SPRING CLEANSING & DETOXIFYING

By Klaus Ferlow

The spring time is the perfect time for cleansing and detoxifying your body to get in back into shape. Detoxifying medicine is an ancient concept that appears as part of many healthcare systems around the world.

As a treatment detoxifying and cleansing your system is more important today than ever before because, in addition to the health problems humans been experiencing for  thousands of years, we are now exposed to a huge variety of environmental poisons. Disease from toxicity is caused by the presence of bio-chemicals that poison the blood and spread via the circulation system. As a result, cells and tissues are literally “swimming” in a contaminated environment. Detoxification is a treatment regimen that cleans the blood and removes toxins from the body. One of the body’s natural means staying healthy is its ability to detoxify itself. The organs of detoxification are the liver, kidneys, bowels, lungs and skin. Avoiding harmful substances such as junk food, pop drinks, drugs, tobacco, as well as supporting the organs in their detoxifying action is vital in maintaining and restoring health. Sufficient fluid intake supports the eliminating function of the kidneys, the bowels and the skin.

We often forget the skin’s function as a detoxifying organ, and yet many therapies rest on this ability, including the ever more becoming popular infrared sauna, which promotes sweating. Fever is a natural means of toxin eliminating during sickness. The heat triggers chemical reactions that enhances the immune system, and destroy bacteria and viruses. When I had fever as a child my mother give me always hot pure elderberry juice with lemon juice and honey which further increased my own healing power and overnight  I sweat it all out and the fewer was gone the next morning.

Most people have mercury in their tooth fillings and ecosystem, anaerobic bacteria in their root canals, abnormal (bacterial) flora in their guts from antibiotics, lead in their bones from the years when leaded gasoline fuelled our cars and machines, and drugs in their bloodstream that throw liver metabolism out of balance. This proliferation of toxic sources demands, more than ever, that we consider detoxifying our bodies. Toxins that damage the cells of the body are invisible and insidious. They break down the “in-vironment” of all the body systems at the cellular level. This happens slowly day by day, year after year, and so is difficult to detect until the actual onset of disease.  

There are many detoxifying programs offered and here are some common herbs often used to Cleanse and detoxify your body:

The Milk Thistle seeds regenerate liver cells, stimulate the flow of bile, protect the liver from damage of hepatitis, has been known to reverse damage caused by alcoholism and drug abuse and helps to repair and reverse cirrhosis of the liver.

The Dandelion root aids the formation of bile, is a diuretic with naturally high potassium level, acts to remove poisons from the body and as blood purifier

Nettle leaf is great in building and cleaning the blood, expels gravel from the bladder, excellent remedy for kidney ailments, high in essential vitamins and minerals and improves mucus conditions in the lungs

Cat’s Claw bark a anti-inflammatory therapy in treatment of all kinds of inflammations, has been shown greatly diminish the mutagenic substances of tobacco found in the urine of cigarette smokers, helps inhibit the growth of cancer cells, boosts the immune system and works against Crohn’s disease, ulcers, fibromyalgia and asthma.

Herbal tinctures are a great way to get the herbs you need without the unnecessary fillers and other synthetics that make up pressed tablets, gel caps or capsules.  The tincture is instantly absorbed into your bloodstream and therefore very effective. Combo herbal tinctures are very potent and powerful since the liquid herbal extracts work synergistically together as a unit.

Another suggestion would be a Seneca Indian Cleansing Diet from the book “Ageless Remedies from Mother’s Kitchen”, by Hanna Kroeger, The Grandmother of Health, 1915-1998, established the first health food store in USA in 1957.

Detoxifying Diet

First day: eat only fruits and all you want. Try apples, berries, watermelon, pears, peaches, cherries, whole citrus fruits, and so forth. No bananas.

Second day: drink all the herb teas you want, such as raspberry, hyssop, chamomile, peppermint. You  may sweeten the tea slightly with honey, maple sugar or stevia.

Third day: eat all vegetables you want, have them raw, steamed or both.

Fourth day: make a big pot of vegetable broth by boiling cauliflower, cabbage, onion, green pepper, parsley, or whatever you have available. Season with sea salt or vegetable broth cubes. Drink only this rich mineral broth all day long.

This diet has the following effect:

The first day the colon (your wastebasket) is cleansed. The second day you release toxins, salt, and excessive calcium deposits in the muscles, tissues, and organs. The third day the digestive tract is supplied with healthful, mineral rich bulk. On the fourth day the blood, lymph, and inner organs are mineralized. That makes a lot of sense!

Words of Wisdom: "For every disease we know, God provides a herb to grow"

Please note: It is not our intension to make specific health claims. Any attempt to diagnose and treat illness should come under direction of your health care provider.  Check with your health care provide before starting any new cleanse or changes.  

Reference:

Ageless Remedies from Mother’s Kitchen, by Hanna Kroeger

Encyclopedia of Natural Healing, alive books

7-Day Detox Miracle, by Peter Bennett, ND & Stephen Barrie, ND with Sara Faye

Klaus Ferlow, herbalist, innovator, lecturer, researcher, writer, founder and co-owner of FERLOW BOTANICALS, Div. of Ferlow Brothers Ltd, Vancouver, B.C. manufacturing  toxin free medicinal herbal and personal care products for professional health & wellness practitioners in Canada and parts of USA since 1993. His educational articles have been published in dozens of Health Magazines, Magazines, Newspapers, Newsletters and numerous website around the world.