Coffee
Enemas * Sauna Therapy * Colonic Irrigation
Alginates * The Genital Bath * Juicing
Sulfur-containing Amino Acids *Herbal Poultices
This
paper discusses many detoxification procedures in some depth. The article is divided into methods we
strongly recommend, methods that are used less often, and methods that are
definitely not recommended because we find them harmful or not effective.
Warning: No claims are made for any procedures described here. Nor are these procedures intended as
treatments or prescriptions for any disease or condition. The following is presented for
educational purposes only.
However, many people find detoxification procedures very effective and
safe when used as described here.
PROCEDURES WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND
Sauna therapy is one of the finest ways to
remove toxic metals, toxic chemicals, chronic infections and other blockages in
the body. Infrared sauna therapy,
in particular, is highly effective for detoxification.
Types
of saunas. Three common types
of saunas exist. The traditional sauna is a room with a
heater. These are found at health
clubs and spas. This is the least
effective sauna for healing, in our opinion. However, it is used in some detoxification programs, such as
the Hubbard program, with excellent success.
The far
infrared sauna came into use about 45 years ago. It penetrates the skin, which adds another dimension to the
sauna experience and appears to enhance detoxification. However, these saunas, if they are
truly far infrared, emit damaging electromagnetic radiation to some extent. Also, the frequencies are not the best,
in our view. We are not happy with
most of these that we test.
Therefore, we donŐt recommend the far infrared or FIR sauna very much at
this time.
The
near infrared lamp sauna uses
infrared heat lamps as the heat source.
It also penetrates the deepest of all the saunas and does not emit any
harmful electromagnetic fields. It
is the best sauna we have found, in general.
How Often. One may use a sauna once a month for pleasure. However, for therapy one must use the
sauna at least weekly. For best results,
use the sauna each day, once or twice daily.
If
one is very debilitated, be sure to begin with once or twice a week, and only
for 10 or 15 minutes maximum. As
you feel comfortable in the sauna, you may increase the time and the frequency
of use.
Work
up to daily use as one is able. When beginning, many people overdo the sauna,
either the amount of time inside, or the frequency of sauna sessions.
Always
start slowly, even if you believe you are in superb physical condition. Many people do not sweat easily. Instead, their bodies can overheat if
one starts with an hour session, for example.
ALWAYS LEAVE ANY SAUNA IF YOU FEEL VERY
FAINT, DIZZY OR SICK. This does
not mean the sauna is harmful for you.
It often just means you are not used to it and your body needs to adapt
slowly to sweating and removing toxins through the skin and elsewhere.
Over
time, you will get used to the heat and the body will sweat better. In a few weeks to a few months, as the
body acclimates and is more able to regulate its temperature, sweating becomes
easier. Also, the more one relaxes, the more one will sweat.
Time of day for saunas. The more relaxed you are, the more benefit you will derive
from a sauna session. If possible,
enter the sauna either first thing in the morning, as soon as you arise, or
last thing at night before retiring for the night. These are the times of the day when most people are relaxed
a maximum amount.
Before a Sauna Session. Avoid heavy meals two hours before a sauna session. Avoid
alcohol or other intoxicating substances.
Drink eight ounces of water before entering a sauna. Spring or distilled water is highly
recommended.
Add
sea salt and two tablespoons daily of kelp to your diet to help replace any
minerals lost through sweating.
Some people cannot take kelp.
If it makes you jittery, use less or use another general mineral
preparation.
Remove
metal jewelry before entering the sauna, as it may become very hot. Do not put any oils on your skin before
a sauna, as they also may become very hot, especially in an infrared type of
sauna.
Preheating. Before entering a hot air sauna, preheat to 150ˇ F or
so. If you are using a near
infrared or far infrared sauna, enter as soon as one turns it on and you wil warm up with the sauna.
For
a more intense experience, preheat infrared saunas to about
90-100ˇ F. Do not operate at
above 120 F. for a near infrared lamp sauna or about 140 F. for a far infrared
sauna.
During a Sauna Session. Light clothing may be worn in a traditional sauna. Usually , it is best not to wear
clothing in an infrared sauna for best penetration of the infrared rays. It is acceptable, however, if a bathing
suit is required.
Use
a small towel to wipe off the sweat. Sit on another towel. Have a third towel
on the floor to avoid slipping. Talking or working are not recommended while in
a sauna. Meditate or relax.
To
enhance the effects of a sauna session, visualize absorbing the heat and
energy. Deep, slow breathing and good posture are very helpful. Sound therapy
such as listening to low tones is also excellent. Aromatherapy is also very
effective during a sauna session.
Rotating in a lamp sauna. If oneŐs sauna uses infrared heat lamps that are all on one
wall, one needs to rotate 90 degrees every few minutes or so to heat the body
evenly. Sit on a stool or a chair
without a back. Face the bulbs,
then turn to the side, and then turn around to so your back is facing the
lamps.
Also,
be sure to avoid touching the hot bulbs.
Keeping your eyes open and even looking at the bulbs is okay, according
to the manufacturer. However, I do
not recommend staring at them.
Also,
do not allow water, a towel or clothing touch the hot bulbs. One will not get a tan in an infrared
sauna, though the skin may redden for an hour afterwards.
Finishing Up. How long one remains inside a sauna
depends on oneŐs health condition.
Most people do well with 20-50 minutes in a sauna. We do not recommend more than an hour
at a time.
When
finished, take a shower to rinse off the toxins that are excreted during the
sauna bath. If this is not
possible, then towel off with a damp or dry towel.
We
do not recommend a cold plunge or cold shower after a sauna. However, a warm or tepid shower is
probably better than a very hot shower.
Avoid
using soap if possible, as you should be quite clean after sweating. Use shampoo and conditioner only if
needed. Most contain chemicals
toxic to the body. Also skip most
oils, lotions and creams. These also contain chemicals that may clog the
pores. Use only the most natural
skin care products to enhance the effects of the sauna.
Use
a skin brush or loofa to remove more toxins. Brush all over, even your face and hair
if you desire. Painful at first,
it soon feels wonderful.
Skin brushing enhances the cleansing effect.
Drink
eight ounces of water during or after a sauna session. If you sweat profusely, you may drink
more. Finally, sit or lie down for
at least 10 minutes after your sauna session. These simple steps allow the body
to reap the full benefit of the sauna experience.
Keeping safe in saunas. Saunas have at least a one thousand-year history of
remarkable safety. In fact, the
native Americans where I live told me the Indian sweat lodge has been in use for
40,000 years!
However,
today many people may use saunas who have chronic illnesses that may affect
their ability to tolerate the saunaŐs heat. In our experience with those with cancer, heart disease,
diabetes, arthritis, joint replacements and many other conditions, the sauna
appears to be very safe. Here are
a few signs, however, that indicate that one should leave the sauna soon:
1.
The body temperature should not increase more than four degrees.
2.The
pulse should not increase more than 50% of the resting pulse.
3.
Sweating should not stop suddenly.
4.
Some faintness and feeling of fatigue or weakness is normal during or after a
sauna session. However, if you
feel very faint, end the sauna session and lay down for at least 10 minutes.
Healing Reactions. Healing reactions are temporary
symptoms that occur as toxic substances are eliminated and chronic infections
heal. Symptoms vary from mild
odors, tastes or rashes to periods of fatigue, bowel changes, aches, pains or
headaches.
Many
people have chronic infections, often treated with antibiotics that killed most
of the bacteria but did not eliminate bad tissue and all the organisms. These
may flare up as they are healed due to repeated sauna use.
Almost
all healing flare-ups or purification reaction symptoms are benign, though they
are often vigorous. See other
articles on this website for details about healing crises, as they are
sometimes called. If in doubt,
always consult a knowledgeable practitioner who is familiar with healing
reactions and with sauna therapy.
Emotional healing reactions may also occur. For example, memories of past traumas
may arise consciously or in dreams as they come up to be resolved. Temporary anxiety or other emotional
states may occur. These usually
pass within a few hours to a few days.
Some
are directly related to the elimination of toxic substances from the body. Others are associated with other types
of emotional and physical clearing that can occur with the use of near infrared
saunas, in particular.
Supervision. Saunas are safe for most people
providing one follows the rules here described. Always move slowly and carefully in and around a sauna. Accidents can occur due to slippery
surfaces.
Supervision
is always best, especially if one has a health condition. If debilitated or
very heat-sensitive, begin with less time in a sauna. The presence of an
attendant or friend is also most helpful.
Consult
a health professional if one has any serious health condition. Those who have
used LSD or other psychotropic drugs require an attendant close by, as removal
of drugs from tissue storage sites may cause flashbacks or even full-blown LSD
trips.
Pregnant
women and children under five should avoid saunas. Young children must be accompanied by an adult. Continue
prescribed medication while taking saunas unless directed otherwise by the
prescribing physician.
For Acute Infections. If one has an acute infection
with fever or other acute symptoms, more frequent, shorter sauna sessions are
better until the infection subsides. Most people can use the sauna 15
minutes about 5 times a day during infections.
Always
check with someone knowledgeable if you are unsure about sauna use, although in
general saunas are quite safe. To review many medical references for
saunas, see the Sauna
Therapy article. Also
available is our book, Sauna Therapy. Click on the title to see the table of
contents and how to order this book.
From
Lynn: ŇI
just had my first coffee enema. UNBELIEVABLE. Just after the first
session, I felt a sense of fresh air all over and my breathing was
deeper. A constant pressure that I felt on my back at the location of the
liver got immediate relief. The racing thoughts was replaced with a quiet
mind. I felt relaxed and a sense of peacefulness. I hadn't sang in
months; but I suddenly found myself singing. Doc, I felt so good that I
wanted to have a second session immediately and had to restrain myself. I
hope it is not addictive because now you couldn't pay me to stop. It is
quite effective!! The only thing
is I am obviously very seriously dehydrated because a lot of it doesn't come
out.Ó
Why in the world would someone use coffee in an enema? That is the question I asked when my
health practitioner suggested I do coffee enemas. Yet when I got over my initial resistance, I quickly noticed
the many benefits of coffee enemas.
I did them daily for over 15 years and I credit, to some degree, the
recovery of my health and that of many others.
I
have recommended coffee enemas to over ten thousand patients. Many have told me how wonderful they
are. Several said coffee enemas
saved their lives.
Indeed, they are most helpful for many types of conditions. The procedure is also inexpensive and
can be done at home without special equipment.
History of the Coffee Enema. Enemas are an ancient form of
hydrotherapy. They have been used
for thousands of years for mechanically cleansing the colon. This is proven in the Dead Sea Scrolls. To read about this interesting use of
enemas, read Coffee
Enemas on this site.
Enemas
and colonic irrigation were used routinely in hospitals. Coffee enemas were mentioned in older editions of the Merck Manual, a handbook for medical
physicians. They were later
popularized by Max Gerson, MD, author of A Cancer Therapy - Results of 50 Cases.
Dr.
Gerson pioneered nutritional therapy for cancer and
other diseases with excellent results.
His therapy combined coffee enemas with a special diet, juices and other
supplements. The enemas were an
integral part of the therapy.
Benefits. The
major benefit of the coffee enema, according to Dr. Gerson,
is to enhance the elimination of toxins through the liver. Indeed, endoscopic studies confirm that
the coffee enema increases bile output.
To
test this idea, a patient was given a coffee enema while an endoscope (a thin
tube with a camera on the end to view the intestine) monitored the entrance to
the common bile duct. Within
minutes of administering the enema, bile flow increased.
Increased
bile flow also alkalinizes the small intestine and promotes improved
digestion. Coffee also acts as an
astringent in the large intestine, helping clean the colon walls.
A
common contributor to ill health is the production and absorption of toxins
within the small and large intestines.
If food is not digested properly, sugars ferment and protein putrefies
or rots. Both processes generate
toxic chemicals, which are then absorbed into the liver.
The
coffee enema enhances digestion by increasing bile flow and removes toxins in
the large intestine so they will not be absorbed. Most people with health complaints suffer from impaired
digestion and excessive production of toxic substances in the intestines.
Coffee
enemas are particularly helpful for slow oxidizers. Their liver activity is more sluggish and digestion is
usually impaired. Fast oxidizers
may have more difficulty retaining the enema.
The
procedure described below is really a coffee implant rather than an enema,
because it involves only two to three cups of water. Using more water than this may make the enema more difficult
to retain for some individuals and is not really needed in most cases.
If
you wish, however, the use of a quart of water, and making sure the water
reaches most of the large intestine, is more helpful for cleansing the colon of
accumulated waste material. If one
suspects severe bowel toxicity or in cases of serious illness, quart enemas are
preferable, at least to start with.
How Often And How Long? I usually suggest one enema per day to
assist detoxification or to enhance liver activity. Two enemas daily may be taken during a healing reaction if
needed. For those who are very
ill, several a day may be best for at least several months. (Dr. Gerson,
by the way, used six coffee enemas daily for cancer patients.)
For best results, a program of coffee
enemas should be carried on for at least a month. They should not be needed for
more than two to five years, although many people have continued to take them
for a number of years without problems.
The
best time to take the enema is after a normal bowel movement. One will get a slight rush from the
caffeine, but it is not like drinking coffee, which I do not recommend. Coffee enemas taken in the evening may
interfere with sleep.
If
performed properly, coffee implants do not cause habituation, constipation or
any rectal problems. In over 28
years of practice, I have rarely seen significant problems from coffee enemas
if they are done properly, according to the instructions below.
The
exception is if there are significant hemorrhoids, rectal fissures or other
rectal problems. In these cases,
extra care is needed in inserting the enema tip.
Some
people with hemorrhoids find enemas irritating and cannot do them. This is one of the few
contraindications for coffee enemas.
While enemas may seem uncomfortable, many clients report the procedure
is so helpful they soon forget the inconvenience.
Step 1. Materials
* Buy a 2-quart enema bag
with a clamp. This is sold at drug stores. The enema/douche bag combination is
easier to use because you can close the top.
* Buy any brand of regular
coffee - regular grind or flaked, non-instant and not decaffeinated, or grind
your own coffee. Organically grown coffee is best, though any coffee will
do. Organic coffee is available at
natural food stores. Store opened coffee containers in the freezer for maximum
freshness. The S.A. Wilson coffee
advertised specially for coffee enemas is great, but not necessary.
Step 2. Preparation of coffee
There are three methods.
The first two are a little better, but any of these will work.
1) The boil method.
* Place 2 to 3 cups of
purified water and one-half to two
tablespoons of coffee in a saucepan and bring to a boil (or use a coffee
maker to percolate the coffee quickly).
NOTE: The first time you do a coffee
enema, use only1 teaspoon, NOT
TABLESPOON, of coffee. This is
critical because some people are sensitive to caffeine and will feel very
jittery on more coffee. After a
few enemas, you will see how much coffee you can tolerate comfortably. Ideally, increase to two tablespoons
per enema.
* Let it boil 5 minutes,
then turn off the heat and allow it to cool. One or two ice cubes may be added
to speed the cooling process. You
may make a larger quantity and use it for several enemas.
Tricks to speed up cooling the boiled
coffee. 1) Boil only a little
of the water with the coffee. Once
it has boiled, add the rest of the water to the coffee mixture to cool the
entire amount down to body temperature.
2)
Pour the coffee mixture back and forth several times through the air from one
container to another, even from the enema bag back into a cool pot. This will also cool it much faster.
NOTE:
Body temperature feels hot when you place your finger in it. If the water is too hot or too cold,
retaining the enema will be more difficult.
* Only when the mixture is
about body temperature, strain the liquid through a fine strainer or coffee
filter paper into a clean enema bag.
Screw on the top of the enema bag.
The enema is now ready.
2) Using a coffeemaker. This is more convenient for some people
than the method above. The coffee
does not come out quite as strong, so you may be able to use a little more
coffee. Simply place the water and
ground coffee as above, but use a coffee maker.
To cool the coffee
after it percolates, you may leave it in the cup for a few minutes, or start
with only half a cup of water and add a room temperature water to the coffee
after it is percolated.
3) The non-boil method. This is not quite as powerful but may be used if time is
very important:
* Place 1 cup of ground
coffee in a container with 2 cups of water. Stir the mixture thoroughly and allow
it to soak overnight.
* In the morning, filter
the liquid through coffee filter paper or a fine strainer. Place in a jar for
storage in the refrigerator.
* To prepare an enema, pour
2 cups of purified water into the enema bag. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of the
coffee liquid from the jar.
Step 3. Preparing to take the enema
* Have a bowel movement
before doing the enema. This is
important, as otherwise you will not be able to retain the enema in most cases
and there could be a mess on the floor!
To have a bowel movement, the best method is to drink many glasses of
spring or distilled water beforehand.
You may also have something to eat or even use a laxative like prunes if
needed.
If
you have not had a bowel movement, take a plain water enema first, before the
coffee enema. This will usually
clean out the bowel quickly and effectively.
* Be sure the plastic hose
is pushed or fastened well onto the enema bag and the thin enema tip is
attached to the other end.
* Remove any air from the
enema tube the following way.
Grasp but do not close the clamp on the hose. Place the tip in the sink. Hold up the enema bag above the tip until the water begins
to flow out. Then close the clamp. This expels any air in the tube.
* Lubricate the enema tip
with a small amount of soap or oil. (Too much lubrication will cause the tip to
fall out of the rectum, creating a mess!).
Step 4. Taking the enema
* The position preferred by
most people is lying on one's back on a towel, on the bathroom floor or in the
bathtub.
* With the clamp closed,
place the enema bag on the floor next to you, or hang the bag about one foot
above your abdomen.
* Insert the tip gently and
slowly. Move it around until it
goes all the way in.
* Open the clamp and hold
the enema bag about one foot above the abdomen. The water may take a few
seconds to begin flowing. If the
water does not flow, you may gently squeeze the bag. If you develop a cramp, close the hose clamp, turn from side
to side and take a few deep breaths. The cramp will usually pass quickly.
* When all the liquid is
inside, the bag will become flat.
Close the clamp. You can leave the tube inserted, or remove it slowly.
* RETAIN THE ENEMA FOR 15
MINUTES (less time is okay, but not quite as effective). See below if you have difficulties with
this. You may remain lying on the
floor. Use the time to read a book, meditate, etc. Some people are able to get up and go lie on a towel in bed,
instead of on the floor. Walking
around the house with the coffee inside is not recommended.
A small number of
people are unable to retain even a cup of water for the required 15
minutes. One can start with less
coffee or less water in these cases.
There seems to be no harm if one wishes to retain the enema longer than
15 minutes.
Step 5. Finishing up
* After 15 minutes or so,
go to the toilet and empty out the water. It is okay if some water remains
inside. If water remains inside
often, you are dehydrated.
* Wash the enema bag and
tube thoroughly with soap and water.
* if you feel out of sorts or
a little bloated after the enema, rub the top of the toes of both feet, but
particularly the left foot. You
can also rub the entire foot, especially any part that is tender. This will often balance out the bodyŐs
energies after a coffee retention enema.
Hints regarding enemas:
* Remember, you will do
best if you have a bowel movement before doing the coffee enema.
* If intestinal gas is a
problem, some exercise before the enema may eliminate the gas.
* It is not essential but
is helpful if the water fills the entire colon. You can assist by first lying
on your right side for 5 minutes, then on your back for 5 minutes, and then on
your left side for 5 minutes.
* If water will not flow
around the entire colon, you may gently massage your abdomen. Some people
attach a 30-inch colon tube to the tip of the enema tube, and insert the tube
so the water will reach the right side of the colon.
* If the enema makes you
jittery, reduce the amount of coffee.
* The enema may lower your
blood sugar. If so, eat something just before or after taking the enema.
* If you have trouble
holding the enema, here are suggestions.
1) Be patient. Practice makes
perfect.
2) The water may be too hot or too cold.
Be sure the water temperature is comfortable.
3) It may help to place a small pillow or rolled up towel under your buttocks
so the water flows down hill into your colon.
4) If trouble continues, try reducing the amount of coffee or add 2 tablespoons
of blackstrap molasses to the water.
For more
information, read the article on this site entitled Coffee Enemas.
COLONIC IRRIGATION OR COLON HYDROTHERAPY
This
superb hydrotherapy treatment can greatly assist detoxification and general
health as well. I prefer the
coffee enemas only because they can be done at home at lower cost. Also, the coffee has many healing
benefits. However, colonic
irrigation with a skilled attendant is a wonderful therapy and some colon hydrtherapists will add coffee at the end if one requests
it.
Colon
hydrotherapy is safe, powerful and very comfortable for most people, even the
elderly and ill. Sessions with a
professional usually cost $50.00 or a little more, are quite painless, and take
about an hour. A series of
colonics is always best. Most people
need a dozen sessions to really remove layers of impacted fecal material,
parasites, yeast colonies and other imbalances in the large intestine. Some colon therapists add oxygen or
coffee to the irrigation water and this seems to be is fine, as well.
If
one prefers, it is possible to buy a home colonic machine or unit. Some are very costly and must be
plumbed into the home. Others are
simple units that fit over a toilet seat.
One such unit is called the Colema board. However, one must be trained in its use
for it to be as effective as a colonic treatment with a nurse or other
professional.
Juicing
is a popular method to rejuvenate the body. We always recommend 10-12 ounces of carrot juice daily for
all adults, and less for children depending on their size and weight. You may add some greens such as spinach
or Swiss chard leaves, or other vegetables to the carrot juice, but the carrots
are important as a source of bioavailable
calcium. Do not add fruit to this
juice, please, unless you must add a bit for a child to drink it.
More
than 10-12 ounces is not needed for most people, and has too much sugar for
many people and is extremely yin in Chinese terminology. Yin means cold, raw and broken apart. Another helpful type of juice is wheat
grass juice, about 1 to 2 ounces daily for an adult and less for children. This is the only wheat product we
suggest at all.
We
donŐt usually recommend other juices, although other vegetable juices may be
helpful for specific ailments, at times, and are fine once in a while. Avoid most all fruit juices, as they
are too sweet and too yin for most people.
Some
doctors suggest much more juicing.
To read more about why we do not, read the articles on this site
entitled Raw
Foods and Juices and Yin and Yang Healing.
This
includes a wide range of products from herbs such as garlic and even
well-cooked beans and meats to isolated supplements such as N-acetyl-cysteine, taurine, methionine and perhaps others.
Sulfur-containing
amino acids are mild chelators. This means they can bind with metals in
the body such as copper, notably, as well as a few others.
These
amino acids, of course, are found in foods, notably eggs and meats. Vegetable sources of them are generally
not as rich in these amino acids, which are found more abundantly in animal
tissues.
We
consider these products much safer than other chelators
and we sometimes use them. We
definitely recommend meat and eggs for this very reason. We find that most vegetarians, while
not ingesting some toxic metals found in meats, also cannot remove toxic metals
as well because they are low in these sulfur-containing amino acids. The sulfur, by the way, has many other
subtle beneficial effects on the body.
ALGINATES AND PERHAPS MODIFIED CITRUS PECTIN
These
products mainly bind toxic metals in the intestines, preventing their
absorption in the intestines. The
metals then pass harmless out of the body. We like these products and particularly recommend kelp as an
excellent source of alginates.
Modified
citrus pectin also seems to have other unusual properties, of which I am not
prepared to explain. It is used in
natural cancer therapy and proponents claim it can be very helpful to rebuild
the intestinal tract, perhaps by detoxifying it in some way.
This
simple procedure, borrowed from the hydrotherapy literature, is often effective
for alleviating vaginal, bladder, uterine and even prostate difficulties. Bladder and vaginal infections in women
often respond very well to this procedure. Men can use it as well for urinary
and penile difficulties.
The
genital bath is probably effective because the cold water causes a reaction
that greatly enhances the blood flow to this area. This in turn assists the
healing process. The procedure is as follows:
* Sit on the side of a
bathtub facing into the bathtub.
Alternatively, sit on a
stool placed in the bathtub. One
can wear a shirt or sweater, as the water will be directed only at the genital
area.
* Splash cold water on the
genital area only, using a wash rag or a flexible shower attachment.
* Continue the procedure
for 10 minutes, and repeat it three
or more times per day.
* The genital bath can be
repeated for as long as necessary with no ill effects.
This is an ancient therapy. There are many kinds of herbal packs
and poultices. Overall, these are
very good. Some are potato
poultices, onion poultices, mustard poultices and others. We donŐt use them, as a rule, because
they are a lot of trouble and we donŐt find them necessary.
OTHER DETOXIFICATION PROCEDURES WE RECOMMEND MUCH LESS OFTEN
THE CASTOR OIL PACK
This
procedure was recommended often by Mr. Edgar Cayce. We donŐt use them much because they are less powerful than
the methods above in most cases.
However, they appear to assist lymph circulation over the area where
they are placed, in particular the stomach, liver or other parts of the
abdomen. They are also very
relaxing for some people and they are completely safe as far as know. Two common ways to do castor oil packs
are:
1. The Daytime Method. Pour pure castor oil onto a piece of flannel or other
absorbent cloth that is about 1 foot long by 1 foot wide. The cloth should be saturated and damp
all over, but not dripping with the oil.
Castor oil can be bought at many drug stores. Some outlets sell organic castor oil, but this is not needed
in most cases.
Place
the pack directly on your skin, over your abdomen, or liver (upper right side
of the abdomen) or wherever desired.
Fold the cloth over once if it is too large. Cover the pack completely with a large plastic bag lying
flat. Then place a heating pad on
top of the plastic bag. The plastic
bag is there simply to keep the oil from soiling the heating pad. Turn on the heating pad to its highest
setting and relax in bed or on a couch with the pack for about 2 or more hours.
To
clean up, turn off the heating pad and put it away. Remove the plastic bag and then remove the pack from your
abdomen or wherever it is. Wipe
off the oil on your skin with a clean rag or paper towel. Place the castor oil pack in a glass or
plastic jar. Screw on the top of
the jar to keep the oil moist. The
pack can be reused many times without adding more oil, unless it is getting
dried out.
2. Overnight method. Create a castor oil pack as described above. When you are ready for bed, place the
pack on your abdomen, usually, or elsewhere, perhaps. Cover the pack with a plastic bag, as above.
Now
wrap an Ace bandage around your waist and around the pack as tightly as you can
comfortably stand it. This is to
hold the pack against your skin during the night. Go to bed with the pack strapped on. In the morning, remove the Ace bandage,
remove the pack, wipe off the area and store the castor oil pack as described
in method #1 above.
THE LIVER-GALL BLADDER
FLUSH
The
liver-gall bladder flush is a non-surgical method to help remove gallstones and
basically is a simple way to empty the gallbladder non-surgically. In some cases, it can avoid the need
for gallbladder surgery, though I do not recommend it specifically for this
purpose. A much better way to
avoid gallbladder and other surgeries is a complete nutritional balancing program to restore the normal activity
of the liver and gall bladder.
A
liver flush or two may help at the beginning of a nutritional program or if one
is having gall bladder problems. I
am not aware of complications or damage from this procedure, although
occasionally someone remains nauseated for several days or more. While there are many variants, here is
a procedure that I am familiar with and trust:
1)
For 6 days, eat well, take your nutritional supplements and take 90 drops (30
drops three times a day) of phosphoric acid daily. You can purchase phosphoric acid drops inexpensively from
www.tuberose.com or 877-988-2376 or 352-797-8000 in Florida. Their website is a bit hard to navigate
– click on ŇNatural Health StoreÓ at the top of the page, and from there
click on ŇHealth Maintenance SupplementsÓ to find ŇPhos-dropsÓ.
Instead
of phosphoric acid drops, some doctors tell patients to drink as much apple
juice as possible. However, this
is much too sugary and I donŐt recommend it at all.
Also take about 200
mg of magnesium (chelate, citrate or other quality
product) three times a day, one tablet with each meal. The phosphoric acid and magnesium may
help to soften gallstones and can help dilate the bile ducts.
2)
At noon on the sixth day, eat a normal lunch with supplements, phosphoric acid
drops and magnesium. Two hours
after lunch, do a 1-quart coffee enema using 2 tablespoons of coffee, along
with 2 tablespoons or 1/4 cup of Epsom salts in the enema. Retain this enema for 15 minutes. See above for the coffee enema
instructions.
3)
At suppertime, have a normal dinner with supplements, and be sure to have fat
with the dinner, such as 2 tablespoons of butter on vegetables or some real
whipped cream.
4)
At bedtime, do one of the following:
a) Take
1/3 cup of olive oil followed by some lemon or other juice if the taste is
objectionable.
b) Take
1/3 cup of olive oil blended with 1/3 cup of orange, grapefruit or diluted
lemon juice.
c) Take 4
tablespoons of olive oil followed by 1 tablespoon of fruit juice every 15
minutes until one has taken 1/3 cup of olive oil.
For nausea. The release of bile causes nausea in a few cases. If nausea occurs during this procedure,
it indicates stimulation of the gall bladder. Finish the procedure.
If vomiting occurs, just continue and do not add more than the planned
amount of olive oil.
5)
Immediately upon finishing the oil, lie down on the right side with the right
knee drawn up toward the chin for half an hour. This can assist emptying of the oil out of the stomach. Then go to bed early, if possible. If you feel ill during the night, you
may take another strong coffee enema with Epsom salts.
6)
In the morning, if nauseous try to remain in bed until it passes. Upon arising, take another coffee enema
with Epsom salts. If nausea
continues after the procedure, eat lightly and skip supplements for a day or
two. Foot reflexology is also always
excellent for nausea. Rub the
entire foot from the toes to the heel and a little up the ankle, and rub both
feet. In addition, spend more time
on the liver and gallbladder area.
It is on the right foot, behind the smaller toes, less than halfway down
the foot toward the heel. Also,
there is a liver meridian area on both feet, on the top of the foot, between
the large toe and the second toe.
Please
do not repeat the liver-gallbladder flush more than about once every few months
or so. Most people have
gallstones. This is not a terrible
thing, and a nutritional balancing program will slowly rebalance the liver and
other organs to stop their formation.
If
gallbladder pain or discomfort continue after your flush, it may mean that
other causes are responsible for the discomfort. The most common is congestion of the liver-gallbladder
meridian in acupuncture terms.
This is extremely common.
This can slowly be worked out using many methods of healing, especially
nutritional balancing science. I
believe that surgery is rarely a good idea, although today it is not as
dangerous as it once was.
HERBS FOR
DETOXIFICATION
Helpful
and safe herbs for detoxification are milk thistle, dandelion root, Russian or
Spanish black radish, burdock root, garlic, onion, and perhaps a few
others. These are always fine to
add to nutritional balancing programs.
We
discourage the ongoing use of other herbs, in most cases. Unfortunately, most herbs are not
powerful enough today and many are slightly toxic, as well.
Be
sure to also avoid herbal chelators such as
bugleweed, yellow dock, cilantro extract and chlorella. These always seem to remove some
essential minerals along with the toxic metals. These vital minerals often cannot easily be replaced. See the article on this website
entitled Chelation for more
about chelation therapy for metal detoxification, and
its problems.
STEAM BATHS
These
cause some detoxification and are okay to use once in a while. I donŐt recommend steam, however,
because 1) the temperature is too hot for most people, 2) chemicals from the
water will get into the body unless the water is distilled or reverse osmosis,
and 3) if used at a health club, the steam room may not be clean enough.
If
you have a steam bath at home and the water in it is distilled or reverse
osmosis, this method of detoxification is fine.
HOT SPRINGS
Some
springs are quite therapeutic, while others can be slightly toxic. The difficulty is knowing which to
visit. An occasional visit to a
hot spring can be a very relaxing and therapeutic vacation, however. Just try to make sure the spring is
safe and clean.
We
donŐt advise too many hot spring or other baths all the time, however, because
the water is yin and this will make the body very yin as well, if done too
much. Most peopleŐs bodies are
already too yin. This is why the
dry sauna is preferable in most cases.
THE EPSOM SALT BATH
This is a simple,
relaxing bath. It can help relax
tired or tense muscles and release some poisons as well. Baths, however, are more yin, so use
them only a few times per week, at the very most to relax.
Procedure: As you fill a bathtub, add 3 to 4 pounds of Epsom salts
to the bath water. Water should be
hot, but not scalding for the most relaxing and effective treatment.
Submerge
as much of your body, particularly your trunk, in the bath. Stay in the water for 20 to 30
minutes. There is no need to
shower off after the bath. You
may, in this way, absorb more of the Epsom salts with their sulfur and
magnesium.
THE SALT AND SODA BATH
This
is primarily an alkalinizing and mineralizing bath. It is inexpensive, usually comfortable, although the salt
and soda bath can sting the skin a little at first.
This
bath will remove certain toxins and even help with infection in some
cases. This is a more yang bath
that can help during a healing reaction, for example.
Procedure. As you let the water run into the
bath tub, add about 2 pounds of baking soda and 2 pounds of sea salt. Any type of sea salt will do, but do
not use regular table salt or salt tablets of the type used in water
softeners. These are not quite as
good. Mix the salt and soda into
the water. The bath should be
fairly hot for best results.
Stay
in the water for 20 to 30 minutes.
Then let the water out. A
shower may be helpful if you feel itchy or sticky from the salt. However, a shower is not required
afterwards.
HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN C
Vitamin
C is a powerful chelator, especially of copper and a
few other minerals. High doses can
be used for detoxification, and it is used in some alcohol and drug
detoxification centers with excellent success. One reason for this is that it also stimulates adrenal
activity, which is usually very weak in those who are using drugs, for
example. It is also good for a
severe infection, and perhaps short term in other cases.
Longer-term
use of high-dose vitamin C, however, is fraught with danger. It is extremely yin in Chinese medical
terms, so it will always unbalance the body. It will also remove some calcium, zinc, manganese and other
vital minerals. These cannot just
be replaced by adding some minerals to the IV bottle or by taking minerals
orally. The body is too complex to
just pull out some minerals and put back a few others later.
Although
a short series of intravenous or oral vitamin C treatments are fine, continued
use always unbalances the body and I have never felt the need to recommend it.
DRINKING DISTILLED
WATER
Distilled
water is an excellent chelator and cleaner of the
blood. I routinely use it for a
month or up to about six months at a time, maximum, when a person begins a nutritional
balancing program.
At
first, it seems to attract to itself more of the toxic metals and toxic
chemicals. However, after a few
months or rarely up to a year, it begins to remove vital minerals from the body
as well. This is the problem with all chelators.
I
find that anyone who has lived on distilled water for more than six to twelve
months is depleting the body of vital minerals. This can be a serious problem that will occur also with
anyone who lives on reverse osmosis water for any length of time. Reverse osmosis water is even worse,
because it does not hydrate the body as well.
Another
use of distilled water is during a toxic episode or healing reaction, as it is
called. Switching from spring
water or carbon-filtered tap water and drinking only distilled water for a week
or even up to a month often helps one move through the toxic release much
faster.
CLEANSING DIETS
These
can be helpful on occasion if used for no more than 1 month at the beginning of
a nutritional balancing program.
However, their value is often very overrated. We rarely find them necessary or helpful. Problems with them are:
1)
Often they are deficient in protein and other nutrients that people require for
detoxification. Thus they can have
a counterproductive effect.
2)
They are often very yin in Chinese terminology. This reduces their effectiveness. For these two reasons, use extreme care with cleansing
diets.
ENERGETIC AND
ELECTRICAL DETOXIFICATION METHODS SUCH AS IMT, ERT, HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES, RADIONIC
MACHINES AND ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE MACHINES
These
methods all can have definite merit.
We do not use them much, however, for the following reasons:
á They require a trained person and
are quite dependent upon the skill of the operator of the machine or technique. It is hard to know, at times, how skilled your practitioner
is. Thus we usually prefer methods
that can be done inexpensively at home by anyone.
á While they often give quick
symptomatic results, they do not seem to have as many Ňside benefitsÓ as do coffee
enemas and the near infrared sauna, combined with a proper diet for oneŐs
metabolic type and several supplements based on a properly performed and
interpreted hair mineral test.
á Some are quite yin, particularly the
use of various electrical machines.
While they will cause some improvement, they may slow progress for this
reason.
á They may not cause as much mental or
spiritual development. This may be
due to the fact that they tend to be extremely yin in Chinese medical
terminology, or perhaps they do not remove toxins at the deeper levels of the
body. Another reason may be they
do not demand enough change in lifestyle and diet of the client. Development often requires some effort
on the part of the client.
HOMEOPATHIC DRAINAGE
REMEDIES
Used
properly, these homeopathic remedies definitely have some benefit. We donŐt use them, however, and the
reasons are explained in the paragraph above.
DETOX FOOT PADS
This
is an ancient Japanese method of removing toxins through the bottoms of the
feet. Small tissue paper bags
filled with various herbs are placed on the feet, and usually one sleeps with
the pads overnight. The pads can
also be placed elsewhere on the body, such as over the liver or the kidneys.
I
have less experience with this method.
However, I do not think it is all that effective. It is safe, however, as far as I know,
and perhaps more research will change my view.
OZONE SAUNAS OR REALLY OZONE STEAM CABINETS
This can be an excellent detoxification bath.
The ozone adds significant oxygen to the body for the short time that
one is in the steam cabinet. The
steam helps carry the ozone to the skin.
We donŐt recommend these mainly because they are not as good as near
infrared sauna therapy, in most instances.
However,
adding oxygen to the body is always excellent and helpful. Other simple methods to do this are
deep breathing, adding ozone to your drinking water, a bath with a cup or less
of 35% hydrogen peroxide, and our favored method of installing an ozonator/ionizer air purifier in your bedroom. Click here for more
on this method of oxygenating the body.
Some physicians also offer intravenous hydrogen peroxide or intravenous
ozone, which can be excellent.
They are not included in this article because they are not home-based
methods of detoxification, but they are helpful.
HOT TUBS
These
will cause some detoxification, especially if heated to more than about 103
F. However, they are not nearly as
powerful as a near infrared sauna, coffee enemas and perhaps other methods.
Serious problems with hot tubs. 1) You will absorb chemicals from the water. This cannot be avoided, unless one uses
only distilled or reverse osmosis water to fill the tub. Carbon-filtered water is better than
using plain tap water in the tub, but not much as it does not remove toxic
metals, fluoride and some other chemicals.
A
second problem is that one absorbs some of the chemicals needed to sanitize the
tub. This can be avoided, often by
skipping the chemicals and instead using 100-200 ppm
of hydrogen peroxide to sanitize the tub.
Also, you may need to add a chemical to adjust the pH of the tub.
If these cautions are observed, hot tubs
can be relaxing and somewhat helpful for detoxification. Otherwise, however, they are quite
toxic, especially public hot tubs at hotels, exercise clubs and spas. They are often breeding grounds for
bacteria, virus, parasites and other micro-organisms, even if the tub is loaded
with chlorine, bromine and other toxic chemicals, which should never touch your
skin. Even silver cartridges
used to sanitize tubs are somewhat toxic, though much less so. However, they also do not kill all the
germs that well, either. Remember
that one will absorb the poisons from the tap water, if this used to fill the
tub.
A
better alternative to a hot tub can be a dip in a hot spring, if this is
available. Here the water is
usually flowing, and it is pure spring water with no chemicals added.
CLAY OR MUD BATHS,
WRAPS OR PACKS.
Clay
and some muds are powerful detoxifiers and can help
with many skin and other types of health conditions, including even
cancers. I donŐt recommend them,
in part because we donŐt find them necessary, and in part because they can be
quite toxic. Clay tends to contain
a lot of aluminum, among other toxic metals. Also, they may not be nearly as powerful as the sauna or
enemas, although this could depend on the clay product that is used.
However,
for short-term use such as on a vacation at a spa, they are fine. Some can be used longer-term, but it is
hard to know which are safe.
DETOXIFICATION METHODS TO AVOID
Exercise for sweating. Many people say they do not need to detoxify because they
sweat profusely when they run, play tennis or do other common exercise. Sweating with exercise is
excellent. However, the
sympathetic nervous system is activated during exercise, so the amount of toxin
removal is much less. Also,
exercise uses up a lot of energy that could be used for detoxification in a
sauna or doing another procedure.
For this reason, I do not recommend vigorous exercise, ever, and I do
not consider exercise a valid method of detoxification by itself.
Chelation therapy. Oral, intravenous, or other types of chelation tend to unbalance the body chemistry severely,
removes some vital minerals along with the toxic ones, is toxic for the
kidneys, and does not do nearly as good a job as nutritional balancing.
Please
avoid chelation, in general. However, it is better than bypass
surgery and helpful in a few cases.
This large subject is discussed in
more detail in a separate article, entitled Chelation Therapy.
Drinking salt water. Salt water will pull a certain amount of toxic substances
out of the body by osmosis.
However, the long-term effects are questionable, at best, and it doesnŐt
work very well.
Salt
is an unbalanced mineral product and will slowly change the mineral balance of
the body. Salt water has been
known to kill, if one drinks enough, by upsetting the mineral balance. Avoid this method completely.
Ionic foot baths. These consist of an electrical array, as it is called, that
is placed in a small tub of water, in which one places the feet. It can also be placed in a bath tub that
one lies in.
While
they are excellent to remove some toxins, all ionic foot baths I have reviewed
spin the chakras backwards and damage a personŐs etheric
energy field. It can take more
than a year to recover. This is a
subtle problem, and occasional use such as once per month seems to be
safe. However, regular use is not
safe, so I cannot suggest their use much at all. I also suspect these machines cause a yin effect upon the
body.
Alkaline water machines. I know of two types of alkaline water systems. Both have similar problems. The first type are more popular and are
free-standing kitchen units. These
include the Jupiter, I-Water, Kagen, and others. These devices begin with tap
water. The water passes through a
carbon filter, which does not remove many toxic metals and often does not even
remove too many toxic chemicals because the water must move quickly through the
filter.
Then
the water passes over electrified platinum and titanium plates to alkalinize
it. Platinum is a very toxic
metal, as is titanium. Then many
of the machines add a calcium solution or powder to the water to further
enhance its alkalinity. I believe
this is a prescription for disaster in the long run for the following reasons:
á Carbon-filtered tap water is not a
very good base water, since carbon cannot filter out most toxic metals and many
toxic chemicals, no matter what the manufacturers claim. When water passes quickly over carbon,
not that much is removed.
á Platinum is too toxic for any human
exposure, in my view. While the
amount of exposure is small, we have noted that after using the machine for 6
months or so, everyone who uses one is developing a little platinum toxicity,
which can be deadly. The amount of
platinum absorbed will depend upon oneŐs tap water and oneŐs body chemistry. The more poorly nourished one is, the
more platinum one is likely to absorb.
Other factors such as oneŐs age, vitality, etc. also have an effect.
á The calcium powder is often coral
calcium or some other contaminated product that adds more toxic metals.
á The alkaline water that is produced
has a yin effect on the body that makes one feel better, but is not helpful for
deep healing and spiritual development at all.
If
you have an alkaline machine, at
least do not add the powder, and turn off the alkalinization
feature if you can, and just use it as a water filter. Preferably unplug the unit so there is
no chance that the platinum plates are electrified and leaching more platinum
into your body. This is better,
though your water is still passing over platinum, which is perhaps
harmful. I have seen terrible
problems caused by these machines when used daily for more than 6 months or so,
even though the damage is very subtle at first.
I
also do not like the advertising for these machines with false claims that most
Japanese hospitals and the public in Japan uses them. I do not believe this is true.
An
even worse type of alkaline water is sold in health food stores and at water
stores that sell RO or reverse osmosis water. A calcium solution or powder, often coral calcium, is added
to the reverse osmosis water to alkalinize it. Problems with this setup are:
á Reverse osmosis does not hydrate the
body well at all and should never be used for daily drinking water by most
people.
á The calcium solution or powder,
especially if it is made from coral calcium, may contain toxic metals.
á When toxic metals are added to
reverse osmosis water, the Ôhungry waterŐ seems to take up the metals easily
and drive them deep into the body cells and the kidneys.
Plain
spring water, even if it is not very alkaline, nourishes the body with many
alkaline-forming minerals. Along
with a proper diet of cooked vegetables, some animal protein and whole grains,
but not wheat, the body will slowly become more alkaline in a natural way. Please do not be fooled by claims that the coral calcium is
safe or that every family in Japan uses an alkaline water machine.
Fasting. Unfortunately,
fasting for more than two or three days on water alone cannot be
recommended. This was formerly an
excellent method of healing. However,
my experience is that today the bodies are so toxic and so depleted of
nutrients, that longer fasts make one more toxic and more depleted. I have seen this repeatedly in my
practice.
In
fact, I worked as medical director of a fasting spa for several years and
placed over 600 people on fasts.
Results were disappointing, though most people will lose weight. I also fasted myself, and found that it
harmed my health, not helped it.
Nutritional
balancing science was designed for todayŐs horrendous health challenges and is
far safer than fasting. Fasting
was appropriate in years past, when most of the classic books about it were
written.
Juice
fasts are far safer, but very yin and sugary, and not generally advisable for
more than a few days, at most. A carrot
juice fast might work, but is still very sugary and yin, so I cannot even
recommend that for more than a day or two.
Ingesting Bentonite,
Azomite, Montmorilliinite
or Zeolite clay. This
is very popular today. However, we
find that none of these are powerful enough to remove deeper layers of toxic
metals.
Even
worse, all of these products must contain aluminum, as all clay does, and often
contains other toxic metals as well.
I believe that the makers of these products are not honest about the contents
of the products.
I
often hear that these products are not toxic, when they are. Just because the aluminum, lead,
cadmium, arsenic and other metals are Ňin a natural formÓ does not mean they
are not highly toxic. Although
they can remove some toxic metals short-term, please avoid these products.
NUTRITIONAL BALANCING AND DETOXIFICATION
Nutritional
balancing science goes about removing toxic metals in many unique ways. Rather than focus on the toxic metals
themselves, it focuses on the health of the host. This often causes rapid removal of ALL toxic substances,
both the metals and hundreds of toxic chemicals.
Methods
used to improve the host include enhancing the activity of the eliminative
organs, increasing the vitality or adaptive energy level, balancing the major
mineral ratios and levels, balancing the oxidation rate, balancing yin and
yang forces in the body, and a
dozen others.
When
this is done consistently in a systematic way, the metals and chemicals often
leave the body safely and gently without upsetting the balance of the body
chemistry. This subject is
explored in more depth in the textbooks by this author, Nutritional Balancing And Hair
Mineral Analysis, and Sauna
Therapy.
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