ginger) 1 small dried chili 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 8 cups of water 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 5 tablespoons low-sodium tamari or soy sauce small handful of dried arame (seaweed) strips, or one small piece of dried kelp juice of 1 lemon
In a medium-sized pot, sauté the onion, ginger, and chilli in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until the onion is transparent. Add water and all additional ingredients and let simmer for 10 to 30 minutes (depending on the time available). Longer simmering allows the flavours to mingle.
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Hot and Sour Hotpot Variation
To the above broth, add the following:
grated carrots
1 handful of rice vermicelli noodles
thinly sliced red and green peppers
thinly sliced button mushrooms
1 green onion, sliced diagonally
cilantro, finely chopped
. cup cubed tofu In a serving pot or several bowls, arrange the hot pot ingredients in small clusters. When ready to serve, pour the broth over the hot pot ingredients and let sit for several minutes.
Zesty Tomato Soup
Here is another simple, but fabulous, recipe from The Raw Spa
Kitchen.
1 cup tomatoes
¾ cup water
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt
½ teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon dill
2 cloves garlic
¼ teaspoon black pepper Blend all the ingredients in a blender and serve.
Roasted Vegetable and Rosemary Soup
This is my husband’s all-time favourite soup. You may forget how detoxifying it really is while you are enjoying the savoury taste. It is packed with cleansing veggies and nutritious extra-virgin olive oil.
Vegetables:
1 sweet potato or yam
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1 red pepper
1 green pepper
2 medium-sized potatoes
1 large onion
5 cloves garlic
1 carrot
Marinade:
3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
1 sprig of fresh rosemary or 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary
1 teaspoon thyme (dried)
½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt.
Mix all the marinade ingredients together. Chop all the vegetables (excluding the garlic) into medium-sized pieces. Put all the vegetables in a large bowl.Toss them with the marinade until coated. You may need to do this in two stages, depending on the size of the bowl you are using. Spread all the vegetables on a large baking tray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until vegetables are soft. Purée in a food processor or blender, adding hot water or stock to thin to desired consistency. Serve. Add Celtic sea salt to taste.
Moroccan Vegetable and Wild Rice Soup
Don’t let the ingredient list fool you. This is a quick and easy recipe to make, especially if you use the slicing blade of a food processor. Th e result is a rich and hearty soup that is almost a stew and is loaded with cleansing vegetables and fi bre.
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
8 cups water
½ cup wild rice
1 sweet potato, chopped
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2 stalks celery
2 carrots, chopped
4 small red-skinned potatoes, sliced
½ cup frozen peas
3 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon molasses
2 teaspoons Celtic sea salt (or to taste)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons cumin
dash of cayenne pepper
1 red pepper, sliced
½ cup cooked kidney or pinto beans In a large pot, sauté the garlic cloves and onion in the olive oil. When the garlic and onions are slightly browned, add the water, wild rice, sweet potato, celery, carrots, potatoes, peas, cinnamon, allspice, molasses, Celtic sea salt, garlic powder, cumin, and dash of cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil. Once the water begins boiling, turn down the heat and let simmer for 45 minutes. Add the red pepper and kidney or pinto beans and simmer for an additional 15 minutes or longer, until the vegetables are cooked and the wild rice is soft. Simmer longer, if desired to allow flavours to mingle. Stir any spices that sit at the top of the pot into the broth before serving.
Jewelled Moroccan Stew
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped
1 teaspoon ground tumeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried hot pepper flakes
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3 medium tomatoes diced
1 13-ounce can chick peas, drained and rinsed
½ cup golden raisins (be sure they are organic and do not contain
sulphites)
1 cup water
½ medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes
1 red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and sauté until translucent. Add the spices and cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes (with lid on). Serve on its own or with rice or couscous.
APPETIZERS, SNACKS, AND SPREADS
Stuffed Celery Sticks
celery, cleaned and cut into 3-inch pieces
raw almond butter Spread almond butter on the concave part of the celery.
Mom’s Omega-3 Almond Butter
3 cups of raw almonds
½ cup of cold-pressed flax oil Put the raw almonds into a food processor bowl and start to chop. While chopping, slowly drizzle ½ cup of the flax oil into the nuts. Blend until almond butter reaches the desired level of smoothness.
Bobbi’s Mexican Sandwich Spread
½ green pepper, minced
½ red pepper, minced
½ stalk celery, minced
2 small scallions, minced (or use one green onion, chopped)
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juice of 1 lemon (use fresh lemon juice only)
dash of chili powder
dash of cumin powder
dash of cayenne powder
1 avocado, peeled and pitted Mix all ingredients, mashing the avocado into the vegetables and spices. Serve on whole grain pitas, tortillas, and wrap. Alternatively, serve on toasted whole-grain spelt or kamut bread or buns. If desired, add either of the following:
Baby spinach leaves
Sliced tomatoes
Celery Seed Bread
Brush olive oil on slices of whole-grain bread (preferably 100 percent whole-grain spelt or kamut) and sprinkle with celery seeds. Bake in a 350 degree F oven until golden-brown and serve as a tasty side dish. Celery seeds contain more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds and help cleanse the kidneys and urinary tract.
BREAD AND PANCAKES
Quick Spelt Bread
1 ¾ cup whole-grain spelt fl our
½ cup multi-grain cereal
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder (make sure it is aluminum-free)
2 tablespoons water
1 ¼ cup soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup canola oil (cold-pressed organic preferably)
2 tablespoons ground fl ax seeds (or grind your own in a coff ee
grinder) Mix the flour, cereal, and baking powder together in a food processor
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or mixer. In a separate bowl, whisk liquid ingredients together with the ground flax seeds. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 50 to 55 minutes.
Apple Pancakes
¾ cup kamut or spelt fl our
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt (be sure it is finely ground)
1 cup soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 apple, sliced Mix all ingredients (except apples) together. Cook by scoopfuls in an oiled frying pan. While the first side is cooking, push the apple slices into the batter. When golden brown, flip and cook the other side. Serve immediately.
DESSERTS
Berry Blast Ice Cream
Ice cream on a cleansing program? you may be asking yourself. Cleansing does not mean starvation, nor does it mean deprivation. Th is ice cream contains powerful natural phytochemicals that help diminish inflammation in the organs and tissues of your body while cleansing the lymphatic system. It is best to eat this ice cream on an empty stomach, as part of your morning fruit regime, or about three hours after eating later in the day.
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 frozen bananas Blend all the ingredients in a food processor or push through a Champion juicer with the blank screen. Eat immediately.
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Mixed Berry Pie
Crust:1 cup rolled oats½ cup almonds1 teaspoon cinnamonpinch of Celtic sea salt1 cup spelt, kamut, or whole-grain fl our. cup cold-pressed organic canola oil¼ cup maple syrup.
In a food processor, grind oats, almonds, cinnamon, and salt. Stir the flour into the oats mixture. Finally, add the oil and maple syrup and mix to form a soft dough. Press into an oiled and floured 10-inch pie plate and flute the edges if desired. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until golden-coloured. Allow to cool while preparing fi lling.
Filling: ¼ cup agar flakes (a form of tasteless seaweed that is packed with nutrients and serves as a thickener) 2 cups of unsweetened raspberry, strawberry, mixed berry, or apple juice . cup arrowroot ¼ cup maple syrup 4 cups fresh or frozen mixed berries of your choice
Mix agar flakes and juice together in a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Let cook, uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes after it starts boiling, stirring constantly. In a small bowl, whisk together the arrowroot and maple syrup. Add to the juice mixture and whisk constantly, until thickened. Stir the berries into the mixture and pour immediately into the pie crust. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or until set.
Coconut Nut Balls
My sister, Bobbi-Jo, founder of The Raw Spa Kitchen in southern Ontario, created this delicious, nutritious, and high-fi bre recipe.
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1 cup raw, unsalted almonds or walnuts, ground
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup raw almond butter
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (not the “maple-like” products
on the market)
additional ground nuts or coconut Mix all the ingredients, except additional ground nuts or coconut, together in a food processor. Form into small balls and roll in the ground nuts or coconut.
Bobbi’s Orange Date and Nut Balls
1 cup raw, unsalted pecans
½ cup chopped dates (without pits)
½ cup raisins (be sure they are unsulphured) Mix all ingredients together in a food processor. Form into balls about.
Berry “Gelatin”
Typically jelly is made from gelatin (which is an animal product). This gelatin recipe is made with mineral-rich agar, which is a type of seaweed. Now you can have your minerals and your gelatin too.
¼ cup agar flakes (available in most health food stores)
2 cups of raspberry or apple juice
2 tablespoons of maple syrup (optional)
. cup arrowroot
4 cups fresh or frozen berries In a saucepan, mix together the agar and juice with a whisk. Bring to a boil on high heat, whisking the entire time.When the juice starts boiling, lower the heat to medium and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes to dissolve the agar. In a separate bowl, mix the maple syrup and arrowroot together until well blended. If you opt not to use the maple syrup, mix the arrowroot with 2 tablespoons of water.Add the maple syrup-arrowroot mixture to the agar mixture in the saucepan. Whisk until thick (approximately 1
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minute). Remove from heat, add the berries, and pour into individual glass or ceramic serving cups. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to set.
Thumbprints
These cookies are not suitable for regular consumption during The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, but they are excellent as an occasional sweet that still helps you maintain the many benefits of the detox program after you have completed it. Full of fibre and minerals, these decadent cookies taste great and are nutritious too. If that weren’t enough, they are simple to make.
1 cup of almonds
1 cup rolled oats
1 ¼ cups of oat, kamut, spelt, or rice fl our
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup cold-pressed walnut oil
½ cup unsweetened raspberry or strawberry jam Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grind the almonds and oats to a fine meal in a food processor. Add the flour, cinnamon, maple syrup, and oil to the almonds-oat mixture and process until well combined. Oil a cookie sheet. Form the dough into walnut-sized balls. Place them on the cookie sheet. Press an indentation in the centre of each ball with your thumb. Fill the indentation with jam. Continue until all dough has been used. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden. Makes approximately 24 cookies.
Wild Berry Crumble
My sister developed this recipe as part of her Raw Spa Kitchen workshops. It is a simple, delicious, and healthy alternative to cooked berry crumbles. By keeping the fruit raw, this recipe has an alkalizing eff ect on the body. Cooking fruit has an acidifying effect on your body.
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Base: 1 cup oats ½ cup almonds ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 3 tablespoons unpasteurized honey Combine the above ingredients in a food processor. Process until mixed, but still slightly coarse. Divide evenly among small dessert bowls (approximately four). Fruit Filling: 2 cups mixed berries, frozen or fresh Divide the fruit among the four dessert bowls, placing it on top of the oat-almond mixture. Sauce: ½ cup unsweetened juice (apple, pear, or another of your choice) 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (available in most health food stores)
Combine the juice and arrowroot in a small saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Pour over the fruit. Refrigerate until set (1 to 2 hours) and serve. Alternatively, make this dessert the day before serving.
Mom’s Tropical Fruit Salad
½ pineapple, inner stem and outer skin removed, pulp chopped into bite-sized pieces 3+1 oranges: peel and cut 3 oranges into bite-sized sections, reserve 1 orange ½ cup shredded, unsweetened coconut ½ cup raw, unsalted pecans or almonds
Mix all the ingredients except one orange together in a bowl. Squeeze the remaining orange over the fruit salad and mix again. Serve immediately.
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Shortcake Balls
1 cup unsweetened oat flakes or oatmeal
½ cup dates, pitted
. cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (not artifi cial vanilla)
1 tablespoon unpasteurized honey or pure maple syrup Mix all the ingredients in a food processor for 2 minutes or until well combined. Roll into small walnut-sized balls. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. They will last about one week.

Complementary detox therapies

Complementary
Detox Th erapies
“Healing...is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing Nature.”
W. H. Auden In this chapter you will learn
• Many powerful natural therapies support detoxifi cation • Incorporating some of the best detoxification therapies into The 4 Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan will assist your cleansing eff orts • Some of the best natural therapies for assisting with detoxification include: acupuncture, Alexander technique, aromatherapy, Bach flower remedies, Bowen technique, cranio-sacral therapy, energy medicine or energy kinesiology, far-infrared sauna therapy, homeopathy, lymphatic drainage, massage, naturopathy and natural medicine, osteopathy, quantum biofeedback, reiki, shiatsu, and Th ai massage Chapter ..: Complementary Detox Therapies ...
There are many powerful therapies that can enhance your body’s ability to detoxify. Some of my favourites include acupuncture, Alexander Technique, aromatherapy, Bach flower therapy, Bowen Technique, cranio-sacral, energy medicine or energy kinesiology, far-infrared sauna therapy, homeopathy, lymphatic drainage, massage, naturopathy, osteopathy, quantum biofeedback, Reiki, shiatsu, and Thai yoga massage. I discussed a number of these therapies and techniques in Chapter 7, but I believe it is worth reinforcing those ideas in the pages that follow.
While these therapies are not essential elements of Th e 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, they are highly recommended treatments that can greatly assist with detoxification. I have provided some basic information about each form of therapy to help you decide which one or ones you would like to add to your program. Of course, personal preference, budget, time availability, and access to the therapies will affect your decision about which therapies to pursue.
The role the therapy plays in helping with detoxifi cation varies greatly from one to another. I have included information about the ways each therapy assists with detox below.
ACUPUNCTURE1 Acupuncture is a powerful healing modality that assists your body with detoxification. It is a highly respected form of medicine that is far older than “modern medicine”; acupuncture is at least fi ve thousand years old. By some anthropological findings, it may even be ten thousand years old.
It works on several diff erent premises, but the main one is the energy of the body, which acupuncturists refer to as“chi” or “qi” (both are pronounced “chee”). This energy, or life force, is found in the body, air, water, and food, and while it may be invisible, it is scientifi cally proven to be integral to life.
In Chinese philosophy, there are two main streams of life force energy, called yin and yang. Balancing these energies in the body
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is essential to optimum health. Excessive toxins in an organ, joint, fatty deposits, or other cells or tissues can disrupt the natural fl ow of energy throughout the body, resulting in pain, inflammation, or myriad other symptoms.
There are many different types of acupuncturists. They may use varying methods of diagnosis to determine the right acupuncture points for inserting needles. The most common ones include tongue diagnosis, pulse diagnosis, questioning you about your symptoms and what makes them better or worse, and face reading, which entails collecting visual clues from your face or eyes.
The acupuncturist will select which points he or she will use to bring balance back to the system and then insert fine needles into those areas. Most people barely feel the insertion of these needles, which are much finer than a pin. Acupuncture is renowned for pain relief. In China, most hospitals do not use anaesthesia drugs; instead, they rely on acupuncture anaesthesia for major and minor surgeries and pain relief.
Acupuncture is especially helpful for dealing with toxic buildup in the joints, organs, and tissues that may be disrupting the proper fl ow of energy in the body. If you have pain, acupuncture can usually help. Most acupuncturists will recommend two or three sessions per week for the first three weeks. Afterward, he or she will determine the frequency of visits based on necessity and severity of your health concerns.
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE Frederick Mathias Alexander was an Australian actor at the turn of the nineteenth century. Alexander suffered from chronic voice problems that threatened his acting career, particularly because his problems would usually coincide with his presence on the stage. He began to study his movement and posture in the mirror, mimicking his acting roles for clues. Alexander noticed that he frequently shifted his head in a manner that increased the stress on his neck, throat,
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and breathing. As a result of certain postural re-alignments and the correction of negative attitudinal patterns, he found that he was able to influence a number of health concerns. Th e Alexander Technique was born and is now widely practised as an effective therapy for raising awareness of the importance of correct bodily positions while lying, sitting, standing, and walking.
Incorrect posture creates additional stress on the body and stress can contribute to increased states of toxicity. While the Alexander Technique is primarily used to help people with pain and injuries, it can play an important role in making our bodies more effi cient, eff ective, and comfortable. It has been used to successfully treat rounded shoulders, stoops, backaches, tight neck and throat, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and even respiratory conditions.
Alexander Technique is non-invasive. The practitioner will gently guide you through different postures and positions that promote health by minimizing the stress on your spine, muscles, nerves, and soft tissue.
AROMATHERAPY Aromatherapy is as old as nature itself. The scents of fl owers, trees, and other plants have always had an impact on other life forms. Archaeological evidence has demonstrated that the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome were familiar with the use of aromatherapy oils. And while modern exploration of this wonderful form of therapy became more widespread in the last century, the healing properties of these truly natural oils have been confi rmed in the laboratories of leading universities and research institutes worldwide. These potent essential oils have produced remarkable results on pain, inflammation, infection, depression, dementia, and many other symptoms.
The great thing about aromatherapy is... everything. Fragrant scented oils are gently applied through massage or inhaled after being diffused into the air. It seems too good to be effective medicine but
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an experienced aromatherapist can achieve excellent results through the application of the correct essential oil. The science behind aromatherapy involves signals transmitted from cells in the nose to the brain. The message sent to the brain varies with the scent or scents detected by the nose. The brain then transmits signals to the rest of the body, which again acts accordingly.
Aromatherapy oil may consist of a single plant oil or a combination of many diff erent oils from many species. Th e oils frequently have more than one therapeutic use based on their properties. Th e three main classifications are “uplifting,” “balancing,” and “calming.” Choosing the appropriate oil also involves choosing high-quality oils. The therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy are greatly diminished if the processing compromises the product (i.e., the integrity of the plant or plants). You are not likely to find quality aromatherapy products in most of the “bath and body” chain stores or department stores, including many popular ones. And remember: the last thing you want in your detoxification program is more chemicals, so avoid oils that are labelled “fragrance” or include ingredients other than oils from the plant or plants they are supposed to comprise. Choose only high-quality oils to avoid toxic, rancid oils that are common in bath and beauty stores.
BACH FLOWER REMEDIES As we discussed earlier in this book, British medical doctor and bacteriologist Dr. Edward Bach founded a system of treating emotional imbalances using the “essence” of flowers. Bach believed, as many other health practitioners do, that positive, hopeful individuals heal from traumas (both emotional and physical) much more eff ectively than individuals operating in a state of fear, depression, or anxiety. His remedies are derived from wild flowers and work on mental fi xations and emotions that may be damaging the body. Needless to say, Bach fl ower remedies can contribute to one’s overall welfare during detoxifi cation.
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BOWEN TECHNIQUE This gentle, hands-on therapy uses the application of a specifi c series of physical movements to muscles, tendons, and connective tissue. During detoxification, it can be used to treat aches and pains, as well as more serious injuries or chronic pain that may be partially linked to toxicity. Developed in Australia in the 1950s by Tom Bowen, this therapy has gained worldwide acceptance as a treatment to help heal and regenerate tissues damaged from injury. I have found Bowen Technique extremely effective in alleviating pain and increasing awareness of negative emotions that may be undermining healing efforts. A Bowen session typically lasts forty-five minutes and is performed with the client wearing loose, light clothing.
CRANIO.SACRAL THERAPY Who would have thought that placing light pressure on the tiny joints of the skull (known as sutures) could contribute to profound healing experiences? William Garner Sutherland, an osteopath in the early twentieth century, discovered that, contrary to what he was taught, the bones of the skull were movable. Although the movement was minute, it was enough to provide relief for patients suff ering from diverse ailments. Sutherland further determined that rhythms exist in the cranium and echo fluctuations in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. When the flow of this fluid is outside its optimal range of ten to fourteen beats or pulses per minute, injury and illness can result. The gentle manipulations to the head and the sacrum (the lower part of the spine) that comprise cranio-sacral therapy can help re-establish the pulse and assist with the healing process.
Cranio-sacral therapy is an excellent, non-invasive adjunct to your detoxification process. A treatment may take sixty to ninety minutes. The manipulations are frequently so delicate that you may wonder whether anything is happening—until after the session. Most cranio-sacral therapists are not medical doctors. Many of
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these health practitioners have received specialized training at the Upledger Institute, an internationally recognized school founded by American doctor John Upledger.
ENERGY MEDICINE OR ENERGY KINESIOLOGY Throughout this book, we have learned that everything consists of energy. That includes your body, your thoughts, the chair upon which you sit, the apple you eat and the rocks, flowers, trees, and soil in your garden. Energy is that frequently intangible force that allows us to live. It comes in many forms in our body, including metabolic energy, bioelectrical energy, and biophotonic energy. Despite all these different forms, there are two main energy systems that I focus on. These are best described by two different yet complementary Eastern traditions. Qi (pronounced “chee”) forms the basis of the Chinese tradition of energy medicine, including acupuncture. In this system, Qi (or energy) flows through meridians and channels throughout the organs and limbs of the body. Prana is the Indian term for energy. The Pranic system focuses on spirals of energy that travel along the spine and in other locations of the body, where they are referred to as chakras. These two energy systems actually create an excellent illustration of how our bodies are powered. Toxins in their myriad forms can interrupt this flow of energy throughout our bodies, leading to illness and disease.
Energy medicine is a bit of a catch-all category for diverse therapies and practices that use both internal (our own) and external (universal) energy to assist in our healing. Arguably, all healing modalities are energy medicine but the title has become linked to techniques such as acupuncture or acupressure, which focus on alleviating energy blockages in the body, as well as therapies like Reiki and chakra balancing, which introduce additional universal energy into the body.
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Energy medicine is also the name of a specific therapy or approach to healing, involving a variety of techniques to balance the body’s energy systems, like those you learned earlier in this book. These techniques include touch, specific movements and exercises (not push-ups and sit-ups or what we traditionally refer to as “exercise”), and working in a person’s aura. The aura refers to the energetic field that surrounds each of us and actually forms part of our being. Auras have been captured using Kirlian photography techniques. It still amazes me to see the change in the size and strength of a person’s aura after they have undergone a positive experience. This could be thinking of a loving relationship, receiving a therapy or treatment from a skilled natural health practitioner, or simply, eating healthy foods or developing a greater connection with his or her life purpose.
Energy medicine is one of the oldest, most powerful forms of medicine known to humankind. In our modern society, however, it can be extremely difficult to find a credible, skilled practitioner. If you do, you will likely encounter an individual who believes that healing must take place on an energetic level before it can be successful at the physical level. Transforming your body at this energetic level will contribute to a successful detoxifi cation experience.
FAR.INFRARED SAUNA THERAPY From the native civilizations across North America to the Scandinavian cultures of northern Europe, people worldwide have recognized the health benefits of increasing one’s body temperature. Unfortunately, sweat lodges are not as common as they once were but modern technology has helped bring the benefi ts of heat to us in the form of products using far-infrared radiation (FIR). Today, you will find heat lamps, quilts, and even hair dryers that deliver therapeutic heat to our bodies. However, my favourite form of far-infrared radiation technology for the purpose of detoxification is the sauna.
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Radiation, you say? Yes, I know radiation has negative connotations in modern society and we avoid all things radioactive (if we know what they are). What most of us do not realize is that radiation comes in many forms. There is the lethal atomic radiation from a nuclear bomb blast. Ultraviolet radiation, such as the harmful rays from the sun, can burn and damage the skin when it penetrates the ozone layers. But the sun also delivers healing, warm rays or radiant heat. This is infrared radiation, a form of energy that heats objects directly. In other words, it does not heat the air in between.
A short science lesson helps to explain the heat/radiation/ energy relationship. Infrared radiation is measured as light along the electromagnetic spectrum. It falls below (“infra”) the red light segment along this spectrum—hence the name infrared. While it is not visible to the human eye, this light penetrates our skin surface and is absorbed by our cells. Visible light simply bounces off our skin. Near-infrared light is absorbed at the skin level and will cause the surface skin temperature to increase moderately. Far-infrared light can penetrate our bodies up to an estimated four centimetres and works energetically at the cellular level. Research has demonstrated that this penetrating radiant heat can increase metabolism and blood circulation in addition to raising our core body temperature. And what do all of these things have in common? You guessed it: they promote detoxification and help to heal the body.
Please do not confuse FIR saunas with the traditional idea of a sauna. You won’t be pouring water over hot rocks to create steam and moist heat. These steam saunas can be benefi cial but the high temperatures and humidity can create a cardiovascular risk. FIR saunas mimic nature by delivering radiant heat through ceramic infrared heaters. No hot stones, no water, no humidity, but plenty of sweat. The energy delivered from a FIR sauna creates a “sweat volume” that is two to three times greater than a conventional steam sauna. This is also accomplished at a lower (and therefore less risky)
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temperature. FIR saunas typically operate in the 110° to 130° F range, while steam saunas can reach 180° to 235° F. Consequently, heart rate and blood pressure concerns are greatly reduced while you sweat out those toxins. The most important thing to remember is to replace that fluid and mineral loss with pure water to prevent dehydration. In addition to your usual eight to ten cups of water daily, add at least two more cups for each sauna session.
If you can find a health practitioner who offers FIR sauna as a therapy, I urge you to consider adding it to the detoxifi cation program. If you can afford to purchase one (about $5,000 and up), it is a great lifestyle addition. These units often look like small cabins constructed of various wood species such as cedar or oak. FIR saunas vary in dimensions but can typically accommodate one to six people.
HOMEOPATHY What medical substance becomes more powerful when it ceases to exist in its physical form? According to German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the same substance that potentially causes an illness in the first place. It sounds strange but this is the basic premise of homeopathy: dilute a substance until none of the original material remains and you are left with its “energetic signature.”
Hahnemann was not alone in this belief. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, stated many centuries ago that“like cures like,” and through years of experimentation, Hahnemann discovered that the most effective way to combat particular illnesses was to deliver highly diluted substances to the body that, in their undiluted form, would create the same symptoms of the illness.The word“homeo-pathy” is derived from two Greek words:“homos,” meaning like, and “pathos,” meaning suffering. If this theory sounds too wacky for you, consider this: that modern, medical marvel known as the vaccine is based on the same principle. Unlike homeopathy, a vaccination will deliver toxic
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chemical additives such as heavy metals along with the substance intended to help the body.
In my experience, homeopathy is most effective when administered by a skilled practitioner. It is a truly holistic healing modality when a homeopath selects remedies for their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual attributes. To accomplish such a task, a homeopath may ask you many questions to obtain a clear picture of your symptoms and what conditions make them worse or better. Homeopathic remedies are available in different potencies and dosages, which can be confusing. While there is no single homeopathic remedy to tackle detoxification on an energetic (and ultimately) physical level, a visit to a homeopath may be an interesting addition to your program. You may encounter a powerful healing alternative for specific ailments or issues with which you have been struggling.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE You have now learned how critical proper lymph flow is to good health. You have also learned that unlike the blood in our cardiovascular systems, the lymph system does not have a muscle to pump lymph throughout the body. Our own movements keep lymph fl owing.
Fortunately, there is a form of massage that stimulates the network of lymph nodes in our bodies and assists us with toxic elimination. Lymphatic drainage is beneficial for anyone with stagnant lymph and, in our modern world, that is just about everyone. Press firmly under your arms or along your inner thighs. If it is sore to touch, your lymph may be struggling with a toxic buildup. Lymphatic drainage massages use deep, rhythmic, and methodical movements to stretch the tissues in the direction that lymph flows. By stimulating the lymph system, we also stimulate our immune systems to help with healing. This is an excellent addition to a detoxifi cation program, particularly for people who are not capable of exercising or have limited mobility.
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MASSAGE What can I say about massage? When administered by a trained, caring health practitioner, it can be relaxing, revitalizing, and healing all at the same time. It can be your treat for doing such a good job on your detoxification program! The important thing is to find a properly trained therapist with whom you feel comfortable. Keep in mind that there are numerous forms of massage as well: hot stone, Swedish, and Hawaiian, to name a few. Some techniques focus entirely on the physical body while others address emotional and spiritual levels as well. Virtually any form of massage will be of some assistance with cleansing.
NATUROPATHY AND NATURAL MEDICINE Naturopathy and natural medicine comprise a collection of natural therapies including but not limited to herbalism, nutrition, acupuncture, massage, and homeopathy. Naturopaths or doctors of natural medicine are the doctors who employ some or all of these therapies and healing modalities when they work with a client. Typically, he or she will focus solely on holistic therapies to help a client recover from illness, detoxify, or heal from an injury.
Sessions with a naturopath or a doctor of natural medicine will vary depending on the practitioner’s experience and areas of specialization. For example, one person may have a stronger background (and greater success) with herbal remedies, while another may focus more on acupuncture and homeopathy.
OSTEOPATHY Osteopathy has existed in its modern form since the late nineteenth century, when American doctor and engineer Andrew Taylor Still grew disenchanted with the orthodox approach to medicine. He believed that structural misalignments of the body could lead to
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illness and injury. By treating the joints, muscles, ligaments, and bones, and improving the client’s range of motion, he felt the body could be brought back into a state of balance—in other words, a state of health.
Osteopaths use soft tissue manipulation, massage, and gentle movements of specific joints to help realign the body. Th is therapy has proven effective for arthritis, asthma, back pain or injuries, bronchitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, earaches, headaches, flu, endometriosis, hearing problems, heartburn, hemorrhoids, menstrual problems, muscle cramps, pain (acute or chronic), prostate problems, sinusitis, sports or traumatic injuries, and varicose veins. Benefits are frequently experienced after a single session but long-term conditions may require multiple visits to the osteopath.
While it may appear from this description that osteopathy is best suited for injuries or postural problems, keep in mind that many of these imbalances are exacerbated by toxicity or are the result of toxic conditions.
QUANTUM BIOFEEDBACK Quantum biofeedback is high-technology therapy that taps into the primal principles of energy. Based on thirty years of research in the field of bioenergetic medicine, quantum biofeedback detects energetic imbalances in the body by reading the electrical responses of over eight thousand different factors in the body, including pathogens, allergies, hormones, joints, nutrient deficiencies, emotions, and many others. Not only does the device read these energetic frequencies, it assesses them and delivers energetic therapies to the body to help normalize the imbalances.
This is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Science has already proven that everything is energy. It has also determined that each individual thing, whether it is a cell from your lung tissue or a virus, has a unique
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frequency. Quantum biofeedback devices read these frequencies and search for stress patterns in the body. They then deliver therapies energetically to remind the body of the “correct” or healthy frequency and help the body restore its state of balance. This frequently leads to increased energy, enhanced mental clarity, and improved healing of diverse disorders.
A quantum biofeedback session will vary in length depending on the health concerns of the client and the practitioner’s approach. Anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours is common. Th e biofeedback therapist will place bands around the client’s ankles, wrists, and forehead to read the electrical impulses from the body. Th e whole process is painless but the results can be profound. Quantum biofeedback is an excellent tool for a therapist to uncover specifi c toxic stresses that may be affecting a person.
REIKI Reiki is an ancient hands-on healing art that was re-discovered by Mikao Usui in the nineteenth century. A Japanese minister working at a Christian seminary, Usui studied Buddhism, Chinese, and Sanskrit to understand ancient texts on healing. Following a twenty-one-day fast on a mountain, he was struck by a powerful light and saw visions of symbols. These symbols revealed the working of a universal life-force energy as it was described in ancient Sanskrit writings and gave Usui insight into using this energy for the purpose of hands-on healing.
Usui shared this knowledge with sixteen people. Today this gentle, healing modality has spread across the world and is practised by many thousands of people. Reiki (which means universal life force energy) practitioners believe that when energy flow is restored in the body, health is also restored. I believe that scientific testing consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of this form of therapy for a couple of different reasons: our hands emit both electromagnetic
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energy and infrared light that falls into the healing range of the electromagnetic spectrum (remember the FIR saunas?).
Reiki practitioners will never tell you they are healing you or giving you their energy. They are merely serving as a conduit for universal energy. It is a very caring and generous form of therapy and works on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Th at never hurts when we are looking to restore our health and is especially good for emotional cleansing.
SHIATSU For those of you who are intrigued with the healing principles of acupuncture but don’t like needles, shiatsu, a form of acupressure, may be a good alternative. The word means “finger pressure” in Japanese, which is appropriate for this form of massage. The therapist will use massage techniques to work on the energy meridians within the body.
Shiatsu is an effective technique for releasing toxins from body joints and improving the body’s energy fl ow. These are just two of the many excellent reasons to consider shiatsu during your detoxifi cation program.
THAI MASSAGE This is another healing modality based on the principles of acupuncture. Also known as Thai yoga massage, this technique is quite a workout for both client and practitioner. It comprises a series of guided stretches and yoga positions to loosen tight muscles, increase flexibility, and disperse energy blockages in the body.
Thai massage is an excellent therapy; however it is quite vigorous. I caution anyone who is considering this form of massage to discuss their current state of health, including injuries or illness, in detail with the practitioner prior to embarking on a session. Thai massage does work on the energy meridians of the body (like acupuncture and yoga) and therefore can offer great benefits during a detoxifi cation program.
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Detoxification and healing are most effective when a holistic approach is adopted. That means introducing healing modalities like those described above into a lifestyle that includes nutritious food, clean water, exercise, and a positive outlook on life. Every individual is unique and will respond to healing therapies in a diff erent way. Frequently, we find that we really connect with one form of healing (and certain therapists or health practitioners) over another. I encourage you to explore different forms of therapies and seek out the best experience for you.
In this chapter you learned
• Many natural healing disciplines support detoxifi cation • Some of the best ones are: acupuncture, Alexander Technique, aromatherapy, Bach flower therapy, Bowen Technique, craniosacral, energy medicine or energy kinesiology, far-infrared sauna therapy, homeopathy, lymphatic drainage, massage, naturopathy, osteopathy, quantum biofeedback, Reiki, shiatsu, and Thai yoga massage

Targetting the blood, skin and lungs

Targeting the
Blood, Lungs,
and Skin
“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the infl uences of each.”
Henry David Th oreau
In this chapter you will learn
• The many important functions of the blood, lungs, and skin • The symptoms and disorders linked with excessive toxins in the blood, lungs, or absorbed by the skin • Why it is essential to purify your blood and cleanse the lungs and skin of toxins • How to use foods, herbs, breathing exercises, massage and energy medicine to assist with cleansing your blood, lungs, and skin Chapter ..: Targeting the Blood, Lungs, and Skin ...
Maintaining healthy blood, lungs, and skin is essential to great health. Your blood bathes the cells of your body and provides them oxygen that is essential to life. Your lungs and respiratory system ensure that your blood has this oxygen available—every cell depends on their optimal functioning. Your skin does not just sit there and look pretty, it plays an integral protective and cleansing role for your body. What the other detox systems cannot handle, your skin tries to eliminate. If you are suff ering from skin problems, look no further than inadequate detoxification mechanisms for the solution.
During Phase 4 of The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan we targeted the blood and circulatory systems, lungs and respiratory tract, and the skin. To further cleanse these organs and systems, you can use additional herbal therapy, nutritional therapy, and other types of natural treatments. You can incorporate these suggestions into the four-week plan for power-packed cleansing or you can further cleanse these systems after the four weeks are completed. Th e program described in Chapter 5 is recommended, along with the suggested therapies below.
I have included information about many excellent herbs for cleansing the blood, lungs, and skin at the end of each respective section. Herbs are powerful medicine, so consult a medical doctor before using any herbs if you are pregnant or have a serious health condition. Consult an herbalist before combining two or more herbs or while taking medication with herbs. Avoid long-term use of any herb (longer than three weeks) without first consulting a qualifi ed herbalist.
BLOOD AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEMSixty thousand miles of veins and arteries, along with your heart,pump approximately five litres of blood, oxygen, and nutrientsthroughout your body every minute. Along with all this blood,
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your circulatory system is often loaded with plaque and cholesterol buildup, thanks to our love of french fries, ice cream, burgers, cakes, and all things artery-clogging. Sugar and sweets and everything grease, that is what heart disease is made of. If you think you are safe, you may wish to consider that one in every two people will die of heart disease or stroke. That’s right, over 50 percent of people living in the Western world die of diseases that have an underlying cause of hardening of the arteries (also called atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis).1 That need not happen if we keep our arteries cleaner.
You may have heard the words “plaque,” “LDL,” and “HDL” cholesterol floating around. LDL is also commonly called the “bad” cholesterol while HDL is sometimes called the “good” cholesterol. You have probably been exposed to people talking about triglycerides and homocysteine, as well. These are not the stuff of a chemistry experiment, unless you are referring to the myriad chemical reactions taking place within your body. To help end the confusion of all this medical jargon: plaque is the buildup that occurs in your arteries, never your veins. Arteries have an inner muscular layer that veins lack. This muscle wall constricts and expands, increasing blood pressure, whereas veins have a lower pressure.
Plaque is not just one thing; it is made up of many substances, including fibrin, collagen, phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, mucopolysaccharides, foreign proteins, heavy metals, muscle tissue, and debris—bonded together with calcium.2 It is not necessary to know about all these substances—suffi ce it to say that cholesterol is getting a negative reputation and being wrongfully blamed as the sole cause of heart disease. Your body needs cholesterol to live. According to some experts, cholesterol prevents blood cells from being damaged by the acidity and free radicals in the bloodstream. Cholesterol may be a potent antioxidant that protects your body against free radicals.
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All the unhealthy foods I mentioned above create acidity in the body. This acidity scours the walls of the arteries, according to some experts. Cholesterol, which is primarily made in your body, attempts to protect the arteries by patching their inner walls. High cholesterol is not a disease. According to Dr. David Rowland, author of Th e Nutritional Bypass,“It is a symptom of insults to our bodies through lack of exercise and improper diet.” One of the most common questions I am asked is whether high cholesterol levels can be normalized using food. I tell people, “Food is one of the main factors for high cholesterol levels—the wrong food, that is. Eating the right foods and exercising can reverse it.”
There are numerous ways to get and keep your blood and circulatory system working more efficiently. Of course, there are the obvious ways: stop eating so much meat, dairy products, sugar and sweets, fried and prepared foods. Stop adding salt to your foods. In a week or so, your taste buds will adapt and you will actually enjoy the taste of foods better. Most people know these nutritional basics and simply make poor choices, perhaps believing that they are indestructible, or maybe they just do not care enough. Some people believe that only food that is bad for you actually tastes good. This could not be farther from the truth. The best-tasting food I have ever eaten is healthy. Chapter 13 contains many excellent recipes to help you discover the decadent taste of healthy foods.
You learned earlier that the kidneys filter the blood, so it is imperative to cleanse the kidneys when dealing with any cardiovascular problems.
Blood and Circulatory System Stress Quiz
Do your fingers and/or toes frequently go cold?
Do you suffer from chest pains after physical exertion or
emotional stress?
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Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure?
Do your arms and/or legs often “fall asleep”?
Do you have a sharp, diagonal crease in your earlobe?
Does a short walk cause cramping or pain in your legs?
Do you become breathless with even a slight exertion or from
lying down?
Do you urinate more than twice during the night?
Do you have a persistent cough?
Is your memory not as good as it used to be?
Do you get tingling in your lips or fingers?
Do your hands cramp from writing?
Do your ankles swell in the evening? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your heart and circulatory system could use further tuning up.
Eat for Clean Blood and Circulatory System
The topic of arterial cleansing is a book unto itself. Some forms of nutritional chelation can speed the cleansing of the arteries. Nutritional chelation is a method of taking large amounts of specific nutrients that are proven to break down plaque and escort it out of the body.3 The topic is too voluminous for adequate discussion here. See the Resources section for information on nutritional chelation.
In addition to eating a nutritious diet of wholesome foods, primarily or exclusively vegetarian, with large amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and legumes, you can also supplement with particular nutrients and herbs that are beneficial in helping to break down plaque buildup.
Boosting your levels of HDL cholesterol will help lessen the amount of LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, two of the key
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constituents of plaque. You can increase the levels of your body’s natural vacuum cleaner by adding a greater number of flavonoids to your diet. The best sources are fruits and vegetables, especially pitted fruits such as apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries. Niacin (vitamin B3) is also important to increase this good cholesterol.
Eating a diet high in fibre is essential to flush the arteries. Choose carefully, however, since all fibres are not created equal. Water-insoluble fibres such as wheat bran and cellulose, are minimally effective in lowering the risk of arteriosclerosis. Water-soluble fi bre such as that found in oats, psyllium, guar gum, and pectin are far more eff ective.4
Folate (vitamin B9) is important to lower excess homocysteine that could be prematurely damaging and aging your body’s cells, which will speed up the aging process. Oranges are rich in folate.
Getting adequate amounts of essential fatty acids is also imperative to flush out toxins and plaque buildup in the arteries. We discussed the different types of essential fatty acids earlier. Most people eat a ratio of about 20:1 of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids. The ideal ratio, estimated by experts, is 1:2 in favour of larger amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. This means that most people are eating twenty times more omega-6 fatty acids than they should be. Omega-3s play an integral role in cleansing the arteries and preventing heart disease and stroke. Some of the best sources of omega-3s are raw unsalted walnuts, flax seeds, and cold-pressed flax seed oil. All these ingredients should be found in the refrigerator section of a health food or grocery store, otherwise their critical ingredients might be rancid by the time you get them. Th ey should also be kept in the refrigerator at home. Grind flax seeds in a small coffee grinder prior to adding them to salads, salad dressings, or smoothies or sprinkling them on whole-grain cereal or toast. Do not cook any of these ingredients, otherwise you will turn them from healthy fatty acids to damaging trans fats.
... The .-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan
Clean Up Your Blood and Circulatory System
If you have not already quit smoking and you answered yes to any of the above questions, it is time to quit now. Smoking is directly linked with circulatory disorders and heart disease. Truthfully, it is a slow suicide. Instead of pulling a trigger on a gun or using some other violent means to die, a person slowly poisons every cell in his or her body. Smokers die many years earlier than non-smokers. Th ey typically die of heart disease or cancer.
Adequate exercise is essential to cleansing the arteries. When you undertake aerobic activities such as walking, jogging, Pilates, and other vigorous activities, your heart rate increases, thereby quickening the pace of blood that pumps through your arteries. This is critical to adequately cleanse the arteries. Exercise also helps lower your levels of HDL cholesterol, which in turn lessens LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Research shows that cardiovascular exercise for thirty minutes at a time, three times per week, has a signifi cant effect on high cholesterol levels.5
Herbs for Deep Blood and Circulatory System Cleansing
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera juice is helpful for cleansing your arteries. Aloe vera is a tropical plant that has been used medicinally for millennia. Its healing properties have been known for over four thousand years. It has been used for stomach and intestinal ailments, dysentery and kidney infections, and sunburns, and to slow the aging process, but it is also effective against arterial plaque. Aloe vera encourages circulation and elimination. It is full of amino acids, enzymes, chlorophyll, essential oils, vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients that are benefi cial for good health.
Herbalists know aloe vera for its antibacterial, antiviral, pain killing, anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, and cleansing properties. It
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also helps dilate capillaries and enhances normal cell growth, making it useful for treating diseases such as arteriosclerosis and cancer.
Drink a quarter to half a cup of aloe vera juice, twice a day. Note that aloe vera juice is not the same as the gel, which tends to be more concentrated. Avoid using “aloes” or “aloe latex” since their strong purgative action can be too harsh on the intestinal tract and result in severe cramping or diarrhea. Avoid aloe vera juice during pregnancy and lactation.
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
Yellow dock is an excellent blood-cleansing herb that also benefi ts the skin, intestines, and mildly stimulates the liver. It has antiviral properties as well. Use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water to make a decoction. Drink one cup three times per day. Alternatively, take a quarter to a half teaspoon of the tincture three times per day.
LUNGS AND RESPIRATORY TRACT The respiratory tract has numerous parts, including the nose, pharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, vocal cords, trachea, and lungs. Air enters the trachea, where it moves into passageways called bronchi or bronchial tubes that are located behind the rib cage. From there it moves into smaller tubes called bronchioles and then into even smaller air sacs called alveolar sacs or alveoli, where oxygen is extracted and supplied to millions of capillaries. At that point, oxygen combines with hemoglobin in red blood cells and is carried throughout the body. Exhaling reverses the passage from alveoli to the trachea to allow carbon dioxide to be released.
Asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema are breathing disorders linked to improper lung functioning or damage to the lungs. Any of these disorders, or other lung problems, can be triggered or worsened
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by toxins, particularly those found in the air, such as cigarette smoke. The lungs have the greatest exposure of all the internal organs to the outside world. Air includes dust and pollution, chemicals and microorganisms, all of which enter the lungs and need to be separated from oxygen.
Enzymes naturally found in the lungs help metabolize chemicals such as medications. These enzymes break down synthetic chemicals to make them more water-soluble so they can be excreted by the kidneys.
If you are suff ering from lung or respiratory tract problems or disorders, you can do a great deal to ease your diffi culties. After completing The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, you may wish to further target the lungs.
Lung and Respiratory System Stress Quiz
Do you suffer from a chronic cough?
Do you frequently have a runny nose?
Do you have frequent bouts of bronchitis or wheezing?
Do you have frequent or ongoing sinus problems?
Do you suffer from asthma or other breathing disorders?
Do you suffer from allergies?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your lungs and respiratory system could use further tuning up.
Eat for Clean Lungs and Respiratory System
Supplement with vitamin E. This antioxidant helps protect the lungs from toxins and their resulting damage.
Drink at least eight to twelve glasses of water, unsweetened juice, herb teas, and soup broth per day.
Avoid all dairy products. Many people are sensitive to these foods without realizing that their sensitivity is showing up in chronic health
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problems. Even if you are not sensitive to dairy, these foods are quite mucus-forming. They add further burden to the lungs and respiratory tract.Yes, I know, “but, where will you get your calcium?” Th e answer to this is simple and we’ve already discussed it briefl y.You will get your calcium from the same sources as every other animal (we are part of the animal kingdom, after all) on the planet. Most foods contain calcium. Don’t forget what I explained earlier: just because there is plenty of calcium in dairy products does not mean that you should eat them, nor does it mean that your body will extract the calcium from this food. Eliminate them from your diet and, over time, your lungs will thank you. Contrary to popular belief, so will your bones (for more information, consult my book, Healing Injuries the Natural Way (www.healinginjuries.com)).
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and gluten-free grains such as millet and brown rice. You can learn how to prepare these grains in Chapter 13. Gluten sensitivities often mask themselves as lung and respiratory conditions.
Eat chlorophyll-rich foods. Chlorophyll is the green colour in most plant foods. Eat lots of leafy greens and supplement your diet with“green supplements” such as chlorella, spirulina, or barley green, all of which enhance lung cleansing.
Eat one to two tablespoons of ground flax seeds daily, sprinkled on food after it has been cooked (do not heat or cook flax seeds) or mixed into smoothies. Flax seeds are helpful in soothing and protecting lung tissue while helping to alleviate coughs and helping the lungs ward off infection.
Eat apples, blueberries, bilberries, onions, green tea, and fruits that contain pits, which include apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries. They are high in natural substances called flavonoids. Th ese substances are powerful antioxidants that reduce the damage of toxins in your body. They also bind to heavy metals. Plants produce these substances to protect themselves from bacteria, parasites, and
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cellular damage. More than four thousand of these powerful substances are currently known. Some flavonoids found in fruits and veggies contain more powerful antioxidants than vitamins C, E, or beta-carotene. Flavonoids even protect these vitamins from damage so they can work their magic in your body. So there are four thousand more reasons to eat your fruits and vegetables.
Clean Up Your Lungs and Respiratory System
I hope it is not necessary to tell you that if you are suffering from any lung or respiratory tract disorders or ailments, you should avoid all forms of cigarette smoke. That includes second-hand smoke, which many studies have shown is actually more harmful than smoking.
If you have not already stopped using scented and synthetic cleaning products, personal hygiene products, cosmetics, body- and hair-care products, it is essential that you do so now if you want to give your lungs a chance to recover.
Try to minimize your exposure to dust, dust mites, mould, and pollens if you suspect you are allergic. I have seen many allergic clients who gave up dairy products and refined sugars recover from their seasonal allergies. If you have allergies you might benefi t from taking quail egg homogenate. Quail breeders accidentally led doctors, especially French researcher J.C. Truffi er, to study the eff ects of quail eggs as an allergy remedy. A French woman who was a new quail breeder and allergy and asthma sufferer saw her allergies and asthma disappear as she ate more quail eggs. This observation led Dr. Truffier, followed by over two hundred allergists, to prescribe six raw quail eggs per day as a treatment for allergies, with tremendous success. However, eating six raw quail eggs per day has obvious problems. Scientists in France later developed a tablet that dissolves under the tongue while delivering the anti-allergy benefits of eating the eggs. Many clinical trials have proven quail eggs effective for the treatment of allergic asthma, sinusitis, and hay fever symptoms. See
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the Resources at the back of this book if you are unable to fi nd quail egg homogenate.
Improving the air quality in your home (and workplace, if possible) should be a priority if you suffer from respiratory ailments. In addition to improving the quality of cleaning products and building materials, using a high-quality air purifier can help.
Exercise is imperative to help clear the lungs of excess mucus and toxins. The increased oxygen helps the lungs perform their jobs more efficiently while helping you to feel more energized due to the increased oxygen available throughout your body’s cells for cleansing and healing. Be careful not to over-exercise if you have breathing difficulties as this can worsen problems. Gradually build your tolerance for cardiovascular activities.
Breathing and emotional releasing exercises like those suggested in Chapters 6 and 7 will also be helpful to oxygenate your body and improve the functioning of the respiratory tract. They take minimal time and effort yet offer tremendous rewards. Even someone who is very ill with respiratory problems can typically handle qigong breathing exercises like those you learned earlier in this book.
Herbs for Deep Lung and Respiratory System Cleaning
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Coltsfoot is an excellent herb for clearing out excess mucus from the lungs and bronchial tubes. In addition to clearing catarrh, it helps soothe coughs, protects and soothes mucous membranes, and increases the flow of urine to help with urinary tract toxins. It has proven itself useful for bronchitis, chronic and acute coughs, asthma, whooping cough, and emphysema. It combines well with horehound and comfrey. You can use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup for an infusion or use a half to one teaspoon three times a day in tincture form.
... The .-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Comfrey soothes and protects the body’s mucous membranes while helping to clear out excess phlegm and mucus. It also soothes irritable coughs and bronchitis. It combines well with borage. Comfrey works on damaged mucous membranes in the digestive tract and is therefore helpful for hiatus hernia, stomach or duodenal ulcers, infl ammation of the small or large intestines, ulcerative colitis (especially combined with slippery elm powder and aloe vera juice), and skin problems. Use one to three teaspoons of finely chopped herb per cup of water for an infusion or use a half to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Use the flower heads, not the leaves, dried or fresh. If you are using fresh, be sure that it is the correct species and that the plant is organic. Daisy is an expectorant that helps to clear out excess mucus from the lungs while toning the tissues. It combines well with coltsfoot or goldenrod. It also helps if you are cleansing too quickly and have diarrhea. Daisy is also helpful for rheumatism, arthritis, liver, and kidney problems. Use one teaspoon of the dried flower heads per cup of water for an infusion, drinking one cup three to four times a day. Alternatively, use a half to one teaspoon of the tincture, three times a day.
Elecampane (Inula helenium)
The root of the elecampane plant helps kill harmful bacteria, lessens coughs, expels excess mucus, and helps alleviate stomach problems. In the respiratory system, it gradually alleviates any fever that might be present while battling infection and maximizing excretion of toxins through perspiration. If you have a tickling cough or bronchitis, elecampane may be able to help. Because of its action on excess mucus and toxins in the respiratory tract, it is often helpful with
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emphysema, asthma, bronchial asthma, and tuberculosis. In addition to the effects on the respiratory tract, it also helps a sluggish digestive system. Take one teaspoon of herb per cup of water in an infusion or one to two millilitres of tincture, three times a day.
Grindelia (Grindelia camporum)
If you have problems with catarrh, grindelia is the herb of choice. It is especially helpful for eliminating excess catarrh from the upper respiratory tract while helping to relax the muscles of the lungs and bronchial tubes, making it suitable for people suff ering from asthma and bronchial disorders or whooping cough. It is also appropriate for lung disorders that are accompanied by an increase in heartbeat or nervous tension. In addition, it helps normalize high blood pressure since it helps relax the smooth muscles of the heart and arteries through its antispasmodic action. This herb combines well with lobelia and pillbearing spurge. Take one teaspoon of the dried herb in a cup of water and infuse for ten to fi fteen minutes. Drink this amount three times a day. Alternatively, take a quarter to a half teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
While you may prefer the candy from this bitter herb, it is the dried leaves that are best for their medicinal properties. They relax the muscles of the lungs while encouraging the clearing of excess mucus. Due to its antispasmodic properties, it is also good for bronchial spasms and coughs. Thanks to its highly bitter nature (which is why it is frequently blended with sugar) it is also good for digestive diffi culties. The same bitter nature stimulates bile flow, thereby helping to cleanse the digestive tract by initiating normal elimination from the intestines. Horehound combines well with coltsfoot, mullein, and lobelia to effectively clear the lungs. Take one teaspoon of dried herb per cup of water or a quarter to a half teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
... The .-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan
Lobelia (Lobelia infl ata)
Lobelia is an excellent herb for lung concerns, coughs, infections, bronchial asthma, and excessive phlegm. It helps alleviate bronchial spasms, making it useful for asthmatics. It is an extremely strong herb and should therefore be used with caution. Infuse a quarter to a half teaspoon of dried herb per cup and drink one cup three times a day. Alternatively, take one-eighth to one-quarter teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria offi cinalis)
Lungwort clears catarrh from the upper respiratory tract, nose, throat, and upper bronchial tubes, while helping the body soothe the mucous membranes in these regions and lessening coughs. It is also good for bronchitis. Lungwort combines well with coltsfoot, lobelia, and horehound. As an infusion, mix one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup and drink one cup three times a day. Alternatively, take a quarter to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
The leaves and flowers of the mullein plant soothe mucous membranes in the respiratory tract while clearing excess mucus. It reduces inflammation and pain, including within the nasal lining, throat, bronchial tubes, and digestive tract. Mullein is also mildly cleansing for the urinary tract. It is helpful for coughs, sore throats, and bronchitis. Use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water to make infusions. Drink one cup three times a day. Alternatively, take a quarter to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Pleurisy Root (Aescepias tuberosa)
Pleurisy root is another good herb for clearing out excess catarrh and mucus from the respiratory tract. It also has antispasmodic properties, decreases flatulence, and increases urine flow to help
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expel toxins within the urinary tract. If you are suffering from a large amount of mucous or catarrhal buildup, pleurisy root works better when combined with coltsfoot. If you are suff ering from chronic respiratory problems, including asthma, combine pleurisy root with lobelia. To make an infusion, combine a half to one teaspoon of dried herb per cup of water. Drink one cup three times a day. You can substitute a quarter to a half teaspoon of tincture three times a day if you prefer.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
You are probably far more familiar with red clover than you realize. It rears its head in lawns across the country, and most people respond by pulling out their nasty chemical weed killers. What you may not realize that this so-called weed is one of Nature’s powerful medicines. Red clover helps to expel excess mucus from the respiratory tract and is an excellent blood purifier. Use one to three teaspoons of dried red clover flowers per cup of boiling water. Let infuse for ten to fi fteen minutes. Drink one cup of this infusion three times a day.Alternatively, use one teaspoon of red clover tincture three times daily.
Pokeroot (Phytolacca americana)
Pokeroot, as you learned earlier, is an excellent choice for cleansing the lymphatic system. Pokeroot is also helpful in expelling excess catarrh and dealing with general respiratory conditions. It is also a powerful blood cleanser. Take three to ten drops of the tincture in water (warm or cold) daily. Avoid exceeding the recommended dose of this herb.
Supercharge Your Lung Cleansing Efforts
You can massage along the midpoint where the ribs in the front of your body converge, called the sternum, to assist with lung and skin cleansing, according to Donna Eden and David Feinstein. Th ey recommend
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massaging the sternum, and in the points beneath each of the second, third, and fourth ribs. In addition, massage the points about an inch away from either side of the spine near the top of the shoulder blades. See the diagram below for help finding these spots on the body. Th ese are neurolymphatic massage points that are integrally linked to the lungs. By stimulating them through vigorous massage for a minute or two daily, you will greatly assist with the cleansing efforts of the lungs and skin.
THE SKIN YOU LIVE IN The skin is the largest organ in your body. Not only does it provide a barrier between your body and the external environment in which you live, it also helps the other detoxifi cation systems cleanse your body of internal toxins. Much of what you slather on your skin will be absorbed. That is why it is imperative that you refrain from using soaps, creams, and other hygiene or beauty products that contain synthetic ingredients. Not only will using them expose you to further toxins, it will also limit your skin’s ability to eliminate internal toxins.
............................................Figure 11.1 Lung and skin neurolymphatic massage points
The skin is mostly waterproof and prevents your body from becoming waterlogged or from drying out. It also protects your body from microorganisms, sun damage, and exposure to cold or heat. Sweat glands lie within the inner part of the skin and produce sweat to prevent the body from overheating. Toxins are also eliminated through sweat.
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Skin Stress Quiz
Do you suffer from acne, blackheads, or whiteheads?
Do you ever have rashes or hives?
Do you have psoriasis, eczema, or dry, scaly patches of skin?
Do you have blotchy or ruddy skin?
Do you suffer from dry and/or flaky skin? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your skin could use cleansing.
Eat for Better Skin
Follow the nutritional suggestions in Chapter 5. If you are still suff ering from skin conditions, follow the nutritional and herbal suggestions made under all the other detoxification organs. Often, skin conditions are the result of the other organs being overloaded with toxins.
Herbs for Deep Skin Cleansing
People spend so much money on skin-care and beauty products to improve their skin. Yet what you do internally is far more eff ective. Let’s use our car analogy again. This is like spray-painting a rusting car that is falling apart. It will look slightly improved but the rust will start to show through and the car will still be falling apart.
The skin is a type of run-off system for the other detoxifi cation organs. If you are having skin problems, it could be a sign of a sluggish liver, intestines, blood, or lymphatic system. Work on cleansing the other systems first. Some herbs are specifically good for improving skin problems. Interestingly, they typically cleanse other detox systems at the same time, which could explain their eff ectiveness.
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
Yellow dock is helpful for skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. It works especially well on the skin when combined with burdock and pokeroot. It is a mild liver stimulant and is sometimes used to treat jaundice.Yellow dock
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also cleanses the blood, has antiviral properties, and has a mild laxative eff ect on the intestines. Use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water to make a decoction. Drink one cup three times a day.Alternatively, take a quarter to a half teaspoon of the tincture three times a day.
Cleavers (Galium aperine)
You learned about this plant for its ability to cleanse the kidneys and lymphatic system. Used regularly, it also cleanses the skin and helps with acne. It is best used as an infusion. For cleavers (also known as Goosegrass or Grip Grass) tea, use two to three teaspoons of the dried herb per cup of water. Drink one cup three times daily. Alternatively, use a half to one teaspoon of tincture three times per day. Avoid using cleavers if you suffer with diabetes or have diabetic tendencies.
Supercharge Your Skin Cleansing Efforts
Follow the directions listed under “Supercharge Your Lung Cleansing Efforts” above. This energy medicine technique is helpful for cleansing both the lungs and skin.
Cleansing your blood and circulatory system, lungs and respiratory system, and skin is essential to health. Keep these powerful detox organs functioning at their best and you will be blessed with more energy, vitality, and freedom from illness.
In this chapter you learned
• The blood, lungs, and skin play critical roles in great health • There are many symptoms and disorders linked with excessive toxins in the blood, lungs, or absorbed by the skin • It is essential to purify your blood and cleanse the lungs and skin of toxins to achieve great health • Foods, herbs, breathing exercises, massage and energy medicine assist with cleansing your blood, lungs, and skin Chapter ..: Targeting the Blood, Lungs, and Skin ...

Targetting the lymphatic system, liver and gallblader

Targeting the
Lymphatic System
(and Cellulite)
People’s natures are basically the same; it is their practices which set them far apart.
Confucius
In this chapter you will learn
• How the lymphatic system plays an important role in keeping your body healthy • The many symptoms, such as pain, inflammation, and cellulite, that are linked with a sluggish lymphatic system • Why it is important to cleanse your lymphatic system for optimum health • How to use foods, herbs, deep breathing, massage, and rebounding to assist with cleansing your lymphatic system Chapter .: Targeting the Lymphatic System (and Cellulite) ...
YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM Virtually every book on detoxification or detox program that claims to cleanse your whole body consists of cleansing two systems: the intestines and liver. The last time I looked, these two organ systems did not make up the entire human body, quite thankfully, I might add. The lymphatic system is possibly the most neglected cleansing and healing system in your body, yet it is immensely powerful.
You were introduced to the lymphatic system in Chapter 5. Th is system is one of the main means of effi cient detoxification in your body. Mention the liver to people, and they have an idea about the organ; if you mention the lymph system to people, they may think you’re speaking in tongues. Known or not, the importance of this system is undeniable. It is frequently the difference between good and poor health.
As you learned in Chapter 5, the lymph system is a complex network of fl uid-filled nodes, glands, and tubes that bathe our cells and carry the body’s “sewage” away from the tissues and neutralize it. A recent study found that 80 percent of overweight women have sluggish lymphatic systems and that getting them flowing smoothly is the key to easy weight loss and improved feelings of well-being.1
The lymphatic system comprises lymph glands, nodes, spleen, thymus, and tonsils, as well as vessels and ducts. These elements of the lymph system work together to carry cellular waste to the bloodstream. It handles toxins that enter your body from external sources such as foods or air pollution but also deals with internally produced toxins (endotoxins) that are the result of normal metabolic processes in your body. One example is infl ammation in the body. Th e lymph system helps carry the waste products of inflammation to your blood to be eliminated.
Lymph fluid enters your veins near your heart and in doing so enters your bloodstream. Once toxins have been swept up in the lymph system and dumped into the bloodstream, the kidneys take over, filtering the blood to remove the toxins.
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Lymph fluid relies on breathing, movement, and massage to fl ow effectively. Keeping the fl uid flowing is a severe problem among most people who lead a sedentary life and breathe shallowly. However, sluggish lymph may still be an issue even if you get adequate exercise. There is three times more lymph fl uid in the body than blood, yet there is no organ like the heart to pump lymph. That means it relies on deep breathing and increased activity to move.
Stress plays a role in lymph flow as well since we tend to breathe shallowly during stressful situations. During Phase 2 of the detox plan, you will begin to incorporate the deep breathing techniques discussed in Chapter 6 into your life. I encourage you to incorporate this change into your daily life even after you are finished with this plan. Th e benefits of improved breathing are many.
You will begin to improve the flow of the lymphatic system during The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. If you are prone to problems with the lymphatic system, you may need a more concerted effort to cleanse the lymph. How do you know if your lymph system needs more cleansing? Here is a short quiz to help you decide.
The Lymph Stress Quiz
Are you overweight?Do you have cellulite or fatty deposits?Do you suffer from aches and pains?Have you been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatiguesyndrome, multiple sclerosis, lupus, or other chronic immune system disorder?Have you ever yo-yo dieted?Do you feel bloated or have areas on your body that seem alittle pudgy?Are you prone to lumps and growths in your body?Do you experience abdominal bloating?
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Do you experience eye puffi ness?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, your lymph system could use further tuning up.
There are numerous ways to do this. You can continue with Phase 2 even after you have completed the prescribed week. Another option is to repeat Phase 2 as a stand-alone detox after you have completed the rest of the program.You can do Phase 2 for one week out of every month or for two days out of each week or you can use it to detoxify for a month at a time. Choose the approach that best fi ts your personality, discipline, time, and severity of your symptoms.
If you choose to use herbs for more than three weeks to assist with your lymphatic cleansing, I encourage you to consult a skilled herbalist. While using herbs to assist with lymphatic cleansing is usually quite safe, on rare occasions they can be toxic with long-term use. The human body adjusts to many circumstances, so herbs often work best when you change them periodically.
Thoroughly cleansing the lymphatic system is the key to long-term and efficient weight loss and great health. It is also the key to living without pain. The lymph system picks up toxins from your tissues and cells. If it is inefficient, then you may see fatty deposits or cellulite or experience aches and pains. Conversely, if you improve the cleansing ability of the lymph system, it will be able to “sweep” away the toxins that lead to cellulite.
A study by Dr. Elisabeth Dancey, author of The Cellulite Solution, found that women with cellulite showed lymphatic system defi ciencies.2 Thoroughly cleanse your lymphatic system and you will see cellulite diminish.
Ann Louise Gittleman, author of The Fat Flush, estimates that many people carry an extra ten to fifteen pounds of water that is trapped in their tissues, contributing to abdominal bloating, cellulite, and eye puffi ness.3 If you experience any of these symptoms or your tissues have an unnatural spongy feel to them, you may be experiencing
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the effects of a sluggish lymphatic system. Dr. Elson Haas, author of The False Fat Diet, refers to this bloating or excess fl uid retention as “false fat.” Many people mistakenly believe they are holding excess fat but may actually be bloated due to a sluggish lymphatic system. Ironically, if you drink inadequate amounts of water daily, your lymphatic system will slow down. It requires fluid to function properly.
A healthy lymphatic system also helps to purify your blood. One of the ways it does this is through the largest mass of lymph tissue in the body, the spleen. The spleen fights infection and destroys worn-out red blood cells in the body. It is an oval-shaped organ located to the left of the stomach. By cleansing your lymphatic system, your spleen will be better able to handle the retired red blood cells.
Cleansing the liver, in the third phase of The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, also helps boost your lymphatic cleansing eff orts since the liver is primarily responsible for producing lymph fluid.
Eat for a Clean Lymphatic System
Here are some of the best ways to cleanse your lymph system and get lymph fluid moving better:
Avoid chemical “foods”—that is, any foods that contain preservatives, flavours, colours, enhancers, stabilizers—in other words, most prepared, packaged, and fast foods. The farther away from the natural, whole fruit, vegetable, grain, or bean that a food has moved, the more likely it is to clog your lymphatic system.
Avoid foods that are difficult to digest, including fatty foods and simple sugars and simple carbohydrates. Most animal protein tends to be difficult to digest, requiring the body’s enzymes to digest them, instead of using these enzymes for more important functions. Sweet foods and the “whites,” which include white rice, white bread, white pasta, and any white flour products, require enormous amounts of energy to handle the resulting rapid blood sugar fluctuations. Th is energy is better served to cleanse your lymph.
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Drink plenty of water—as mentioned above, without adequate water, lymph fluid cannot flow properly. Lymph is a liquid and therefore requires water to flow. What if you totally stopped watering your plants? They would not survive. At first they might get a few brown spots or yellow leaves, then leaves would turn brown and fall off, and eventually the whole plant would become crisp and die. Plants need water to live. We are the same. Our bodies, including our lymph systems, need water to function properly. Like plants, some things would begin to deteriorate, then more systems in our bodies would fail, and eventually we would die without adequate water. Few of us consider our inadequate water intake as a source of our pain, discomfort, or other health problems. Forget the soda, trash the colour-laden sports drinks, and drop the sugary fruit punch. As Dr. Phil would say, it’s time to“get real.” Drink real water—the very stuff your cells depend on for health.
The enzymes and acids in raw fruit are powerful lymph cleansers, particularly when eaten on an empty stomach. That is one of the reasons you eat raw fruit in the morning on The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. Add more raw fruits, vegetables, salads, and fresh juices to your diet, and your lymph will have the tools it needs to do some serious deep cleansing.
Flavonoids, malic acid, citric acid, quinic acid, and enzymes (only in raw cranberries, not in pasteurised bottled cranberry juice) in cranberries and cranberry juice help to emulsify stubborn fat in the lymphatic system. Be sure to drink only pure, unsweetened cranberry juice. Dilute it about 4:1 water to cranberry juice. Alternatively, if you prefer a less tart juice, dilute one part unsweetened cranberry juice with two parts pure apple juice and two parts water. Make sure you use only pure apple juice devoid of sweeteners or preservatives.
Eat plenty of green vegetables to provide chlorophyll (the green colour in plants) and loads of vitamins and minerals to assist in lymph cleansing.
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Flax seeds and flax oil contain essential fatty acids that are required by your body for most functions, including lymphatic system functions. Grind flax seeds in a coffee grinder and sprinkle them on bread, grains, fruit, soy yogurt, or other food. Do not cook fl ax seeds. After grinding them, keep flax seeds covered in the refrigerator. Use cold-pressed flax oil on salads or pour it on steamed vegetables or baked potatoes. Again, do not heat flax oil. Simply pour on food after it has been cooked. Try to consume at least one to two tablespoons of flax oil and two tablespoons of ground flax seeds daily.
Organic eggs are helpful during lymphatic system cleansing. They provide a useable form of protein that prevents fluid from flowing into the spaces between cells. If fluid becomes trapped in these spaces due to insufficient protein intake, your body will hold onto excess water, may become bloated, and gain water weight. Eat only organic eggs, however, since other kinds typically contain synthetic hormones and antibiotics that are given to hens to supposedly prevent disease and stimulate egg production. These items do not belong in your body and can disrupt your body’s own hormone and intestinal bacteria balance. Restrict your consumption to several organic eggs per week.
Avoid large, heavy meals. Instead, eat smaller meals and snack between meals. Eat only when you are hungry, not when you are bored. If you are bored, find something else to do.
Foods high in essential fatty acids are critical to ensure a properly functioning lymph system. Some of these foods include fresh raw walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, macadamias, Brazil nuts, and other types of nuts; sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds; avocadoes; and cold-pressed oils. Be sure to eat fresh raw nuts and seeds that can be found in the refrigerator section of your local health food or grocery store. The essential fatty acids found in nuts and seeds go rancid easily. Eating rancid nuts and seeds exposes your body to further toxins that attack and damage cells. Eating fresh raw nuts and
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seeds provides your body with essential building blocks for health and life. In addition, they taste better.
The enzyme protease is helpful for moving lymph since it breaks down many toxins that have a protein coating. Protease helps break down bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and inflammation in the body. Protease is found in raw nuts, seeds, and fruits and vegetables, particularly those that have a higher protein content. Nature is truly miraculous. It supplies protein and the enzymes needed to digest protein, provided the foods are not heated above 118 degrees F (since all enzymes are destroyed above that temperature).
Clean Up Your Lymph
In addition to eating well to cleanse your lymphatic system, there are many other things you can do to get and keep your lymph moving freely. Here are some of the things you can do:
Try to get adequate sleep since sleep helps eliminate stress hormones from the body. These hormones encourage fat storage and a sluggish lymphatic system.
Studies show that virtually any type of massage can push up to 78 percent of stagnant lymph back into circulation. Massage frees trapped toxins. Follow the massage suggested in Chapter 6 to encourage lymphatic cleansing. In addition, you may wish to see a massage therapist skilled at lymphatic drainage massage. Lymphatic drainage is a specific form of massage that helps to encourage lymph fl ow and often works even with the most stubborn cases of fl uid buildup.
Essential oils such as geranium, juniper, and black pepper can be used in a bath or diluted in a pure oil as a body oil to stimulate the lymphatic system through massage and improve the flow of lymph, thereby helping your body eliminate toxins. See Chapter 6 for more details about using these oils to stimulate lymph cleansing.
Dry skin brushing helps improve lymphatic circulation. It is a simple practice that requires about a minute or two per day. Follow the instructions mentioned in Chapter 6.
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Stretching and aerobic types of exercise stimulate the lymphatic system to help lymph fl ow. These include yoga, walking, Pilates, and, of course, rebounding. Rebounding on a mini trampoline forces the millions of one-way valves in the lymphatic system to open, increasing lymph flow up to fourteen times, according to Morton Walker, author of Jumping for Health. Learn more about rebounding in Chapter 6.
Deep breathing creates muscular contractions and movement. The added oxygen also helps pump lymphatic fluid. You learned some powerful breathing exercises in Chapter 6 that help move lymph fluid.
Stagnant lymph increases the toxic load in the body. This can aff ect memory and mental function and contribute to infl ammation, pain, and bloating. It can result in cellulite, fatty deposits, and disorders such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, among others.
Alternating hot and cold showers helps to stimulate lymph fl ow in the body. I have included a hydrotherapy treatment in Chapter 6. It is an excellent adjunct therapy to incorporate into your lymph cleansing for optimum results. You can also use it any time you want a boost in your blood circulation. Be sure to check with your physician if you suspect any heart or blood pressure problems or have other medical concerns before attempting this hydrotherapy treatment.
Herbs for Deep Lymphatic Cleansing
There are many excellent herbs that help with lymphatic cleansing, including echinacea, astragalus, cleavers, goldenseal, pokeroot, and wild indigo root. If you are pregnant or have a serious health condition, consult a medical doctor before using any herbs. Consult a herbalist before combining two or more herbs or while taking medication with herbs. Avoid long-term use of any herb (longer than three weeks) without first consulting a qualified herbalist.
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Echinacea (Echinacea, various species)
Based on echinacea’s current popularity, it may be hard to imagine that over the last century echinacea was reviled. This powerful lymphatic system cleanser has a proven track record for its ability to increase the body’s immune response. Combined with another good lymph cleanser, astragalus, echinacea helps to reduce congestion and swelling. Make a decoction using two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water. Bring to a boil. Simmer for fifteen minutes. Drink one cup, three times a day. Alternatively, take one teaspoon of tincture, three times a day.
Astragalus (Astragalus, various species)
Astragalus is an excellent lymphatic system cleanser and liver protector. It works well, especially when combined with echinacea, to alleviate congestion and swelling in the body. Th e Chinese have been using astragalus, which they refer to as “huang qi” for over two thousand years. Huang qi means life force strengthener. Astragalus is primarily available as a tincture or in capsule or tablet form. Since potency can vary greatly with this herb, it is best to follow the package directions for the optimum dose.
Cleavers (Galium aparine, also known as Goosegrass or Grip Grass)
The green parts of the plant are used (stems and small leaves). Cleavers cleanses the blood, is an anti-inflammatory, decreases the body’s tendency to form tumours, increases urinary flow, and tones and strengthens the body, all while enhancing the function of the lymphatic system. It is an excellent herb for swollen glands and swollen tonsils. Cleavers improves the ability of the lymphatic system to deal with toxins. It combines well with another herb, pokeroot. For cleavers tea, use two to three teaspoons of the dried herb per cup of water. Drink one cup three times daily. Alternatively use a half to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day. Avoid using cleavers if you suffer from diabetes or have diabetic tendencies.
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Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
In addition to having anti-inflammatory properties, goldenseal helps to break down excess catarrh in the lungs, kills parasites, decreases pain, has laxative properties, stimulates muscles and digestion, tones and strengthens the skin and mucous membranes, and encourages lymphatic cleansing. Use a half to one teaspoon of dried herb per cup for an infusion. You can drink this mixture or use it as a wash. Alternatively take a half to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Pokeroot (Phytolacca americana)
Pokeroot is a useful herb for improving the flow of lymph. It works well with immune- and lymph-related conditions such as adenitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, swollen glands, mumps, mastitis, and fi brocystic breast disease. Pokeroot helps to break down excess mucus in the body, eases rheumatic pain, is a strong laxative, and is an overall stimulant. It combines well with blue flag. Take one-third teaspoon per cup and simmer for fifteen minutes as a decoction. Alternatively, take one-eighth to one-quarter teaspoon of the tincture, three times a day. Do not increase the dose. The powerful laxative effects of this herb can be harmful in larger doses.
Wild Indigo Root (Baptisia tinctoria)
The root of the wild indigo plant helps destroy damaging microbes in the body, breaks down excess mucus and catarrh, decreases fevers, and of course, cleans up the lymphatic system and improves lymph flow. It works well if you have mucous congestion due to consuming dairy products or if you have acute reactions to eating dairy products.You can probably guess then that it is beneficial for the nose, sinuses, ears, and throat. It is helpful for conditions such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, swollen lymph glands, and fevers. If infections are present in these areas of the body, it is helpful to combine wild indigo root with echinacea. For lymphatic problems, it combines well with cleavers and pokeroot.You can take it as
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a decoction using one-third teaspoon of the dried root per cup of water. Simmer fifteen minutes. Take one cup three times a day. Alternatively, take a quarter to a half teaspoon of tincture three times per day.
Supercharge Your Lymph Cleansing Efforts
Donna Eden and David Feinstein recommend vigorously massaging any of the following areas wherever there is tenderness to encourage the flow of energy in areas where there are many lymphatic vessels or nodes. The following diagrams illustrate the neurolymphatic massage points suggested by Eden and Feinstein. The sorer the area, the more in need of massage it may be. This massage can take place anywhere, even while clothed. You do not need to be undressed to take a minute or two to vigorously rub any neurolymphatic massage points that feel tender.
In this chapter you learned
• How the lymphatic system plays an important role in keeping your body healthy • That many common symptoms like pain, infl ammation, and cellulite are signs of a sluggish lymphatic system • That you must cleanse your lymphatic system for optimum health • How to use foods, herbs, deep breathing, massage, and rebounding to assist with cleansing your lymphatic system References
1. Jillian Boyle, “Is Lymphatic Stress the Reason You’re Fat? Bloated? Hungry for Junk Food?” Woman’s World, March 2, 2004. 2. Ann Louise Gittleman, The Fat Flush Plan (McGraw-Hill, New York: 2002), p. 21. 3. Gittleman, The Fat Flush Plan, p. 20. ... The .-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan
Figure 9.1 Neurolymphatic massage points
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CHAPTER 10
Targeting the Liver and Gallbladder
“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”
Hippocrates
In this chapter you will learn
• The many important functions of the gallbladder and liver • The symptoms and disorders linked with an unhealthy liver and gallbladder • Why it is imperative to great health to cleanse your liver and gallbladder • How to use foods, herbs, and energy medicine to assist with your liver and gallbladder detoxifi cation Chapter ..: Targeting the Liver and Gallbladder ...
YOUR LIVER Your liver has over five hundred different functions, making it one of the most overworked organs in your body. A few of these functions include storing certain vitamins, minerals, and sugars for use as fuel; controlling both the production and excretion of cholesterol; and creating the thousands of enzymes that control virtually every function of your body. The liver also secretes a substance called bile that is stored in the gallbladder. You’ll learn a bit more about bile when we discuss the valuable role of the gallbladder below. Th e liver metabolizes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and processes hemoglobin in the blood to allow use of its iron. The liver controls the production and excretion of cholesterol in your body. Literally, the liver performs more biochemical tasks than any other organ in your body.
The liver is a particularly stressed organ as a direct result of our modern lifestyle. All foreign substances that enter your body have to be filtered by your liver. These include alcohol; tobacco; environmental pollutants; food additives; pesticides; common cosmetic ingredients; household products; stress or excess sex hormones; thyroid or adrenal hormones; pharmaceutical and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs; caffeine; and much more.
You recently learned that the average person consumes fourteen pounds of food preservatives, additives, waxes, colourings, flavours, antimicrobials, and pesticide residues per year.1 Your liver is responsible for filtering all of these chemicals and many more. Th e liver must filter medications, including commonly used antibiotics and acetaminophen, sometimes resulting in damage to this important organ. It is critical in our modern age of chemical exposure to keep your liver functioning as effi ciently as possible.
The liver breaks fat-soluble chemicals into water-soluble compounds to prevent the body from storing these toxins in fat. Th is takes place in Phase 1 of detoxification in the liver. Th is phase begins
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the process of detoxifying substances such as car exhaust, medications, and internally produced substances such as hormones. In the second phase of liver detoxification, the liver breaks down toxins to convert them into harmless waste products that can be expelled via the urine or stool.
As I’ve said, many people dive head-over-heels into liver cleansing (and many health practitioners suggest this approach) but it can be damaging to a person if their kidneys and intestines are not prepared for increased toxin elimination. That is one of the reasons why it is imperative to cleanse the kidneys and intestines before beginning liver detoxifi cation. The toxins can build up in the liver, like a dam, then get dumped into the urinary and intestinal tract where they are unable to be released and get further backed up, resulting in damage to the body.
It is also imperative that both phases of liver detoxifi cation are functioning optimally and at the same pace. If either phase is sluggish, the liver cannot keep pace with toxins that enter the body. Toxins will continue to circulate through the blood and add extra burden to the other detox organs. The other detox organs are not capable of handling the liver’s job. This is like the engineering department attempting to do the job of the accounting department in an organization. They may be able to do some of the work, but more likely they do not have the training or skills to handle all the functions. An accounting backlog will ensue.
When the liver cannot handle all the toxins thrown at it and toxins continue to circulate through the body, you may begin to experience uncomfortable symptoms—the signs of an overburdened liver, which is also known as liver toxicity.
Dr. Scott Rigden conducted a study of over two hundred patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fi bromyalgia. He found that 80 percent of all sufferers of these two disorders had significant liver impairment. As patients’ symptoms improved, so did
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the results of liver function tests—indicating a correlation between liver stress and severity of symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fi bromyalgia.2
Detoxifi cation of the liver, in its simplest terms, is divided into two phases, aptly named Phase 1 and Phase 2. Either or both phases can be hindered by toxic buildup in the body. Toxins initially enter the liver in Phase 1, during which time they are broken down into smaller fragments to allow easier elimination. Then they pass to Phase 2 in the liver, where enzymes convert toxins to more water-soluble forms or molecules (such as glutathione, glycine, and sulfate) are added to toxins to create substances that are less toxic to the body so they can be eliminated in the bile, urine, or stool.
Phase 1 can be hindered if too many toxins enter the liver at once. Phase 2 can often be inefficient at keeping up with the toxins leaving Phase 1, thereby creating an imbalance that often results in symptoms of drug or environmental chemical intolerances. In such cases, people may have trouble with perfumes (after all, they are mostly made up of synthetic and toxic chemicals), gas fumes, paint, or other chemicals.
If the liver is overloaded with toxins, these toxins can leave the liver to be stored in fat tissue, central nervous system cells, and your brain. These stored toxins may circulate in the blood at other times, contributing to chronic disease. Ineffi cient detoxification in the liver is suspected by holistic health experts to play a role in many diseases, including skin disorders, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fi bromyalgia, and inflammation in the body.
The liver simply was not designed to handle all the synthetic chemicals in modern life. In the past one hundred years, the liver has become increasingly abused through exposure to chemicalized and processed foods, pharmaceutical drugs, chemically treated water, vehicle exhaust, chemical cleaners, and hydrogenated oils and trans fats. Hydrogenated oils are foreigners to the body. They are artifi cially
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hardened using metal and hydrogen gas. Eating them is comparable to eating plastic food and almost as toxic. Manufacturers of many “fake fats” such as margarine—a fat that is supposed to go through your body undigested—do not have even a modest interest in the workings of the body. They prey on people who believe that these fake fats will travel from the mouth to the colon untouched. Th e body does not work that way. The main organ that is compromised by these toxic fats is the liver. It will become clogged and ineffi cient at its job. You will likely start to gain weight or suff er skin problems or have headaches or some other unwanted problem by continuing to abuse the liver.
Many people choose to eat a low-fat diet despite what researchers and nutritionists have been claiming for years. Eating a low-fat diet will result in defi ciencies of essential fatty acids, which are needed for a healthy body. On such a diet, your body will have symptoms of fatty acid deficiencies, usually in four weeks or less. One of the most common symptoms is a slowed metabolism. The liver also slows, making it less efficient at breaking down fat in the body as well as the many toxins it is exposed to. That means more toxic substances circulating throughout the body. I cringe when I hear someone tell me that they eat a “good, low-fat diet to lose weight.” You will not lose weight on a low-fat diet. More likely you will gain numerous health problems.
The liver simply cannot handle the onslaught of synthetic chemicals we throw at it.Yet even when the liver has lost up to 80 percent of its ability to function, it continues working. But working and working optimally are two substantially different things. We are interested in improving the liver’s function so that it works optimally.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the liver is its ability to regenerate itself. When it is given the critical nutrients, a healthy non-stressful diet, and herbs to help it function, it can be restored to health in most circumstances.
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GALLBLADDER Your gallbladder is a small organ that sits below the liver on the right side of your abdomen, under the rib cage. Through a series of ducts, it is connected to the liver and the small intestines. Th e gallbladder secretes a green-coloured substance called bile to help break down fat and stimulate contractions of the intestines to push waste matter out of your bowels. The liver produces bile and sends it to the gallbladder for storage and secretion as necessary. Most bile is circulated in the digestive tract. If the waste matter in the intestines is not moving through at a healthy speed, bile may be reabsorbed through the walls of the intestine and returned to the liver in the bloodstream.
Some of the symptoms that are associated with gallbladder toxicity include difficulty digesting fatty foods, skin problems, migraines, joint problems, chronic neck problems, pain in the upper abdomen (usually lasting twenty minutes to several hours), pain between the shoulder blades, nausea, vomiting, or any symptoms that worsen after eating fatty foods. Even heart problems are sometimes linked to gallbladder toxicity when the gallbladder is not adequately controlling blood fats.
Of course, there is also the concern about gallstones. Gallstones are solid pieces of crystalline material that form when the gallbladder does not secrete adequate bile over time. They range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball and are made up of fats, cholesterol, bile pigments, and minerals in bile. About 80 percent of all gallstones, according to some estimates, are made of cholesterol and are typically white or yellowish-coloured. Other stones are darker and are made up of calcium salts and an orangey-yellow waste product in the body called bilirubin. Bilirubin is what gives urine its yellow colour.
Over one million people in the United States are diagnosed with gallstones every year. While in theory the gallbladder should be able to keep up with the body’s toxin load, this is often not the case, particularly in people who eat a fatty diet over long periods of time
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(i.e., the average person in North America), take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, smoke cigarettes, drink heavily, go on crash diets or lose weight quickly, or eat a low-fi bre diet with lots of sugary or starchy foods (also the average North American). Pregnancy, diabetes, pancreatitis, obesity, and celiac disease are also factors that may increase the risk of gallbladder toxicity.
Liver and Gallbladder Stress Quiz
Do you suffer from any of the following signs of liver toxicity?3 Abdominal bloating Alcohol intolerance Allergies Arthritis (some types) Asthma Bad breath or a coated tongue Bowel infections Brain “fog” Chronic fatigue syndrome Crohn’s disease Cravings for sweets Dark circles under the eyes Depression Diffi culty losing weight Environmental illness or multiple chemical sensitivities Fatigue Fatty liver Fevers Fibromyalgia Fluid retention Gallbladder disease Gallstones or gravel
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Gastritis
Headaches and migraines
Hepatitis
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Hives
Hypoglycemia (unstable blood sugar levels)
Hormone imbalances
Immune system disorders
Indigestion
Irritable bowel syndrome
Mood swings
Overweight or obesity
Poor appetite
Poor digestion
Recurring nausea and/or vomiting with no known cause
Skin diseases
Slow metabolism
Ulcerative colitis
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you may benefi t from further cleansing of your liver and gallbladder, which will in turn strengthen your body’s ability to break down fat and fatty deposits.
Eat for a Clean Liver and Gallbladder
Your intestinal tract should be functioning optimally before cleansing the liver. That means you should be having two to three large bowel movements daily, typically after each time you eat.
Eating a healthy diet is imperative for optimal liver functioning. The liver requires high amounts of vitamins and minerals to perform its many functions.Your diet should be high in fruits and vegetables and fibre-rich foods. It should be free of processed foods, artifi cial
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food additives, colours, preservatives, and animal foods such as meat, poultry, and dairy products. A diet low in refined sugar and fatty foods is important as well. Avoid synthetic sweeteners. Try to eat foods that are devoid of pesticides and synthetic chemicals used in the growing processes.Avoid drinking with meals. Drink just enough water at mealtimes to take nutritional or herbal supplements. Avoid eating if you feel particularly stressed or anxiety-ridden.
Eat only when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Eating fruit in the morning is helpful for liver cleansing, as is eating a large, raw salad with lunch and dinner. Conversely, if you are hungry, eat. Too many people literally starve themselves and their bodies of adequate nutrition because they refrain from eating throughout the day. Your body needs proper nourishment to work properly. Remember the car analogy I used earlier?
As with cleansing any of the other organ systems, you will need to drink between eight and ten glasses of pure, filtered water every day. This is the only way to flush toxins out of your body. Your cells require fluid to work properly and to suspend toxins for elimination. A recent study showed a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in people who do not drink enough water.4
During The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, you start every morning with lemon water. This is a great practice to continue whenever you wish to cleanse your liver. In addition, taking one to three tablespoons of pectin in water or pure fruit juice helps to absorb toxins. Eat a couple of apples per day to obtain the pectin they contain.
Eat at least two carrots per day (baby carrots don’t count as a full carrot) and one or more beets every day, both of which are powerful liver-cleansing and rebuilding foods. In addition, eat two large green salads or a minimum of one cup of green veggies per day. Th e chlorophyll that gives plants their green colour, helps cleanse the liver.
Try to eat two heaping tablespoons of ground fl ax seeds. Th ey bind to hormone receptor sites, preventing excess hormones from
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floating around your bloodstream. One of the liver’s fi ve hundred jobs is to filter excess hormones. By eating flax seeds and flax oil you are helping it function more effectively. Flaxseeds can be sprinkled on cereal, toast, salads, or blended into smoothies.
Include one to two tablespoons of cold-pressed flax seed oil into your diet to help cleanse the liver and gallbladder. Actually, this is an excellent practice to maintain even after you have finished your cleanse. Flax seed oil provides essential fatty acids that are critical to keep your liver functioning optimally, in addition to their many other uses within the body.
Research shows consuming seven to ten servings of fruit and vegetables per day helps people lose more weight than cutting back on sugary and fatty foods. Evidence also confirms that high produce consumption cuts your risk of getting all types of cancer and lowers the risk of getting heart disease by 40 percent.5
Eat one or two cloves of garlic, the equivalent of one-half onion (this can be part of an entrée that incorporates the onion for fl avour), and a handful of broccoli spears per day, since these foods contain sulphur, which is required to increase enzyme activity (and therefore increase liver cleansing activity).
Avoid eating large meals. Instead, eat small meals made up of plenty of easy-to-digest foods. Eat steamed vegetables, raw salad greens, raw fruits, and bitter greens. The bitter greens help to stimulate bile flow. Eat whole, raw, unsalted nuts and seeds for their essential fatty acids as well as their usable protein.
Avoid eating heavy, fatty foods since they just create more work for the liver and optimum conditions for the formation of gallstones. You should definitely be avoiding margarine, shortening, commercial oils and any foods made with them. Avoid eating animal fat and fried foods as well.
Avoid eating refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pastries, cookies, cakes, white pasta, white sugar, and soft drinks. Avoid coff ee, chocolate, and spicy foods while cleansing the liver.
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If you are suffering from gallstones or a sluggish gallbladder, drink three to four cups of pure unsweetened apple juice daily. Th e malic acid in the juice helps to break down stones and stagnant bile.
If you have difficulty with the vegetarian nature of this program, you may wish to eat organic eggs in moderation while cleansing the liver and gallbladder. They contain lecithin, which is needed for liver cleansing. Soybeans, tofu, soy milk, and other soy foods also contain lecithin.
Avoid eating for several hours before bedtime to allow the liver adequate time during the night to perform its many functions, unimpeded by other bodily processes.
FOODS THAT BURN FAT The liver is the primary organ to help your body metabolize fat. If you are overweight or have a few extra bulges you’d be happy to be rid of, you can increase the fat-burning power of the detoxifi cation by adding more foods that help your liver to burn fat better. Th ere are many fabulous foods that fight fat, but the ones below are my picks as the top twelve.
Top 12 Fat-Fighting Foods
1. Oatmeal: This complex carbohydrate (the good kind) is slow to digest and helps to keep blood sugar levels stable while keeping you feeling full. Research also shows that consuming oatmeal reduces a person’s cravings for fatty foods.6 Be sure to eat the unsweetened kind. 2. Leafy Greens: Spinach, spring mix, mustard greens, and other dark leafy greens are good sources of fibre and powerhouses of nutrition. Research demonstrates that their high concentration of vitamins and antioxidants helps prevent hunger while protecting you from heart disease, cancer, cataracts, and memory loss.7 Chapter ..: Targeting the Liver and Gallbladder ...
3. Olives and Olive Oil: Being rich in healthy fats, olives and olive oil help to reduce cravings for junky foods and keep you feeling full. Research shows that monounsaturated fats that are plentiful in these foods help reduce high blood pressure.8 4. Beans and Legumes: Legumes are the best source of fi bre of any foods. They help to stabilize blood sugar while keeping you regular. They are also high in potassium, a critical mineral that reduces dehydration and the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. A legume, soy is particularly good for fat-burning. Isoflavones found in soy foods speed the breakdown of stored fat. In one study, those who consumed high amounts of soy products shed three times more superfl uous weight than did their counterparts who ate no soy.9 5. and 6. Garlic and Onions: These yummy foods contain phytochemicals that break down fatty deposits in the body, while also breaking down cholesterol; killing viruses, bacteria, and fungi; and protecting against heart disease.10 7. Tomatoes: Packed with vitamin C and the phytochemical lycopene, tomatoes stimulate the production of the amino acid known as carnitine. Research has shown that carnitine helps speed the body’s fat-burning capacity by one-third. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that studies show cuts the risk of heart disease by 29 percent.11 8. Nuts: Raw, unsalted nuts provide your body with essential fatty acids that help burn fat. Their high nutrient content also lowers the risk of heart attack by 60 percent. Research shows that consuming nuts can be as eff ective as cholesterol-lowering drugs to reduce high cholesterol levels, not to mention they taste better and have no nasty side eff ects.12 9. Cayenne: This hot spice lowers the risk of excess insulin in the body by speeding metabolism and lowering blood glucose (sugar) levels, before the excess insulin can result in fat stores.13 ... The .-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan
10. Turmeric: The popular spice used primarily in Indian cooking contains the highest known source of beta carotene, the antioxidant that helps protect the liver from free radical damage. Turmeric also helps your liver heal (see below) while helping your body metabolize fats by decreasing the fat storage rate in liver cells.14 11. Cinnamon: Researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture showed that a one-quarter to one teaspoon of cinnamon with food helps metabolize sugar up to twenty times better than food not eaten with cinnamon.15 Excess sugar in the blood can lead to fat storage. 12. Flax Seeds and Flax Seed Oil: These seeds and oil attract oil-soluble toxins that are lodged in the fatty tissues of the body to escort them out.16 Nutrients for Improving Liver and Gallbladder Function
Take one or two digestive enzyme tablets with every meal. Ideally, the tablet should include the following: proteases I, II, and III, maltase, amylase, lipase, cellulase, peptidase, lactase, and invertase.
For optimal liver cleansing, take two tablespoons of high-quality, cold-pressed flax seed oil as part of your diet. In addition, add one to two tablespoons of freshly ground (use a small coffee grinder) flax seeds, sprinkled on food, after it has been cooked. Avoid cooking flax seeds or flax oil.
Eat plenty of garlic and onions since they are high in sulphur, which is important to help your liver function optimally. In addition, eat plenty of the other top twelve fat-fighting foods mentioned above.
Lecithin helps the liver metabolize fats and reduce cholesterol. It contains a substance called phosphatidylcholine and essential fatty acids that help keep liver cells healthy and help prevent fatty deposits
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from building up in the liver. Lecithin also helps reduce high blood pressure by allowing the blood vessels to relax to allow better blood flow. You can get lecithin in soy foods such as soy milk, tofu, and miso, as well as organic eggs. Alternatively, take 4000 mg of lecithin in capsule form daily.
Take a high-quality multivitamin and mineral supplement. In addition, take 1000 to 3000 mg of vitamin C daily, even if there is vitamin C in your multivitamin.
The amino acid taurine is needed for liver support, especially for liver-related disorders in which tissues swell or fluid accumulates. Taurine helps your liver manufacture bile and metabolize fats and break down cholesterol. Taurine is required to keep bile fluid and to remove toxic chemicals from the body.
Clean Up Your Liver and Gallbladder
For people who are very ill and show signs of severe toxicity or are aware of extreme toxic exposure, cleansing the liver should be done slowly and gradually over months for best results. Consult a holistic doctor if you suspect liver or gallbladder disease.
Avoid use of acetominophen (Tylenol and similar painkillers) since it destroys glutathione in the liver, particularly when combined with alcohol. Refrain from consuming alcohol while cleansing and rebuilding your liver since all alcohol must be filtered by the liver and adds undue stress to a potentially stressed organ. Avoid taking any medications not prescribed by a doctor.
It is important to exercise regularly while cleansing your liver to increase the oxygen available for enzyme production and therefore liver and gallbladder detoxification. Before breakfast is the ideal time to exercise while conducting a liver and gallbladder cleanse.
While lying flat on your back, you can gently massage the liver-gallbladder area, which is located along the lower rib area on the right side of your body. This helps improve circulation to the area.
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Herbs for Deep Liver and Gallbladder Cleansing
There are many powerful herbs that help with liver and gallbladder cleansing, while helping to heal both organs. Some of the best ones include milk thistle, dandelion root, globe artichoke, turmeric, slippery elm, greater celandine, balmony, barberry, black root, blue flag, boldo, fringetree bark, vervain, and wahoo. If you are pregnant or have a serious health condition, consult a medical doctor before using any herbs. Consult an herbalist before combining two or more herbs or if you are taking medication with herbs. Avoid long-term use of any herb (longer than three weeks) without first consulting a qualifi ed herbalist.
Milk Th istle (Silybum marianum)
The primary medicinal ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin. This compound protects the liver by inhibiting damaging substances in the liver that cause liver cell damage. Silymarin also stimulates liver cell regeneration to help the liver rebuild after it has been damaged.17 Silymarin also helps to prevent the depletion of the nutrient glutathione—one of the most critical nutrients for liver detoxifi cation. Alcohol consumption and many synthetic chemicals deplete glutathione in the liver.
Milk thistle is one of the most well-researched liver herbs. With more than one hundred studies that successfully demonstrate milk thistle’s liver-protecting and -regenerating properties,18 milk thistle makes an excellent choice for cleansing and rebuilding the liver. Milk thistle has proven itself helpful for hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver damage, cholestasis (bile stagnation), and alcohol- and chemical-induced fatty liver. Silymarin also stimulates hepatocytes (liver cells) to replace diseased tissue. A one-month study involving 129 patients showed that milk thistle brought a 50 percent improvement in the symptoms of toxic-metabolic liver damage, fatty degeneration of the liver, liver enlargement, and chronic hepatitis.19
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Another ingredient in milk thistle, silybin, is believed to protect the genetic material within the liver cells, thereby improving the synthesis of proteins in the liver and reducing the risk of liver cancer.20 Milk thistle aids in soothing the mucous membranes, which is helpful if gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder is present.
Milk thistle increases liver enzyme production, repairs damaged liver tissue, and blocks the damaging effects of some toxins.21 Over one hundred studies show the liver-supporting properties of the active ingredient, silymarin.22
In one study silymarin, extracted from milk thistle, protected the livers of animals that were given large doses of the common painkiller acetaminophen from damage. In another study, silymarin minimized the damage from long-term exposure to several toxic industrial chemicals, including toluene (commonly found in nail polish) and xylene. Initially, workers had abnormal levels of liver enzymes, indicating damage. After taking 140 mg of silymarin, three times per day, their liver enzymes normalized.
Silymarin in milk thistle seeds is not very water-soluble so does not extract well into tea. Instead, take a standardized extract containing about 140 mg of silymarin for liver cleansing and protection.
Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)
Nature grows a liver-cleansing pharmacy every spring. It is the dreaded weed that most people curse as it pokes its yellow-fl owered head through the green of their lawn. Dandelion is one of Mother Nature’s finest liver herbs.
You already learned that dandelion has cleansing effects on the kidneys and urinary tract, but it is also a superb cleansing herb for the liver. It helps to clear obstructions and stimulate the liver to eliminate toxins. It also helps stimulate bile flow from the liver, which is important to release toxins and prevent clogging of the liver. Th e Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism cited two studies
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that showed the liver-regenerating properties of dandelion in cases of jaundice, liver swelling, hepatitis, and indigestion.23 Dandelion is also helpful as a laxative and anti-inflammatory herb. It stimulates the gallbladder to encourage the flow of bile and the normal digestion of fats. It reduces the risk of gallstones. Dandelion also reduces the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism. It works well combined with milk thistle or bayberry.
According to Ann Louise Gittleman, author of The Fat Flush Plan, dandelion root aids the liver and fat metabolism in two ways: it stimulates the liver to produce more bile to send to the gallbladder, and at the same time causes the gallbladder to contract and release its stored bile, assisting with fat metabolism.24
If you choose to incorporate dandelion root into your liver cleansing efforts, take 500 to 2000 mg daily in capsules. Alternatively, you can make a decoction by using two teaspoons of powdered dandelion root per cup of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for fi fteen minutes. Drink one cup, three times daily. A third option is to take one teaspoon of the tincture, three times daily.
Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
Globe artichoke contains compounds called caff eylquinic acids, which have demonstrated powerful liver-regenerating eff ects similar to those of milk thistle.25 Substantial research shows its capacity to protect and regenerate the liver and clean the blood. It has been helpful in cases of liver insufficiency, liver damage, liver diseases, poor digestion, gallstones, and chronic constipation. It has also helped lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Globe artichoke is usually found in capsule form. Doses range from 300 to 500 mg daily.
Turmeric (Curcuma longal)
A commonly used spice in Indian curries, turmeric helps regenerate liver cells and cleanse the liver of toxins. Turmeric also increases the
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production of bile to help expel toxins and may help reduce liver inflammation. Turmeric has also been shown to increase levels of two liver-supporting enzymes that promote Phase 2 liver detoxifi cation reactions.Turmeric is also great for decreasing cholesterol levels and for decreasing pain and inflammation in other parts of the body. Th ere are numerous ways to benefit from the healing properties of turmeric.You can mix equal parts of turmeric and honey to form a paste and take it by the teaspoonful, up to five teaspoons per day. A word of warning: your teeth may temporarily turn a yellowish colour, so be sure to keep a toothbrush nearby. Turmeric also comes in capsules and tablets, sometimes under the label “curcumin,” which is the key ingredient in turmeric. You can follow the Indian lead and cook with turmeric to create some delicious curry dishes.You will find a recipe for Lentil Dahl in Chapter 13 that uses turmeric. James Duke, one of the foremost herbal experts, recommends the following tea combination for the liver in his book Th e Green Pharmacy. Mix to taste: licorice, dandelion, chicory, turmeric, and ginger. Store in a jar and use one teaspoonful of herb per cup of boiling water to make a tea. Drink one cup, three times daily.
Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva or Ulmus campestris)
Slippery elm bark is good for problems with the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, such as gastritis and stomach ulcers. People with severely toxic livers and abnormal bile production sometimes suffer from irritations of the mucous membranes. Make a decoction of slippery elm bark using two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water. Drink one cup, three times daily. Alternatively, take one teaspoon of the tincture, three times daily. If you are prone to allergies, be cautious while using slippery elm bark.
Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
All parts of this plant—roots, stems, leaves, and fl owers—off er medicinal properties that are helpful for cleansing the liver, urinary
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tract, intestinal tract, and blood. It also helps reduce pain. Greater celandine is also used in the treatment of inflammation of the gallbladder or gallstones. It has antispasmodic properties, which helps to relax the muscles of the various ducts and reduce cramping pains. Take half a teaspoon of the tincture three times per day to benefi t from greater celandine’s liver-cleansing properties.
Balmony (Chelone glabra)
If you are suffering from jaundice or gallbladder problems, you will find balmony helpful. The herb’s main use is for gallbladder problems, including inflammation of the gallbladder, due to either infection or gravel or stones. It is particularly good when the gallstones are sufficiently large that they are blocking the flow of bile. If that happens the bile backs up into the liver and is dispersed throughout the bloodstream, causing the yellowing of the skin seen in jaundice. For this purpose, it combines well with goldenseal.
It reduces nausea and vomiting and has stimulant properties. Balmony stimulates the appetite and flow of digestive juices. It is helpful for dyspepsia or heartburn, nausea, and colic. It is also used in expelling worms. Steep two teaspoons of the dried herb per cup of boiled water for ten to fifteen minutes. Drink three cups daily. Alternatively, take one-quarter teaspoon of the tincture three times per day.
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
The bark, roots, stems, and berries of barberry offer cleansing properties that help with detoxifying the liver and gallbladder. It stimulates the flow of bile and digestive juices, reduces nausea and vomiting, tones and strengthens the body, and stimulates bowel action. It is used for gallbladder problems such as nausea and biliousness, inflammation, and gallstones. It is also helpful for mild to severe liver problems, even those severe enough to cause jaundice. It is eff ective
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against microorganisms, including malaria and the fungus Candida albicans. Use one teaspoonful of the dried root per cup of boiling water. Drink one cup three times per day. Alternatively, take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of the tincture two to three times per day.
Black Root (Leptandra virginica)
The Seneca natives shared their knowledge of black root to help Europeans who came to North America. It stimulates bile flow, promotes perspiration and cleansing through the skin, has antispasmodic properties, and strongly encourages bowel elimination. It is useful in the treatment of cholecystitis or inflamed gallbladder and for liver congestion that may lead to jaundice. It works well with barberry and dandelion for liver congestion. Avoid using the fresh root since it can cause violent vomiting and purging of the bowels. Use black root with care. Use one teaspoon of the dried root per cup of water. Simmer for ten minutes. Drink one cup three times per day. Alternatively, use a quarter to a half teaspoon of the tincture, three times per day.
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)
Blue flag stimulates bile flow and purging of the intestines, reduces inflammation, and cleanses the blood and urinary tract. It is good for eczema and psoriasis, acne, and other skin eruptions. For skin problems, blue flag works well with burdock and yellow dock. Use half to one teaspoon of the dried herb per cup of boiling water. Drink one cup three times daily. Alternatively, use a quarter to a half teaspoon of the tincture three times daily.
Boldo (Peumus boldo)
The leaves of this South American herb stimulate bile fl ow and tone the liver and increase urination to cleanse the urinary tract. Boldo helps with gallbladder inflammation and gallstones, as well as cystitis
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and fluid retention. It also has sedative properties to help a person relax. Use one teaspoon of the dried leaves per cup of boiling water. Drink one cup three times per day. Alternatively, take one-quarter teaspoon of the tincture three times per day.
Fringetree Bark (Chionanthus virginicus)
This powerful liver- and gallbladder-cleansing herb is useful in even severe circumstances. It is helpful for gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, and jaundice. It also normalizes bowel movements. It stimulates bile flow, tones the liver, cleanses blood, and encourages urine flow to cleanse the urinary tract. Make an infusion from one to two teaspoons of the dried herb per cup of boiling water. Let brew for 10 minutes. Drink three cups daily. Alternatively, take one-quarter teaspoon of tincture three times per day.
Vervain (Verbena offi cinalis)
Vervain tones the liver and helps to stimulate normal functioning of both the liver and gallbladder. It is not a primary liver or gallbladder herb but still works well, especially in conjunction with other herbs.
Vervain has antispasmodic properties, calms the nervous system, tones and strengthens the overall body, promotes perspiration and cleansing through the skin, and stimulates breast milk production in women who are nursing infants. Vervain also helps with depression, especially in combination with the herbs skullcap, oats, and lady’s slipper. Use between one and three teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water to make an infusion. Drink one cup, three times per day. Alternatively, take a half to one teaspoon of the tincture three times per day.
Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus)
The bark of this herb is far more useful than its name might suggest. It stimulates the liver, primarily by stimulating bile flow. It is one of the best
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liver-cleansing herbs, alongside milk thistle and dandelion. It is good for treating virtually any type of liver and gallbladder problem, including jaundice, gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, and pain. It also cleanses the blood, urinary tract, and intestines. In the latter case, it does so through its laxative effect. Wahoo is also good if you feel sluggish. Make a decoction using a half to one teaspoon of dried herb per cup of water. Drink one cup of this strained mixture, three times per day. Alternatively, you can take a half to one teaspoon of the tincture three times per day.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
You learned about yarrow’s potent healing abilities for the urinary tract. It is also a good liver cleanser. Two animal studies proved its ability to protect the liver from toxic chemical damage.A study from researchers in India proves its abilities for healing hepatitis.26 Use one teaspoon of the dried herb (any combination of leaves, flowers, or stems) per cup of boiling water. Drink one cup three times per day.
Astragalus (Astragalus, various species)
In addition to cleansing the lymphatic system, astragalus is an excellent liver protector. In his book The New Healing Herbs, Michael Castleman cites a study conducted in China, in which mice were given stilbenemide, a cancer chemotherapy drug that causes liver damage. Some mice were given astragalus as well. Th e ones that received only the drug developed serious liver damage, while those that also took astragalus did not. Astragalus is primarily available as a tincture or in capsule or tablet form. Since potency can vary greatly with this herb, it is best to follow the package directions for the optimum dose.
Supercharge Your Liver and Gallbladder Cleansing
You can employ some powerful energy medicine techniques to improve the cleansing ability of the liver and gallbladder.Two of the best
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ones include acupressure for these detox organs, and massaging the neurolymphatic massage points that are linked to the gall- bladder and liver.
Acupressure for Liver Cleansing
• Heart 8 (H 8) is located on the palm of the hand, about one inch below the webbing between the little finger and ring fi nger. • Liver 2 (Liv 2) is located on the top of the foot where the big toe and the second toe meet.Th en:
• Lung 8 (Lu 8) is located on the inside of the arm, on the thumb side, about one inch higher than the wrist crease. • Liver 4 (Liv 4) is located on the front of the ankle bone on the inside of the leg. Figure 10.1 Acupressure for liver cleansing ......................................Acupressure for Gallbladder Cleansing
• Small Intestine 5 (SI 5) is located on the back of the hand at the level of the wrist, on the little finger side. • Gallbladder 38 (GB 38) is located on the outside of the lower leg, several inches above the ankle in a depression where the two bones meet. Chapter ..: Targeting the Liver and Gallbladder ...
Th en:
• Large Intestine 1 (LI 1) is located on the outside edge (the thumb side) of the index finger at the base of the nail. • Gallbladder 44 (GB 44) is located on the outside edge of the fourth toe (nearest the little toe) at the base of the toenail. Acupressure for gallbladder cleansing ........................................Figure 10.2
Massage to Enhance Liver and Gallbladder Cleansing
You can massage parts of the lymphatic system that correspond with the liver and gallbladder. These include the following:
• under the right breast, from the outside edge of the ribs to the middle of the body; • under the inside edge of the third and fourth ribs; and • about an inch on either side of the spine between the shoulder blades. Vigorously massage the areas mentioned above, which you will fi nd in the following diagram (Fig. 10.3). These areas are much larger than acupressure points, so don’t worry if you’re on the right spot. If it feels tender to rub, you’ve found the right spots. You can be fully clothed while spending a minute or two vigorously massaging these areas.
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Figure 10.3 Acupressure for gallbladder cleansing
Cleansing your liver and gallbladder on a regular basis gives these two valuable organs the boost they need to perform over fi ve hundred functions. Consider your detoxifi cation efforts for these organs comparable to insurance. By restoring the health of the liver and gallbladder through periodic cleansing, you are helping to ensure the health of hundreds of processes in your body, all of which are essential to great health.
In this chapter you learned
• The gallbladder and liver perform over 500 important functions • There are many symptoms and disorders linked with an unhealthy liver and gallbladder • It is critical to great health that you cleanse your liver and gallbladder • Particular foods, herbs, and energy medicine techniques assist with liver and gallbladder detoxifi cation Chapter ..: Targeting the Liver and Gallbladder ...