Natural Detoxification Methods

Natural Detoxification Methods for Your Body Both Inside and Out

We live in a toxic world, which wears us down at an alarmingly fast rate. To protect our health, it is beneficial to undergo a simple detoxification (or detox) from time to time.  What exactly is a detox? Detox, or detoxification, is a process of undertaking steps to clear out toxins. In this case, it is reducing toxins from the body and might include either temporary or sustained lifestyle changes.

Toxins are any substance that can be poisonous or cause negative health effects. “Toxin” refers to all metals, chemicals, pollutants, artificial food ingredients, pesticides, and poisons that cause the body harm It is broad term but should not be ignored, particularly in today’s world. Toxins tend to accumulate in the body over time and can tax the organs and/or possibly lead to disease. Although it is impossible to protect yourself from toxins, there are steps you can take to reduce or eliminate them from your body and your life. This article will touch on a few of the simple daily detox steps you might consider.

Reducing Chlorine in Your Bath Water

Bathing, the most basic step you take on a regular basis to stay clean, could be less toxic. Most tap water has chlorine in it to make it safe, but this also makes it harmful to your body. You can reduce chlorine in your bath water by installing a carbon block filter on your faucet or one that has anion magnets. When the water passes through, the chlorine is absorbed. It can be harder to find a filter for a tub faucet than a shower or water tap. So you could drop a teaspoonful of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate into your tub of water to neutralize the chlorine. You could also use a bath dechlorinator. This is a ball you drop into the tub, and it neutralizes the chlorine. It’s good for about 200 baths.

Making Your Bath More Beneficial With The Following Additions:

Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate)

Often, we don’t get enough magnesium sulfate, which gets rid of toxins in the body. It’s depleted from the soil our food is grown in very quickly, and fertilizers also rob us of this mineral. Luckily, you can just drop some epsom salts or magnesium flakes in you or your kids’ bath water; your skin will absorb it quickly, and your body will make full use of it.

Salt (sodium chloride)

Sea Salt, such as Himalayan, Black, Dead, French, Italian or Hawaiian sea salt are all great at extracting toxins from your body through your skin. Put about 2 heaping tablespoons in your warm bath water. They also enhance your circulation and decrease inflammation while relaxing you and softening your skin.

Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Bathing in baking soda is detoxifying too. It helps soothe hemorrhoids and heal itching, burned and infected skin. Dissolve four or five tablespoons of baking soda in your bath water, and soak for at least 20 minutes to get the healing and detoxifying benefits of baking soda.

Clay

Clay is a powerful detoxifying agent. You can bathe in Bentonite clay to pull toxins from your body. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask or cloth, and keep them covered from the time you open up the clay until the time your Bentonite clay powder is mixed with water. Use one to four cups of clay. First mix it in a bowl with enough water so that it’s spreading consistency. At this point, you can rub it all over your body, and then soak in your tub of warm water for at least 20 minutes, or put the mixed clay in the tub, and mix it up with the water. Cover your drain with a piece of cloth you can throw away. When you drain the tub, the clay will gather in the cloth instead of clogging your drain. Never reuse the clay because it will be filled with toxins.

Infrared Saunas

Infrared saunas consist of a room with special infrared lights that target your body directly with heat to get it to sweat instead of heating the entire room. It’s proven to have some detoxification benefits, but it also helps you lose weight, cleans out your pores, helps scars heal and brings some pain relief.  (There are also steam saunas but many feel that infrared saunas are preferred.)

More About Infrared Saunas

Just as your body releases toxins, soft woods release phenols. These are naturally occurring compounds, which are toxic and can be a danger to your health over time. The softer the wood type, the more likely it is that you will have this problem. Wood has to be dried in a kiln and sometimes treated to get rid of toxic oils and resins. You won’t have this problem at all with poplar wood, but it’s also more expensive. Redwood that has been kiln dried and treated to remove volatile compounds is a popular choice for saunas. Hemlock is also a good choice of wood. Some simple alternatives, to wood are a tiled sauna room or a stainless steel one.  There are also simple portable sauna units selling for less that $300 that can also be used for home saunas.

Skin Brushing

Using a special skin brush can help reduce cellulite, get rid of dead skin and make the skin firmer. This is done first thing in the morning on your dry skin – typically for about 1 to 2 minutes.  Brush in an upwards direction starting from your feet up to your lower abdomen.  Then, brush down your torso toward your lower abdomen and your hands up to your shoulders.  Avoid your breasts because the brush may be too harsh for these more sensitive areas.

Castor Oil Packs

Known in part for helping people heal from various sicknesses and ailments, Edgar Cayce recommends castor oil packs for a myriad of health problems. In relation to detoxing, castor oil packs help with elimination and increase circulation throughout the body. They help break up obstructions in the lacteal glands and particularly improve circulation throughout the lymphatic system.

How To Do A Castor Oil Pack

Fold a large absorbent cloth two or three times so that it’s eight by ten inches in size, and place it on a piece of plastic. Soak it with cold pressed castor oil, and holding the plastic in place, position it cloth side down lengthwise on the right side of your torso from your breastbone to your groin. You can make it work better by placing a heating pad over the plastic until the pack is warm. Keep the pack in place for one to one and a half hours. Do this morning and night for three days, then take a break for at least four days. After removing the pack on the third night, swallow one to two tablespoons of olive oil for the best detoxing and healing benefits.

Note:  Some forms of detoxification can be really dehydrating such as infrared saunas and bentonite clay baths, so remember to drink more water before and after these (and most detox) treatments.

Eating Well & Drinking Lots of Water

It should be obvious that if you avoid taking in toxins on an ongoing basis, you will not accumulate them and needs as much detox. Reduce the need for extensive detoxing by sticking to a healthy, plant-based diet. Reduce the toxins you consume by eating foods that are as whole and as natural as possible, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, organic if possible, and minimally processed grains; such as whole wheat flour, rolled oats and millet.  Furthermore, ensure that you drink lots of clean, pure water, beginning right when you wake up and between your meals throughout the day.

What you wear and clean your home with can affect your body’s health, too. As much as possible, wear all natural fibers (choosing organic cotton clothing), and furnish your home with them too. Keep in mind that many pieces of furniture and even carpets contain harmful chemicals or have finishes that give off harmful volatile compounds.

During times of body detoxification, it’s important that your environment is as green and calm as possible. Distance yourself from any stress triggers too, such as newscasts, politics, and drama – even many kinds of entertainment that may be upsetting. Going whole food vegan, following natural living, and having a positive mental mindset and outlook will be beneficial for both short-term and ongoing detoxification.

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