The Detox Issue
Greetings and Happy New Year….
Following the hectic celebrations of the Holidays there is always a slight lull in energy that comes in January. In one way we are ready to move forward with our goals. On the other hand we are feeling a bit run down and less optimal due to the excesses of the end of the year.
I have chosen the Detox as my theme for this newsletter as a transition period for us to clear the past and clean our bodies before we move into the momentum of the New Year.
In alchemy the first process that is used in the transformation process is the distillation and separation of the pure from the impure. After the purification the next process is to condense and rebuild. In the same way as the alchemist used this process, I have learned in practice that healing and rebuilding of the body is much more effective if we detox and clean up first. It is like creating the foundation for building a new building. The building won’t be strong if the foundation is not in place.
Detoxing is one of the fundamental therapies in Naturopathic medicine. Lets explore how toxicity occurs and how our bodies detoxify these impurities. Then are going to explore how to facilitate our body’s ability to detoxify through the liver and gut.
Toxicity occurs on 3 basic levels: external, internal and emotional.
We acquire toxins from our environment by breathing, ingesting, and through physical contact. We are exposed to toxins in our food, water, and air.
On the internal level our body produces toxins through its normal everyday functions, which are at the biochemical and cellular level. When these substances are not eliminated properly they lead to inflammation and degeneration.
We can also accumulate toxins when we have unprocessed negative emotions, which are not being expressed. They accumulate and cause stagnation in our body as well.
Before you begin the detox, check out this website and tool to Calculate your Body Burden. It can give you and idea of some of the exposures that are in our daily life and some of the things to consider changing.
Our body handles toxins by either neutralizing, transforming, or eliminating them. The major organs of detoxification are the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin and intestines. Emotional detoxification is the uncovering of emotions such as fear, anger and resentment and replacing them with forgiveness, love, joy and hope.
Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness.
Forgiveness is letting go of the past,
and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions.
— Gerald Jampolsky
Detoxification is transformational and allows freedom and change on many levels.
“Elimination equals Illumination”
In this Issue you will find my famous Detox Protocol. In general, I prescribe a Whole Food Diet with the Detox Smoothie. The Smoothie is a meal replacement for breakfast and has all the nutrients to repair your liver and gut and allow toxins to be eliminated naturally. At the same time we are eating a Whole Food Diet that eliminates a lot of toxins and chemicals in our food and water. There are also recommendations for Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Guidelines all aimed at reducing the toxic exposure.
Please consult your physician before beginning a detox program or using detox products. Detoxing is not recommended for persons with serious health conditions, are pregnant or are using prescription medications.
The Herb of the Month, Essential Oil of the Month, and Flower Essence of the Month are all plants that are commonly associated with detoxing body and emotions.
The Recipes of the Month includes teas, soups and some meals that have great foods for detoxing.
To make the detox a well-rounded experience, it is great to consider the home and office and your personal space. This is a great time to collect what you don’t use or need any more and give to charity or recycle.
We always want our body, mind and spirit to be congruent. Therefore, the detox period is a great time to focus on what emotions and situations in your life are not useful to you anymore. Perhaps it is time to let go of a particular negative idea or thought system. Forgiveness and letting go of resentments at this time is a powerful transformational experience and is very freeing as well.
The following is an affirmation to help us in the forgiveness and letting go process:
I am responsible for what I see.
I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt.
I could see peace instead of THIS.
The past is over – it can touch me not.
This instant is the only time there is.
Today I will judge nothing that occurs.
I am not the victim of the world I see.
I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts.
I am determined to see things differently.
I am never upset for the reason I think.
Forgiveness is the key to happiness.All that I give I give to myself.
— Hugh Prather
Detoxing in a wonderful experience and learning process. It is essential to release all that is not useful in order for us to have the clarity to know what we are meant to do next. I see the detox as an experience of letting go and clearing in order to create space for more vitality, joy, love and creativity.
“When you come to the edge of all the light that you know,
And you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,
Faith is knowing one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on
or you will be taught how to fly.”
— Barbara J. Winter
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