Easy and Effective Ways to Reduce Toxins in your Body
Many busy people do not stop to make time for themselves thinking that there is no time, but we all have 24 hours in a day. What they haven’t yet realized is that what we choose to do with our time is just that – a CHOICE.
Once this is understood everything changes. You will realize you choose to be busy. You choose not to say “no” because you don’t have any boundaries, and don’t want to let anyone down. You are choosing overwhelm during periods of stress to protect yourself from the fear and discomfort of following through with a choice that would lead to unfamiliar territory. Quite simply you may be scared.
But you must choose something. Not choosing leads to analysis paralysis where, before long, you find you have too many choices. This results in not being able to make a choice at all and thus, you can’t move forward. You get stuck.
So, what does this have to do with toxin reduction? Well, once we realize we are already making choices we can identify which ones are moving you toward your goals and which ones are moving you away from them.
What you may discover is that although you chose to eat nutritionally and take time to exercise, the one thing you aren’t doing is choosing adequate rest and recovery, which is just as important if not more so to the process of brain and body function. For example: getting quality sleep, scheduling non exercise days for muscle recovery and growth (muscles don’t grow in the gym) and taking the time to reduce stress in other ways, including eliminating toxins and inflammation from your body.
As an example, has it been weeks, months, maybe even years since you’ve taken a bath? Give a bath a try and you may find that it becomes one of your favorite ways to relax. A 20-minute soak in a soothing, hot toxin elimination bath can do wonders for your body. Yes, showering can get you clean but bathing isn’t just about being clean, it’s about eliminating toxins from your body.
Here are some easy and effective ways to reduce toxins in your body.
WATER
Be sure the number of ounces of water you drink per day is equal to at least half of your body weight. (i.e., 150 lbs. body weight = 75 oz. or 2.2L water per day). Try to drink room temperature water especially in the fall and winter months when it’s cold. You don’t want to “shock” your gut with water that’s too cold.
LEMON WATER
This is a gentle yet effective way to support and cleanse the liver, kidneys, and colon, and help alkalize the body. It assists in breaking up mucus and provides energy via enzymes, vitamin C, potassium, and trace minerals.
Please use fresh, ripe lemons, not prepared lemon juice. Make lemon water simply by squeezing the juice of ½ a lemon into a glass of water.
BODY BRUSHING
This is one of best ways to stimulate the lymphatic system. This is beneficial because it assists the lymph nodes in keeping blood and other vital tissues detoxified. It is energizing, assists in breaking up cellulite, removes dead skin, stimulates circulation, and strengthens the immune system. To do this, you will need a natural bristle brush. Start at your feet and work up the body in long strokes towards your heart. Be sure to cover the whole body but skip the face and the breasts. Do not feel like you need to spend a tremendous amount of time on this, 2–3 minutes prior to your shower is fine.
TOXIN ELIMINATION BATH
Place 2 cups (or 400-500g) of epsom salt and one cup (125g) of baking soda in the tub and run your bath water. Mix 8 drops of lavender oil with 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil before adding it to the bath. Only add the oil mixture after the bath has run otherwise the running water from the bath will disperse the scent of the oil around your bathroom.
Soak for 20 minutes and allow yourself to sweat. When you are finished bathing, wrap yourself up in towels, go under the covers, and sweat some more. You should feel very relaxed and sleep soundly.
EXERCISE
Moving will be a key component to your cleanse. Tune into what kind of exercise feels appropriate, rather than just doing what you usually do or what you think you should do. Walking, yoga, swimming, tai chi, hiking, biking, and strength training are all great ways to get moving. A powerful exercise for removing toxins is using a mini-trampoline or rebounder to help enhance your lymphatic system. This is called Lymphasizing.
FIBER
Getting additional fiber as we cleanse is vital to supporting the colon in its role of toxin elimination. In addition to lots of fresh vegetables, ground flax seeds and chia seeds are recommended. You should be eliminating (pooping) at least 2 times per day!
CASTOR OIL PACKS
This can be a self-administered and inexpensive way to nurture and support the liver while you cleanse. It is incredibly healing and relaxing. Castor oil is said to be able to penetrate deeply – as much as 4 inches – into the body. These packs can be used to stimulate and detox the liver and gallbladder. You can buy ready-made packs, which usually include a cotton or woolen flannel or you can achieve great results at home with castor oil and an old cotton t-shirt. *Note: castor oil packs aren’t recommended if you have an IUD, are menstruating, pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.
Directions:
You will need 100% pure, cold-pressed castor oil, an old T-shirt, and a hot water bottle (or heating pad).
1. Put on an old T-shirt, so you don’t get the oil on your nice clothing.
2. Rub castor oil on your abdomen, being sure to cover the area where your liver is.
Lie down on your back and place the hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen, on top of your shirt, for one hour.
Alternatively, you can rub the castor oil on your back, being sure to cover the area where your liver is. Then with your T-shirt on, lay on top of the heating pad or hot water bottle. This is a safe regimen to continue throughout the spring season, especially if you suffer from liver-based symptoms like eye problems, PMS, premenopausal symptoms and menopausal irritability, mood swings, bloating, tender breasts, hot flashes, anxiety, migraines, skin rashes and breakouts, angry outbursts, or tension between the shoulders. Many people report a remarkable sense of well-being and tranquility while applying the castor oil pack.
Tip: you can also put the castor oil in your belly button every 3 or 4 days right before bed.
Because the emotion of anger is closely tied to the liver, you may experience angry feelings resurfacing.
Stay with your feelings and try to channel them constructively. You may try to transform this anger into forgiveness – first for yourself and then for others.
Here’s to living a more toxin free life!
