Don't stop and think about all of the toxins that are permeating your environment. It will overwhelm you. Plastics, glyphosate, dioxins, sulfates, parabens, oh my.
Don't fret. God has this round of humans on earth at this period of time, with these manifold toxins. And guess what? Our bodies are quite resilient.
Those body can always use a boost, though. Most cultures go through some cyclical sort of cleansing or fasting in order to allow the body to rest.
But resting isn't really 'Merican. We like to push, and overcommit, and overschedule, and overwork, and overplay.
All of that pushing and stressing can lead to some pretty wonky hormone levels, throwing you out of balance.
In order to bring the body back to some sort of homeostasis, it is wise to engage in some gentle detoxification on a regular basis.
But how?
Let's find out.
1. Castor Oil Packs
This one can get a little messy, and it takes some practice. But it is inexpensive and effective. You will need an old cotton T shirt or a new bar towel (these are the giant white towels you can buy in multi-packs at Williams Sonoma or Target). You will also need some organic castor oil, saran wrap, a heating pad, and a large glass container.
Fold your towel or shirt into a rectangle that measures about 3 x 1 feet. Pour castor oil all over the towel, taking care not to go over the edges. It will spread all by itself and it is a heavy, viscous oil that may be hard to clean up if it gets on a rug or towel.
Let the oil permeate the cotton and then place it over your liver (right upper quadrant of the abdomen). Wrap your abdomen in plastic wrap to minimize mess and allow the pack to sit on your liver for 45-60 minutes. Place your heating pad (I made a lavender rice pack that I heat in the microwave) over the saran wrap. I do this while I am studying or writing.
When done, throw away plastic wrap and store castor oil pack in its glass container and keep in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before you use it again. Wash it every 5-6 uses, all by itself. Or throw it away and use a new one.
If you don't want to wrap yourself in plastic, get a length of flannel from the the fabric store. I use plastic because it is just easier. And less messy.
Castor oil is detoxifying and anti-inflammatory. Use it to stimulate liver detoxification. Castor oil actually stimulates the body to produce more T-cells, which fight off infection and boost immunity.
While I do this regularly to support liver health, you can also use a castor oil pack over your uterus when you have menstrual cramps, or over a site of inflammation if you have a sports injury or a bad back.
2. Epsom Salt Baths
These are my favorites. I love asking my clients, "do you like baths?" and seeing them melt a little at the prospect of being prescribed a long soak. Baths are not only a wonderful way to relax, they can also be an excellent way to detoxify.
If your home water smells like chlorine, that is because it is rife with chlorine. That is not a good thing. You do not want to soak in chlorine. Chlorine will displace iodine in the body, as it is a halogen that is heavier than iodine. Your body needs plenty of iodine.
You can grab some dechlorinization tablets off of Amazon to throw in your bath as well. Vitamin C + Magnesium is a beautiful bath combination.
The magnesium in the epsom salts will contribute to a relaxed state due to the transdermal transfer of micronutrients. If you make your bath as hot as you can stand, you will pour out sweat. Detoxification! Make sure that you take a quick shower after a Mag + C bath so you rinse off any impurities.
3. Niacin Therapy
As I write this blog, I am doing my own niacin treatment. The flushing B vitamins relax as they detoxify. You guys already know how much I love niacin therapy for skin health and for mood regulation.
Since niacin is a vasodilator, it will push blood through the body quicker, bringing oxygen to capillaries and cleaning stagnant blood. The flush is the key.
Start at 100 mg and work up slowly. As you acclimate, your body will tolerate more. You are an excellent candidate for niacin therapy if you deal with mild anxiety, depression, insomnia, and fatigue.
4. Rebounding
Ah, the joy of bouncing on a trampoline! Do you ever get off of a trampoline and feel euphoric? You don't have to go to a trampoline park to experience this. You can grab a cheap rebounder off of Amazon and bounce for 20 minutes a day. This movement is a pretty powerful lymphatic drainage move.
Your lymph system will not drain itself. The body needs movement to clean itself out, toxin-wise. Jumping on the trampoline will increase gravitational pull, which will allow the lymphatic fluid to flow more easily through the body, picking up deposits from the lymph nodes as it goes.
Jump 15-30 minutes every day for the best results. Rebounding is easy on the joints and back. You can move your trampoline inside and outside as the weather changes. I love to take mine outside in the morning and listen to RC Sproul talk to me about Calvinism. You can listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook. Or you can go au natural and just listen to the birds singing.
5. Celery Juice
I have been juicing organic celery for the last three weeks and I kind of love it. I drink up to 16 ounces a day on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. The celery juice will raise stomach acid, a necessary boost for me as I am still battling an H. Pylori infection, and H. Pylori lowers stomach acid.
I will be writing a whole article about the benefits of celery juice in an upcoming post, but suffice it to say- this is a pretty powerful way to start your morning.
Celery juice is antiviral, antibacterial, and contains a beautiful micronutrient profile. It is extremely high in potassium, and if you are reading this article, I can pretty much guarantee you that you are low in potassium.
Celery juice is pretty inexpensive. I get mine at Trader Joes, and it works out to about $2 a day. If you want to save money, drink less juice. Two to four ounces will set you back about 50 cents.
I bought a cheap and powerful little juicer on Amazon and I love it.
All of the little things add up. If you can implement of few of these strategies on a daily basis, you will be on your way to renewed health. Let me know what you think. And obviously, I have never been to medical school. This advice is purely to share knowledge. If there is something really wrong with you, go see your doctor right away.
But if you are like most of my clients- knowing that your body could feel better but not knowing how to accomplish it, start with these tips.
To your detox health,
Jennifer