There are a number of detox modalities which can support and accelerate your journey to optimum health.
I have used all of the following and can highly recommended their efficacy:
Dry Skin Brushing This method has a number of key benefits, including:
• Stimulating Your Lymphatic System In your body, your lymphatic system is the system responsible for eliminating cellular waste products. When your lymphatic system is not working optimally, toxins can build up and make you sick. Lymphatic congestion is a major factor leading to inflammation and disease. By stimulating your lymphatic system and helping it release toxins, dry skin brushing is a powerful detoxification aid.
• Exfoliation Dry skin brushing removes dead dry skin, improving appearance, clearing your clogged pores and allowing your skin to “breathe.”
• Increase Circulation When you dry-brush your skin, it increases circulation to your skin, which encourages the elimination of metabolic waste.
• Reduce Cellulite Dry skin brushing may help to soften hard fat deposits below the skin while distributing fat deposits more evenly. This has been known to help diminish the appearance of cellulite.
• Stress Relief The act of dry brushing has been described as meditative (especially if you do it in a quiet space) and may reduce muscle tension, calm your mind and relieve stress. Many compare it to a light whole-body massage.
• Improve Digestion and Kidney Function Dry skin brushing may go even deeper, helping to support your digestion and organ function.
• It is Invigorating Many people love dry skin brushing because it simply feels so good. Along with glowing and tighter skin, regular dry skin brushers report feeling invigorated after a session.
Oil-pulling An ancient Ayurvedic ritual dating back over 3,000 years; oil pulling involves placing a tablespoon of extra virgin organic cold-pressed oil (I use coconut oil, but sesame or olive oil is fine too) into your mouth and then swishing it around for up to 20 minutes, minimum 5 minutes (pulling it between your teeth), before spitting it out.
Whatever you do, do not swallow the oil as you will ingest the toxins you are trying to eliminate.
When you have spit it out and rinsed your mouth out, brush your teeth in your normal way and you’re done! It really is that easy.
Why oil pulling? Oil pulling can really transform your health. The mouth is home to millions of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other toxins; the oil acts like a cleanser, pulling out the nasties before they get a chance to spread throughout the body. This frees up the immune system, reduces stress, curtails internal inflammation and aids well-being. It has so many benefits that whole books have been written on the topic, but here are my Top 7 Benefits of oil pulling:
• Whitens teeth • Increases energy • Detoxes the body • Aids hormonal changes • Reduces headaches • Keeps the skin clear • Promotes oral hygeine
Oil pulling is highly effective at reducing tooth cavities and at eradicating bad breath. Removing the Streptococcus mutant bacteria (an important player in tooth decay) as well as other microorganisms, oil pulling is great for oral health. It also helps with plaque-induced gingivitis.
Beginning oil-pulling When you start oil pulling, you might experience some of the positive effects immediately, or it may take a few days or even weeks. It will very much depend on the state of your health to begin with and how compromised your immune system is. Either way, hang on in there and I am sure you will grow to love it as much as I do!
Epsom Salt Baths Epsom salts have been used by many different cultures for hundreds of years. Epsom salts are named after a bitter saline spring located at Epsom in Surrey, England. Epsom salts are different to traditional salts in that they are actually a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. These minerals have very powerful health benefits that can enhance the detoxification capabilities of the body.
How an Epsom salt bath works Magnesium and sulphate are both readily absorbed through the skin and into the body’s blood stream. The skin is a highly porous membrane that both takes in minerals and eliminates toxins every day. Page 4 DETOX Using a powerful mineral base such as Epsom salts in a bathwater medium creates a process called reverse osmosis. This process pulls salt and harmful toxins out of the body and allows the magnesium and sulphates to enter into the body.
Magnesium plays a critical role in over 325 enzymes, helps to improve muscle and nerve function, reduces inflammation and improves blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body. Sulphates are necessary building blocks for healthy joints, skin and nervous tissue.
The Epsom salts act to replenish the body’s levels of magnesium and sulfates and helps to flush toxins from the body and build key protein molecules in the brain tissue and joints.
Contraindications to Epsom baths would be if you are pregnant, dehydrated or have open wounds or burns on your skin. Individuals who are suffering with cardiovascular disease should always consult with a natural health physician who is familiar with the health benefits of Epsom salt baths before starting.
I also like to use 'BETTER YOU' Magnesium Flakes in my bath.