As last year fades into a bad memory (thank the Goddess!), and this new year is hurtling forward, I am spending more time thinking of how important it is to get myself in order. What do I want out of life over the course of the next year?
I want to be happy. I want to be so happy that everyone around me gets bombarded with happiness cooties and is forced to feel happy, too.
I want to be productive. I want to use the gifts granted to me in the most productive way possible. I want to watch my business grow like never before. Not an entirely altruistic wish, I will admit, but in my line of work, my success rests on my ability to create a customer that doesn’t need to return because they are no longer in need of healing. Kind of a sticky situation, huh?
I want to be known for my honesty. My generosity. My loyalty.
But, most of all, I want to be healthy. I didn’t see much of that in 2016. For a while there, I wondered if I would even get to see 2017. I spent a lot of time contemplating life, death and all of the in-betweens. Not just mine, either. This year seems to have been a do-or-die kind of year for me on a couple different levels. I acquired many clients this past year because the medical industry finally released them with the phrase, “There is nothing more we can do at this point”. Liver failure. Cancer. Diabetes. Heart disease. Lukemia. I have dealt with them all this year, and quite successfully, I might add!
In the spirit of honesty, I’ll admit that I have slacked off a bit on my own health regime. A fairly frequent question is, ‘How are things going…you know…with the breast thing…?” The standard answer is, ‘Things are going great.”
The real answer is a bit more complicated. The truth is, things were going great. I did all the things I was supposed to do. I changed a few things that needed changing in my diet and lifestyle. I took all my herbs and tinctures. I did all my detox and immune builders. I eat healthier than anyone I know. I rest when I can. I stay positive. I do yoga…sometimes.
But, as time passes and I get further from the fear that motivated me to get healthy, I find myself drifting back into old habits. I eat more chocolate and drink more coffee than I should. I have those few pieces of bread or cheese that I know I shouldn’t. I stop in for a piece of pie at Slice of Pie. I skip a yoga class when I’m too busy. I forget to take my pills and tinctures. I choose a burger over a salad.
Here’s the thing that I ALWAYS tell my clients. This whole natural approach only works if you do what you are supposed to do. If you slack off, the sick comes back around. This is an issue your body is already prone to develop. It will come back if you fall into old habits. And, so it has.
I see those warning signs that I didn’t know were warning signs the first time around. I feel those strange twinges of discomfort that I didn’t pay attention to the first time around. I hear that voice in the back of my mind telling me that I had best get myself back on track.
It occurs to me, though, that there may be others out there who might be in the same predicament and they just don’t know where to start. Maybe you keep finding yourself getting sick. Nothing big or bad. A recurring cold or stomach bug. Allergies. Headaches. Tired all the time. Something just doesn’t FEEL right. I’m with you. It’s time to set things right.
Ready?
Let’s do a cleanse! Let’s flush out all that nasty crap that has built up in our bodies!
Oh, quit groaning. You know, every time I say ‘cleanse’, someone groans and complains. They have visions of being stuck in the bathroom for hours, or feeling sick as the cleanse moves the nasties out of your system. It doesn’t have to be like that, though. Truth is, a really thorough cleanse might have you in the bathroom a little more frequently than usual, but it shouldn’t be a traumatic ordeal. A good cleanse will likely cause some minimal stomach discomfort as the body passes toxins out via the digestive system, and you may sweat a bit more than usual for the same reason. You may even experience a ‘healing crisis’, especially if you have been sick a lot in the last year. A good cleanse will gently pull toxins and old ‘bugs’ from your bloodstream and your organs into the eliminative organs so the body can dispose of them, so you might feel bits of old illnesses passing briefly through your system. You might run a mild fever as your body kicks in the immune response. You might be a bit tired for a day or two as your body deals with healing itself.
In exchange for this day or two of discomfort, you get a huge payoff! Your body finally starts to feel like it is operating in peak condition. Headaches disappear. Belly aches don’t plague you. Those little aches and pains are suddenly gone. Your hair and skin look better. Your mind is clearer. You are less likely to catch every bug floating around there.
So, are you with me?? Oh, good! Here’s what we need to do:
First, decide what kind of juice you like best. Keep a couple things in mind when choosing;
You are only going to have this one juice for 2-3 days, so make sure you really like the one you choose.
Choose a fruit that produces a lot of juice. This cuts both your time and costs. I prefer organic grapes, apples and grapefruits.
Second, prepare yourself and your space. This doesn’t have to be a difficult experience. Here are some things you will need:
Distilled water. Not bottled, tap or well water. Distilled. Why is this so important? Because distilled water is ’empty’ water. That means that everything has been removed from it. All the naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, as well as any toxins or bacteria. This leaves more room in the water molecules, allowing them to pull more of the toxins from your system as it passes through. This is a much-simplified explanation, but you get the point, right?
Prune juice
Castor oil
Cotton cloths
A good blend of detoxifying herbs. Of course, I suggest my formula, Heavy Metal Detox, but there are plenty of others out there to choose from that will work almost as well.
Activated charcoal (see all the benefits and ways to use activated charcoal here)
Finally, a few things to keep in mind:
You are going to be tired, hungry and pretty crabby for at least a day or two. Expect it, warn your loved ones, and get ready to just deal with it.
You may feel pretty crappy for a day or two.
Plan to start your cleanse a day before your weekend starts. Usually the first day is easy, the second day is pretty rough, and the third day is a breeze.
The plan I am laying out will only work if you are willing to give it 100%. There is no compromising on any of the steps if you want to see real results. I promise you, though, that it is completely worth it!
This is the protocol that I always recommend to anyone who is having chronic health issues. It doesn’t matter what the issues are. This is simply the first step to cleaning up a body that is functioning improperly. It is designed to cleanse the entire system without depriving the body of much-needed vitamins and nutrients.
Now, we can get started. Here’s how it needs to go down:
Day 1-2:
Drink one 8 oz glass of prune juice first thing in the morning. Yes, I know it is disgusting. Drink it anyway. Just hold your breath and chug. It’s only one small glass.
Drink one 8 oz glass of distilled water.
Throughout the day, drink at least four 8 oz glasses of fresh fruit juice. Whichever fruit you choose is fine, but remember to only have ONE variety per day. If you start with grape, keep it to grape only.
Drink at least 90 oz of distilled water throughout the day.
If you get so hungry that you just can’t cope, eat some of the fruit that you are using for juice. Don’t go crazy. Eat only enough to get you through.
Take at least one hot bath or shower per day, as hot as you can tolerate. Baths are preferable. Add 1/2 cup epsom salt to your bath to help speed up the detox process and reduce any withdrawl symptoms.
Day 3-4:
Continue as you have been on days 1-2. Gradually start reintroducing solid foods into your diet. Stick to fresh fruits/veggies. Raw is best, but lightly steamed or baked is acceptable. Veggie broth is a great option, too.
Begin taking the natural detox that you have chosen.
Up your water intake to a minimum of 128 oz (one gallon) per day.
Take 1 tsp activated charcoal in the morning. The most effective way to take activated charcoal is to mix 1 tsp of charcoal with 8 oz of distilled water. Drink it quickly, then follow immediately with 20 oz of water. Do this on an empty stomach, at least one hour before/after eating. Capsules are the second best way to consume the charcoal. Water requirements are the same.
Day 5-6:
Begin eating small, regular meals.
Continue taking the detox herb blend you have chosen.
Continue drinking at least 128 oz of water per day.
Once you have completed your cleanse, you should notice that your cravings for ‘junk’ foods has decreased, if not disappeared altogether. You will notice that your hair and skin look more vibrant, your energy level will be higher, and your mind will be clearer.
Now that you have gone to all this effort, how do we hang on to all these benefits? Keep your body clean, of course! Avoid processed foods, dairy (except raw milk), refined sugar, and white flour products (bread, crackers, etc.). If you like your meat, limit it to organic, grass-fed portions no more than 3-4 times per week. If fish is your favorite, stick to wild-caught, not farmed, and avoid any seafood coming from the West Coast or the Gulf. Drink plenty of water. Eat lots of raw, fresh fruits and veggies. Get a bit of exercise, fresh air and sunshine every day. Meditate. Get plenty of sleep. Laugh a lot. It really is that simple to begin the healing process. Happy cleansing!