While detoxing may seem like a modern concept, popular in the holistic health industry, it’s actually rooted in ancient healing traditions. Dating back to Ayurvedic medicine, which is one of the oldest holistic healing methodologies, detoxing has been used in a variety of cultures throughout the centuries. From the Greeks and the Romans, to Native Americans, shamans and different tribes. The healing modality of detoxing has been a staple in many ancient traditions, and for good reason. Detoxing can be a powerful method to transform your health and rid yourself of many ailments.
Detoxing Defined
The word “detox” can have many different connotations. From a holistic health perspective, detoxing is understood as a method of helping to remove toxins from the body. This can be done in a variety of ways such as detox diets, herbal supplements, sweating, and fasting. The body is always naturally detoxing on it’s own. The liver in particular is responsible for getting toxins out of the body. There are essentially three pathways your liver uses to eliminate toxins– stool, urine, and sweat. Fun fact, the average person has about 12 pounds of excess toxic waste in their colon! Often these toxins are not eliminated from the body fast enough due to poor digestion. The waste just sits there, clinging to the colon wall, as the toxins are gradually reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This is where a detox can intervene, by speeding up the process and helping your body eliminate these excess toxins.
The benefits of detoxing are endless, especially if you are doing a proper protocol. Lowering inflammation, improving gut health, strengthening immune function, increasing energy, weight loss, hormone balancing, and overall mood enhancement are just a few of the benefits of detoxing.
Detoxing in a Modern World
Many of the ancient traditions of detoxing took place at specific times of the year. For instance, cleansing with the change of the season, or to prepare for a ceremony. Most involved changing the diet or fasting, as well as eating or drinking some type of herbs. This would often take place over the course of a few weeks to allow the body time to properly cleanse. Keeping with this tradition is entirely possible in today’s modern world when you have the right tools and a proper protocol to follow.
The problem with many of the detoxes out there is that they require long periods of fasting or extremely restrictive diets. Many also involve hours spent on the toilet. For the average person who goes to work, has responsibilities at home and relationships to maintain, this type of detox is just not realistic. If you’ve ever done a fast, you’ll recall how difficult it can be to get through the day, let alone be civil to anyone you interact with. While of course these types of detoxes have their benefits, they really should be done at a retreat center under medical supervision. The rest of us need a detox that is as effective, yet allows us to go to work, socialize, and still enjoy our life. After all, the whole point of a detox is to feel better!
The Safe and Effective way to Detox
A big part of detoxing can be going to the bathroom, a lot. However, this is where you have to be careful when you are choosing which detox is right for you. Taking a supplement or drinking a tea that is loaded with harsh laxatives is not the healthy way to detox. Certain laxatives can make your colon worse, causing inflammation and cramping. A proper detox should not use harsh laxatives and instead should contain fiber and gentle ingredients to get your bowels moving.
It’s also important that a detox be self regulating, where you can adapt the dosage for your needs. Our 2-week gut cleanse is purposely designed so that you can regulate it for your body. If you are prone to constipation, you would take a higher dose than someone who is more prone to diarrhea. It’s also designed so that you can adjust your dose depending on your day. This way, the cleanse won’t interfere with your 8 am presentation at the office. We’ve had people in all sorts of professions successfully complete this 2-week gut cleanse while going to work, from pilots to trial lawyers.
A detox has to be doable in order for you to be successful. In addition there is a whole lot more to detoxing than just sitting on the toilet. Diet and lifestyle changes are essential components to detoxing. Detox does not mean starve. In fact, during our gut cleanse we encourage eating healthy foods rich in fiber and nutrients, while reducing inflammatory foods. We include an extensive food guide with easy recipes, meal plans, and grocery lists to keep your body satisfied and satiated. At the end of the detox you will not only experience a complete gut reset, but also have adopted a new set of healthy habits.
Start with a 2-week cleanse, walk away with a way of life. If you’re ready to make this ancient healing secret part of your new health routine, click here to learn more.