What I Discovered About Detox

Prior to my original cancer diagnosis in 2006, I had zero interest in health, let alone natural health. I was of the belief that if you became unwell, you either went to the pharmacy, or you went to see your doctor and then went to the pharmacy to collect some pills that would miraculously take care of whatever it was that ailed you.

Natural health and healing seemed as implausible as the tooth fairy!

However after chemotherapy and all of the drugs associated with it, I had the distinct sense that more pharmaceutical medication was not what my body needed, and I found myself drawn to the herbal section of the local pharmacy.

Perhaps it was divine intervention or my future-self sending me a message, but for some reason on that day, I impulsively reached for a box containing an assortment of herbal pills that promised to clear my skin, reduce my headaches, help me lose weight and restore the vitality I'd long been missing, all within fifteen days.

It seemed completely unrealistic; I had sores in and around my mouth, bags under my eyes, dry skin, brittle nails, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, a rash from my wig, AND I'd gone up a dress size! Nevertheless, I felt hopeful and paid for the expensive magic pills, reasoning if they delivered on half of what they promised, it was a small price to pay.

In addition to a few dietary modifications, after only a few days in I was in the throes of an unexpectedly full-on detox. Poison leeched out of every pore of my skin, and my headaches took a turn for the worse. I had skin eruptions all over, a runny nose and I stank, and not your garden-variety kind of B.O, I mean, I REALLY stank!

Could herbs really have such a drastic effect?

The results of that two week herbal program were nothing short of stunning! The effectiveness of the herbal protocol, combined with a nutritional program was nothing short of enlightening. Along with the purge came a renewed sense of hope.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that a single fifteen day cleanse solved my problems (it didn't), but what it did do was it opened my eyes to a whole new paradigm of health.

It inspired me to seek out the guidance of various natural health practitioners who could guide and assist me to safely cleanse and rebuild my body after all of the toxic treatments and medications it had been subjected to.

I've lost count of how many, and the various different types of cleanses I've done since then, but generally speaking this cleanse, and most others share a similar objective.

Cleanses help clean up the liver and other organs of elimination so that they can perform more efficiently, which leads to better overall health and improved immune function.

Love Your Liver

Your liver is constantly working to keep you healthy. Every minute, almost a litre and a half of blood passes through this busy organ, filtering out and eliminating waste and the carcinogens that we're exposed to on a daily basis - a healthy liver means healthy blood.

The modern world is a toxic world. Every day we are bombarded with environmental pollutants and carcinogens. They're in our personal hygiene products, laundry products, drinking water, food supply and more.

The problem is every single toxin that enters our body eventually winds up in, or passing through the liver. If toxins come in at a rate faster than what the liver can keep up with, it becomes sluggish. When the liver becomes sluggish, we become susceptible to illness and dis-ease.

Signs of a Sluggish Liver

. Headaches

· Skin eruptions, acne and rashes

· Hormonal imbalances

· Weight gain or inability to lose weight

· Cravings and/or blood sugar issues

· Bad breath

· Anxiety and depression

· Digestive issues

· Fatigue

· Poor sleep

· Nausea after fatty meals

Symptoms such as skin eruptions, rashes, colds or diarrhea are often signs of the body finding alternative ways to release toxic matter because the liver is congested. If these symptoms are left unaddressed for extended periods, chronic inflammation or the risk of chronic illness, is significantly increased.

You can reduce your toxic burden and support your liver by doing some of the following things:

Clean up your home environment

Our homes are meant to be our sanctuary's however they are often the main source of toxin exposure. Everything from cleaning products to cosmetics can contain chemicals that are toxic to our body, contributing to hormone imbalances and cancer.

Use this guide to clean out your home, and create your own healing haven.

Food is medicine!

Choose foods that are fresh and organic or pesticide-free. If it was made in a factory and comes in a box, the chances are it contains preservatives and fillers that are toxic. The best foods for supporting the liver are cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale.

Other beneficial vegetables include beetroot, carrots and dark leafy greens. Carrots and beetroot are high in beta-carotene, antioxidants and have a healing and cleansing effect on the liver.

Leafy greens are nutrient dense, high in chlorophyll and chelate heavy metals and other toxins from the bloodstream. Eat kale, dandelion greens, coriander, mustard greens, collards, brussels sprouts, onions, garlic and apples and a squeeze of lemon in water.

Eat 'good' fats and cut out the 'bad fats'

There's a lot of confusion when it comes to fats but to simplify, there are two kinds - the helpful kind and the harmful kind.

Eat plenty of almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, pecan nuts, macadamias, hemp, flax, chia, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, avocados, coconut cream, milk and oil, and olives and olive oil.

Avoid canola oil, vegetable oils and man-made fats (most often found in deep-fried foods, pastries, cakes, biscuits and pizza) at all costs.

Take a break from alcohol

The unpopular truth is that alcohol is a toxin. It's no secret that the liver works hard to process the damage done from a heavy duty night out, and despite what we might be told about the antioxidants in red wine, the truth is, the liver hates it.

For an effective cleanse, you really do need to stay away from alcohol to allow the liver to work, unhindered, cleansing and purifying your blood.

Raw vegetable juices

Vegetable juices are a great way to load up on nutrients that you otherwise might not get if you had to eat them. Avoid the store bought variety and make them fresh. There are certain vegetables that are incredibly beneficial to the liver including beetroot, cabbage, lemons or limes, dandelion greens, and ginger.

Supplement with herbs

Finally, there are certain herbs that work like magic on the liver and overall digestive function. I've long believed that all the answers are in nature, and herbs that specifically target the liver are no exception. Notable herbs include milk thistle, dandelion root, turmeric and burdock root. Always follow recommended guidelines.

Need Support?

I offer a range of services, including nutritional cleanses, parasite cleanses, and holistic health coaching. Regardless of where you are on your health journey, we will take a comprehensive look at where you’re at, how you got here, and strategies for moving forward