We are always more potential than we are actual; actualizing our potential is growth; a step toward life, the unknown. To do otherwise is… well, otherwise. Let’s just say it only feeds dissatisfaction.
Cleansing is an often-overlooked process that rids excess waste, thus strengthening the body and organs, preventing premature degeneration. It also alkalizes the blood and body and will inevitably facilitate the elimination of any dis-ease.
Concept: if you have a seed, a tomato seed, a flower seed, it does not matter. If you put the seed in fertile soil, give it sunshine and nourishment, it will discover its potential and grow towards its fulfillment.
And so it is with everything, especially a consciously considered life, well-being, joyous living and self-realization. Create a fertile environment, plant seeds and nurture them, and potentialities grow; fulfillment is inevitable.
Dis-ease and illness is often an indication of growth, a turning point, which is usually positive. A dynamic lifestyle that celebrates well-being and allows for evolution is not dependent upon someone or something outside of self. As fully functioning human beings, our mission is to discover the methods, practices, supplements and exercises that put us in the place where our recuperative energies flow.
Digestion, assimilation and elimination are paramount. Foods in most grocery stores, prepared foods in restaurants, fast food and convenience foods are all contaminated with dyes, chemicals, pollutants, foreign substances and insecticides that collect in the body and eventually cause dis-ease.
Considering the many pollutants in the air we breathe and the plethora of chemicals in the food and water we consume, toxins inevitably build up in the body. As these toxins enter the bloodstream, the body experiences difficulties eventually manifesting as headaches, diarrhea, depression or many of the prevailing contemporary diseases; take notice of the various advertising of remedies for headache, fatigue, back-ache, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, weight loss, etc.
A clean cell with all its nutritional needs fulfilled is a healthy cell. For recovery from disease and for optimum health, your trillions of cells need to be detoxified and saturated with nutrients. Modern science has long discovered that cancer cells cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Excess fat, mucus coatings on the intestine, industrial chemicals, cholesterol, environmental toxins, medication residues, and the sludge from all the junk food from years of toxic living, need to be removed from the cells of your body.
Every passing moment is another opportunity to cultivate reality. There’s now and the future (what one would like to have happen), and there’s now and the past (what has happened). At every moment, with every action or inaction, with every word spoken and unspoken, one demonstrates their perspective on which side of that paradigm they exist.
Cleansing, building, faith and creativity facilitate clarity and strength. Clearing out all that impedes self-awareness and conscious realization of who we are and what we are doing here is getting on the life side of life, engaging in reality, here and now. In these times, especially with the introduction of Genetically Modified foods into the food supply, cleansing the intestines is even more important to our vitality and health.
When to Cleanse
Spring is the optimal time to Cleanse and heal. The earth renews in springtime; Nature awakens and begins to green. It is the time to clear the past, heal the present and plan for the future.
Winter is the hardest season to Cleanse; the body needs extra fuel to keep warm in the colder climate. During this time, it is best to eat a basic wholesome diet and just avoid toxins; saunas or steams and massage are quite beneficial.
Fall is an important time to Cleanse, while the weather is still nice enough to go out. Eat as many fresh fruits as possible and take the time to do a three to seven-day Juice-Fast routinely.
A Juice-Fast, means resting from solid foods for a period of time and drinking nourishing liquids or water and fruit or vegetable juices, for a period of three to ten days or longer to allow the system to rest.
It is a good practice to develop a schedule of liquids only one day per week or a three-day period monthly.
How to Cleanse and what to expect
There are many ways to Cleanse. The methods can be divided into two categories: oral and rectal. To facilitate peak organ function, inevitably both methods need be utilized.
It is important to remember that it took many years to accumulate the waste that remains inside and is wearing the body down. It will take time and more than likely a combination of methods to thoroughly eliminate the accumulated waste and rebuild the organs to peak condition.
Weight loss from cleansing is an obvious disadvantage for already trim individuals; a two-week cleanse for a healthy person is inconsequential, but a long Cleanse for weak or ill individuals, can cause further depletion and adverse reactions.
While cleansing, it is important to keep the sinuses clear to facilitate the release of toxins through the skin and nostrils.
A period of constipation is common as toxins are being eliminated. One may have bouts of constipation with long periods of normal elimination while the digestive system goes through a normalization process.
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to aid in the process. Increase your Magnesium dosage if constipated for several days in a row. Dark stool is a sign of the intestines ridding itself of the undigested, rotting food.
Drink at least a gallon of distilled water daily; this will also assist in flushing toxins out of the system. The tongue may get a white or yellowish coating; when this clears, it indicates that the Cleanse is complete.
Deeper tensions or symptoms of past and potential illness may come to the fore. As toxins are released from the body, fatigue, body odor, dry, scaly skin, skin eruptions, headaches, dizziness, irritability, anxiety, confusion, nausea, coughing, diarrhea, dark urine, dark foul-smelling stools, body aches, insomnia, sinus and bronchial mucus discharge and/or visual or hearing problems are common symptoms and are not serious, they will pass.
Adequate rest is paramount during a Cleanse; mid-day naps to recharge are a good idea, also mood stabilizer supplements like 5htp, Rhodiola or SAMe will be helpful.
During a Cleanse is an optimal time to experience various types of body therapy. Massage geared toward relaxation with long strokes over the body is helpful in squeezing out toxins trapped in the joints and musculature.
Deep tissue massage focusing on particular tense areas, though painful, is quite beneficial as well. Also, consider Reflexology, Acupressure, Shiatsu, Polarity Therapy, Feldenkrais, Craniosacral Therapy or Rolfing. Therapeutic massage or body therapy, which releases tension and blocks in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and organs often incorporates breathing exercises to help relieve stress and affects the energy patterns in the body.
Just relaxing can be therapeutic; mental relaxation, emotional awareness and expression, or psychological counseling can also be important aspects to cleansing.
It is beneficial to take the time daily to sit quietly, and focus on breathing freely, allowing the mind to rest. Afterward one may be sensitive to things never noticed before including people, environments, smells, foods or ideas.
The immune system will replenish itself, illness will subside and better looks, good health, well-being and vitality will be the reward.
Cleansing regularly will increase energy and creativity. Vision and other senses may improve. The mind will be clearer; decision-making and the ability to follow through will improve and procrastination disappears.
A WARNING about laxatives.
Most laxatives do not cause peristalsis to resume; they actually contain an irritant that will irritate the nerves and muscles in the colon, which causes a convulsion. As the colon attempts to expel this irritant, feces is expelled with it.
Extended use of laxatives is not only habit forming but potentially destructive to the membrane of the intestines and will disturb the normal rhythm of the excretory organs, which will sooner or later rebel.