Detoxification Has Seven Pathways

I gave 3 talks this week about detoxification. Many people are confused about this subject. There are lots of kits on the shelves of natural food stores and other places. How do you know what's right for you to use?

I let my clients and workshop attendees know that before you detox, you want to make sure your colon is functioning properly. That means a bowel movement daily. That's the first and foremost pathway of elimination.

What is the purpose of detoxifying? It's to cleanse the blood, which goes to each and every area of the body. That is a second pathway of detoxification. There are many blood cleansing herbs. Another way to cleanse the blood is by donating blood. That encourages the body to produce new blood, which is a good thing!

Closely related to the bloodstream and circulatory system, is the lymphatic system. That's another important detox pathway, particularly for interstitial fluid, which is basically the watery fluid between the cells. This fluid needs muscle stimulation to move because the lymphatic system doesn't have valves. Instead, muscle movement is what gets it going. You can get bodywork which helps to move the lymph. There is a massage technique for lymphatic drainage. Another way to help move the lymph is dry skin brushing.

The liver is the largest detox organ of the body. It breaks down harmful chemicals from outside the body. It's important to have a healthy, supported liver for all the work that it does to keep us healthy. There are great liver support and detoxification herbs and plants that you can eat. Here are just a few: garlic, milk thistle, cilantro, artichoke, fennel, and dandelion.

The urinary tract, primarily the kidneys, plays an important detox role. Drink lots of water, and do not overload your system with excessive vitamins and minerals. This time of year, rhubarb is available, which is a very healthy kidney supporting vegetable.

The skin is another detoxifying organ. It releases toxins that may have overwhelmed a weak liver. That is often the case with adult acne. Dry skin brushing, sweating profusely, hot/cold wraps, far infrared saunas, and steams are all cleansing to the body, helping to remove toxins from the blood and lymph. Of course, it is important to replace the lost fluids with pure, clean water.

The lungs are often overlooked as a detoxification organ. Deep breathing exercises are most helpful, including inhalations made with essential oils such as eucalyptus, tea tree, and rosemary.

So those are the seven pathways of detoxifying the body: colon, circulatory system, lymphatic system, liver, kidneys, skin and lungs