There is an old saying that “death begins in the colon.” This is an oversimplification, to be sure, but more accurate than not. In fact, the road to health begins with colon detoxing—pretty much no matter what the disease or problem. Unfortunately, most people confine their understanding of the colon detox to its effect on fecal matter. And while it is true that cleansing programs do draw old fecal matter out of the colon, limiting the discussion to this misses the big picture.
It should be noted that the medical community probably has more trouble with the concept of detoxing than with any other aspect of alternative health and is frequently attacking it. Back in 2009, for example, a report by Voice of Young Science blasted detoxing and found it to be largely nonsense. But in fact, as I explained at the time, the report, was itself largely nonsense. The researchers chose the widest definition possible for detoxing including detox shampoos and spa therapies in their analysis, and they used very little science to back their claims–mostly personal opinion. The one valid point they did make is that the word “detox” has become so widely used that it has lost much of its meaning. That is true, and that’s why I always clarify what kind of detoxing I’m referring to such as:
Intestinal
Heavy metal
Kidney
Gallbladder
Liver
Blood
Each of these is unique, and each requires a different protocol. And they have nothing in common with “detox shampoos” and “detox water,” which are, in fact, nonsensical. Then again, can’t this same criticism be leveled at the medical community? Consider the term “evidence based medicine,” which the medical community loves to claim as its defining principle. Hasn’t it too been rendered largely meaningless considering that, according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, only 11% of physicians actually rely on evidenced based medicine for all their treatments?1 It would seem that the medical critics of detoxing are not familiar with John 8:7, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
he Many Roles of the Intestinal Tract
The digestive system in humans is essentially a continuous tube from mouth to anus. (Don’t think about that the next time you kiss someone.) As a system, it performs several critical functions, ranging from digestion to immune support, with each part of the tube performing a specific function, including:
Digestion of the food we eat.
Transferring the nutritional value of that food into the cells of your body.
Processing the waste from that food and eliminating it from the body.
Serving as a drain pipe for waste produced as a result of metabolic functions within the body.
Serving as a drain for toxic substances absorbed through our lungs and skin.
Serving as a home for beneficial bacteria that provide a number of essential functions, including aiding in digestion and supporting the immune system. It has been said that up to 60-70% of your immune system function comes from these bacteria. Consider that they:
Line your intestinal tract, thus preventing invading pathogens from gaining a foothold.
Actually identify, attack, and destroy many invading pathogens.
Produce a number of nutrients and biochemicals that boost your immune system such as B vitamins, lactoferrin, and Transfer Factor.
As you can see from this list, the digestive system is critical to your health and well-being. Any program of intestinal cleansing and detoxification, therefore, must address all of these aspects. Specifically, it must serve to:
Remove all old fecal matter and waste from the colon (to clear the drain, if you will).
Help remove all of the heavy metals and drug residues that have accumulated in the body and tissue of the intestinal wall as a result of having your drain plugged.
Strengthen the colon muscle so that it works again.
Repair any damage, such as herniations (diverticula) and inflammations of the colon and small intestine.
Eliminate the presence of polyps and other abnormal growths that have been allowed to flourish because of an unhealthy intestinal environment.
Rebuild and replenish the various “friendly” bacteria cultures that ideally should line virtually every square inch of the tract–again, from mouth to anus, excluding the stomach.
Problems in the Digestive System
Colon Cleansing: How to cleanse your colonDiseases of the digestive system have reached an all-time high in the United States and are still on the rise. In 1985, 60–70 million Americans were affected by digestive disorders.2 Today, it’s over 100 million. In fact, digestive diseases are among the leading causes of doctor visits, hospitalizations, and disability in the United States each year. These conditions span a wide spectrum of disorders that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, as well as obesity and other nutrition-related disorders. In 2004, more than 35 percent of all emergency and outpatient hospital visits–some 100 million, as already mentioned–were associated with a diagnosis of a digestive disease.3 The number two cancer among men and women combined is colorectal cancer, trailing only lung cancer. The incidence of diverticulosis has increased dramatically from just 10 percent of the adult population over the age of 45 who had this disease in 1952 to an astounding “Just about everyone who reaches age 90 has many diverticula” according to the latest home edition of the Merck Manual. 4 In other words, according to the latest medical studies, virtually all American adults will eventually have diverticulosis of the large intestine if they live long enough.
To summarize: digestive disorders (including disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas) were responsible for over 50 million physician visits back in 1985–and more hospitalizations than any other category of medical problem in the United States 5, 6 and almost double that today. The total cost to the American public for all aspects of digestive disease is well over $100 billion per year.7 The most prevalent digestive diseases include:
Constipation and the attendant symptoms of self-toxification
Diverticular disease (herniations of the colon)
Polyps
Hemorrhoids
Irritable bowel syndrome
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
Colorectal cancer
It is worth noting that many other diseases that at first glance appear to have no connection with the digestive tract have actually been related by many doctors to functional bowel disorder. These include diabetes, gallstones and kidney stones, gout, hypertension, varicose veins, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and obesity.
And as if that were not enough, it has been estimated by some health experts that as many as 80 percent of Americans are afflicted with intestinal parasites. Many in the medical community would dispute this number, calling it far too high, and if you limit your discussion of parasites to things such as ta
1. Liver Cleanse
Regimes for cleansing the liver incorporate bitter greens and chlorophyll juices such as wheat grass and dandelion greens. Other liver-happy foods include carrots, celery, limes, lemons, and beets. Spices that offer cleansing effects on the liver include turmeric, rosemary, cayenne, cumin, and curry. It’s best to avoid coffee, milk, and sodas; instead, opt for purified water and/or apple juice. To help support your cleansing efforts, add Livatrex® to a gallon of apple juice or water and follow these liver cleansing instructions.
2. Oxygen Colon Cleanse
One of the best natural detox methods is a six or seven day cleanse using distilled water, organic, raw apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, Oxy-Powder, and a probiotic supplement. This cleanse is a quick and effective way to purify your digestive tract. Here are my recommended instructions for performing a colon cleanse.
3. Candida Cleanse
A candida cleanse is designed to remove candida within the body by removing all foods containing sugars. This diet requires avoiding all forms of sugar (including fruit and fruit juice), all refined flour and wheat products, any foods containing yeast, as well as all natural sweeteners such as agave nectar or raw honey. During a candida cleanse you should also avoid alcohol, dried fruit, mushrooms, cheese, pickled vegetables, and soy sauce. Taking organic oregano oil and a probiotic like Latero-Flora™ can enhance your candida cleansing efforts.
4. Harmful Organism Cleanse
There are many herbs you can take to take care of harmful organisms that may be affecting your health. Wormwood, black walnut hull, clove, and American wormseed are four herbs that create an environment within your intestinal tract that’s hostile to invading organisms. Taking a probiotic supplement will also support balance and discourage any unwelcome visitors. The following is a link to my recommended cleansing instructions for harmful organisms.
5. Liquid Cleanse
A liquid cleanse is an excellent way to cleanse the body while still maintaining energy levels. It involves the consumption of fresh organic fruit and vegetable juices, pureed soup, miso soup, smoothies, flax, hemp, coconut, sesame or pumpkin seed oil, and purified water.
6. Toxic Metal Cleanse
Some people have high levels of toxic metals such as mercury, aluminum, cadmium, and lead in their body. In general, it’s best to perform two cleanses per year to avoid long-term accumulation.
7. Raw/Alkaline Foods Cleanse
This is a temporary cleanse that advocates eating uncooked fruits and vegetables combined with smaller amounts of raw nuts, seeds, and sprouts. It’s an excellent way to detoxify the colon, liver, and other systems in the body. It alleviates the body’s need to alkalize the acidic nature of blood that results from a modern, non-alkaline diet. Learn more about the benefits of a raw food diet.
8. Juice Fasts
Juice fasts consist of consuming only freshly juiced fruits and vegetables for one to three days, or longer. The best cleansing fruits and veggies include apples, carrots, beets, ginger root, spinach, pears, celery, kale, cabbage, pineapple, cranberry, and other dark leafy greens. Citrus fruits are usually avoided while fasting. Organic fruits and vegetables are best.
9. Kitcheree Cleanse
A kitcheree cleanse is an ancient Ayurvedic method of cleansing the body through what is known as a “mono-diet.” In a kitcheree cleanse, you can eat a super-alkaline diet of mung beans, cooked vegetables, basmati rice, and spices. This diet offers a temporary relief to the digestive system, and contributes to overall detoxification, especially when combined with cleansing herbs. Clove for cleansing
10. Cleansing Spices
Coupling a healthy, organic diet with cleansing spices is an effective way to detox the body. The best cleansing spices include cinnamon, oregano, turmeric, cumin, cilantro, fenugreek, ginger, fennel, cayenne pepper, black pepper, clove, parsley, and rosemary.
11. Master Cleanse
This detox method consists of a diet composed only of freshly-squeezed lemon juice, organic grade-B maple syrup, cayenne pepper and spring water. While this can be an effective method for both liver and colon cleansing, I still recommend performing an oxygen colon cleanse, and a liver and gallbladder cleanse at the same time. Which of these natural detox methods have you tried? What were your experiences? Please leave a comment below and share your feedback!
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