Best Selling author Brenda Watson CNC will be releasing her new book The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps in March.  Here is a FirstLook on cleansing for Basil & Spice readers:

Brenda Watson--

Internal Cleansing 101:
Out with Toxins, In with the New Year

Toxins are everywhere. They come from our environment, where harsh chemicals and pollutants are constantly contaminating our air, food and water, and they even come from our own bodies—the result of countless functions occurring at a cellular level each day. And even though your body is equipped with a built-in system for eliminating toxins, it wasn’t meant to do the job all on its own. That’s where you come in.

Simple changes in your daily lifestyle go a long way toward supporting the organs and organ systems involved in detoxification (mainly the liver, lungs, kidneys, bowel, skin, blood and lymphatic system). One of those changes includes using an effective herbal cleansing formula, but many people are unsure about which products to use and how to begin. To help you better understand the basics of herbal cleansing, below is a list of answers to some commonly asked questions.

1. Why do I need to cleanse?

Can’t I just eat healthy foods and exercise? Cleansing and detoxification are crucial for improved digestion and overall health. Toxins absorbed from the environment are stored in the liver and fatty tissue throughout the body. Because toxins are foreign substances, when they are present in large amounts, the body’s efforts to eliminate them may result in health problems such as joint and muscle pain, constipation or diarrhea, gas and bloating, allergies, headaches, mood swings, weight gain and chronic fatigue.

2. Will a cleanse make me feel sick?

While a cleanse will generally help you feel refreshed and revitalized, some people may experience what is called a “healing crisis”. This occurs when the natural ingredients in a cleanse kill disease-causing microorganisms faster than the body can eliminate them, so minor side effects such as headache, fatigue, digestive discomfort and skin irritations may occur. Since it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between a healing crisis and an actual illness, remember to consult your physician or natural healthcare provider if any of these signs are present after beginning a cleanse.

3. Will I be able to work while I am taking a cleanse?

There isn’t any reason that cleansing should interfere with your daily routine. If you are concerned, begin your cleanse on a Friday and continue through the weekend. This will let you relax over the weekend and give you a head start on the work week.

4. How often do I need to cleanse?

How often you cleanse is a matter of personal preference. Traditionally, cleansing was done on a seasonal basis, often in the spring and fall. Cleansing in the spring was designed to cope with a possible toxic overload linked to a heavy winter diet (primarily meat and grains) and to relieve the digestive tract of cold-weather stagnation. In the fall, cleansing helped rid the body of parasites, which may have accumulated over the summer, and tone the digestive tract for a long winter. Of course, life is not quite as simple as it once was, and as a result many natural health practitioners recommend cleansing more frequently throughout the year.

5. What type of cleansing is the best?

A gentle, natural cleanse designed specifically for novice cleansers is the best choice for those who are cleansing for the first time. Such products typically contain whole herbs (including garlic, oregano leaf and nettle leaf), which are gentler than deep-cleansing herbal extracts. Once you have completed a milder cleanse, you may progress to an advanced cleansing formula made with concentrated herbal extracts. Periodic liver and heavy metal cleanses may also prove beneficial.

Past to Present
Cultures throughout history have used natural cleansing methods to improve their overall health, and we can benefit from their experience. Herbal cleansing formulas combine the healing power of nature with your body’s natural detoxification physiology to help you look and feel your best—even in today’s increasingly toxic world.

More On Brenda Watson