Saunas * Genital Baths * Coffee Enemas * Liver-Gallbladder Flush
This article discusses several detoxification
procedures in depth. This is
followed by a short mention of many other procedures we do not recommend as
much, in general.
Warning: No claims are
made for any procedures described here.
Nor are these procedures intended as treatments or prescriptions for any
disease or condition. The
following is presented for educational purposes only.
However, many people find them very simple, effective and safe
when used as described here.
Ideally, check with your doctor or other practitioner first before using
a sauna, or attempting coffee enemas.
SAUNA
THERAPY
Sauna
therapy is one of
the finest ways to remove toxic metals, toxic chemicals, chronic infections and
other blockages in the body.
Infrared sauna therapy, in particular, is highly effective for
detoxification.
Types of saunas. Three common types of saunas exist. The traditional sauna is a room with a heater. These are found at health clubs and
spas. This is the least effective
sauna for healing, in our opinion.
However, it is used in some detoxification programs, such as the Hubbard
program, with excellent success.
The far infrared sauna came into use about 45 years
ago. It penetrates the skin, which
adds another dimension to the sauna experience and appears to enhance
detoxification. However, these
saunas, if they are truly far infrared, emit damaging electromagnetic radiation
to some extent. Also, the
frequencies are not the best, in our view. We are not happy with most of these that we test. Therefore, we don’t recommend the far
infrared or FIR sauna very much at this time.
The
near infrared lamp sauna uses infrared heat lamps as the heat source. It also penetrates the deepest of all the saunas and does
not emit any harmful electromagnetic fields. It is the best sauna we have found, in general.
How
Often. One may use a sauna once a month for
pleasure. However, for therapy one
must use the sauna at least weekly.
For best results, use the sauna each day, once or twice daily.
If
one is very debilitated, be sure to begin with once or twice a week, and only
for 10 or 15 minutes maximum. As
you feel comfortable in the sauna, you may increase the time and the frequency
of use.
Work
up to daily use as one is able. When beginning, many people overdo the sauna,
either the amount of time inside, or the frequency of sauna sessions.
Always
start slowly, even if you believe you are in superb physical condition. Many people do not sweat easily. Instead, their bodies can overheat if
one starts with an hour session, for example.
ALWAYS LEAVE ANY SAUNA IF YOU FEEL VERY
FAINT, DIZZY OR SICK. This does
not mean the sauna is harmful for you.
It often just means you are not used to it and your body needs to adapt
slowly to sweating and removing toxins through the skin and elsewhere.
Over
time, you will get used to the heat and the body will sweat better. In a few weeks to a few months, as the
body acclimates and is more able to regulate its temperature, sweating becomes
easier. Also, the more one relaxes, the more one will sweat.
Time
of day for saunas. The more relaxed you are, the more
benefit you will derive from a sauna session. If possible, enter the sauna either first thing in the
morning, as soon as you arise, or last thing at night before retiring for the
night. These are the times of the
day when most people are relaxed a maximum amount.
Before
a Sauna Session. Avoid heavy meals two hours before a
sauna session. Avoid alcohol or other intoxicating substances. Drink eight ounces of water before
entering a sauna. Spring or
distilled water is highly recommended.
Add
sea salt and two tablespoons daily of kelp to your diet to help replace any
minerals lost through sweating.
Some people cannot take kelp.
If it makes you jittery, use less or use another general mineral
preparation.
Remove
metal jewelry before entering the sauna, as it may become very hot. Do not put any oils on your skin before
a sauna, as they also may become very hot, especially in an infrared type of
sauna.
Preheating. Before entering a hot air sauna, preheat to 150° F or
so. If you are using a near
infrared or far infrared sauna, enter as soon as one turns it on and you wil
warm up with the sauna.
For
a more intense experience, preheat infrared saunas to about
90-100° F. Do not operate at
above 120 F. for a near infrared lamp sauna or about 140 F. for a far infrared
sauna.
During
a Sauna Session. Light clothing may be worn in a
traditional sauna. Usually , it is
best not to wear clothing in an infrared sauna for best penetration of the
infrared rays. It is acceptable,
however, if a bathing suit is required.
Use
a small towel to wipe off the sweat. Sit on another towel. Have a third towel
on the floor to avoid slipping. Talking or working are not recommended while in
a sauna. Meditate or relax.
To
enhance the effects of a sauna session, visualize absorbing the heat and energy.
Deep, slow breathing and good posture are very helpful. Sound therapy such as
listening to low tones is also excellent. Aromatherapy is also very effective
during a sauna session.
Rotating
in a lamp sauna. If one’s sauna uses infrared heat
lamps that are all on one wall, one needs to rotate 90 degrees every few
minutes or so to heat the body evenly.
Sit on a stool or a chair without a back. Face the bulbs, then turn to the side, and then turn around
to so your back is facing the lamps.
Also,
be sure to avoid touching the hot bulbs.
Keeping your eyes open and even looking at the bulbs is okay, according
to the manufacturer. However, I do
not recommend staring at them.
Also,
do not allow water, a towel or clothing touch the hot bulbs. One will not get a tan in an infrared
sauna, though the skin may redden for an hour afterwards.
Finishing
Up. How long one
remains inside a sauna depends on one’s health condition. Most people do well with 20-50 minutes
in a sauna. We do not recommend
more than an hour at a time.
When
finished, take a shower to rinse off the toxins that are excreted during the
sauna bath. If this is not
possible, then towel off with a damp or dry towel.
We
do not recommend a cold plunge or cold shower after a sauna. However, a warm or tepid shower is
probably better than a very hot shower.
Avoid
using soap if possible, as you should be quite clean after sweating. Use shampoo and conditioner only if
needed. Most contain chemicals
toxic to the body. Also skip most
oils, lotions and creams. These also contain chemicals that may clog the
pores. Use only the most natural
skin care products to enhance the effects of the sauna.
Use
a skin brush or loofa to remove more toxins. Brush all over, even your face and hair if you desire. Painful at first, it soon feels
wonderful. Skin brushing
enhances the cleansing effect.
Drink
eight ounces of water during or after a sauna session. If you sweat profusely, you may drink
more. Finally, sit or lie down for
at least 10 minutes after your sauna session. These simple steps allow the body
to reap the full benefit of the sauna experience.
Keeping
safe in saunas. Saunas have at least a one
thousand-year history of remarkable safety. In fact, the native Americans where I live told me the
Indian sweat lodge has been in use for 40,000 years!
However,
today many people may use saunas who have chronic illnesses that may affect
their ability to tolerate the sauna’s heat. In our experience with those with cancer, heart disease,
diabetes, arthritis, joint replacements and many other conditions, the sauna
appears to be very safe. Here are
a few signs, however, that indicate that one should leave the sauna soon:
1.
The body temperature should not increase more than four degrees.
2.The
pulse should not increase more than 50% of the resting pulse.
3.
Sweating should not stop suddenly.
4.
Some faintness and feeling of fatigue or weakness is normal during or after a
sauna session. However, if you
feel very faint, end the sauna session and lay down for at least 10 minutes.
Healing
Reactions. Healing
reactions are temporary symptoms that occur as toxic substances are eliminated
and chronic infections heal.
Symptoms vary from mild odors, tastes or rashes to periods of fatigue,
bowel changes, aches, pains or headaches.
Many
people have chronic infections, often treated with antibiotics that killed most
of the bacteria but did not eliminate bad tissue and all the organisms. These
may flare up as they are healed due to repeated sauna use.
Almost
all healing flare-ups or purification reaction symptoms are benign, though they
are often vigorous. See other
articles on this website for details about healing crises, as they are
sometimes called. If in doubt,
always consult a knowledgeable practitioner who is familiar with healing
reactions and with sauna therapy.
Emotional
healing reactions
may also occur. For example,
memories of past traumas may arise consciously or in dreams as they come up to
be resolved. Temporary anxiety or
other emotional states may occur.
These usually pass within a few hours to a few days.
Some
are directly related to the elimination of toxic substances from the body. Others are associated with other types
of emotional and physical clearing that can occur with the use of near infrared
saunas, in particular.
Supervision. Saunas are safe for most people
providing one follows the rules here described. Always move slowly and carefully in and around a sauna. Accidents can occur due to slippery
surfaces.
Supervision
is always best, especially if one has a health condition. If debilitated or
very heat-sensitive, begin with less time in a sauna. The presence of an
attendant or friend is also most helpful.
Consult
a health professional if one has any serious health condition. Those who have
used LSD or other psychotropic drugs require an attendant close by, as removal
of drugs from tissue storage sites may cause flashbacks or even full-blown LSD
trips.
Pregnant
women and children under five should avoid saunas. Young children must be accompanied by an adult. Continue
prescribed medication while taking saunas unless directed otherwise by the
prescribing physician.
For
Acute Infections.
If one has an acute infection with fever or other acute symptoms, more
frequent, shorter sauna sessions are better until the infection subsides.
Most people can use the sauna 15 minutes about 5 times a day during infections.
Always
check with someone knowledgeable if you are unsure about sauna use, although in
general saunas are quite safe. For medical references for saunas, see the
Sauna Therapy article. Also available is our book, Sauna Therapy. Click
on the title to see the table of contents and how to order this book.
GENITAL
BATHS
This
simple procedure, borrowed from the hydrotherapy literature, is often effective
for alleviating vaginal, bladder, uterine and even prostate difficulties. Bladder and vaginal infections in women
often respond very well to this procedure. Men can use it as well for urinary
and penile difficulties.
The
genital bath is probably effective because the cold water causes a reaction
that greatly enhances the blood flow to this area. This in turn assists the
healing process. The procedure is as follows:
* Sit on the side of a
bathtub facing into the bathtub.
Alternatively, sit on a
stool placed in the bathtub. One
can wear a shirt or sweater, as the water will be directed only at the genital
area.
* Splash cold water on the
genital area only, using a wash rag or a flexible shower attachment.
* Continue the procedure
for 10 minutes, and repeat it three
or more times per day.
* The genital bath can be
repeated for as long as necessary with no ill effects.
COFFEE
ENEMAS
Why in the world would
someone use coffee in an enema?
That is the question I asked when my health practitioner suggested I do
coffee enemas.
Yet
when I got over my initial resistance, I quickly noticed the many benefits of coffee
enemas. I did them daily for over
15 years and I credit, to some degree, the recovery of my health and that of
many others.
I have recommended coffee enemas to over ten thousand
patients. Many have told me how
wonderful they are. Several said coffee enemas saved their lives.
Indeed,
they are most helpful for many types of conditions. The procedure is also inexpensive and can be done at home
without special equipment.
History of the Coffee Enema. Enemas are an ancient form of hydrotherapy. They have been used for hundreds of
years for mechanically cleansing the colon.
The
use of enemas and colonic irrigation used to be routine procedures in
hospitals. Many patients in
hospitals are worse off during surgery, childbirth and other procedures since
they were discontinued.
Coffee enemas were mentioned in older editions of the Merck
Manual, a handbook for medical
physicians. They were later
popularized by Max Gerson, MD, author of A Cancer Therapy - Results of 50
Cases.
Dr.
Gerson pioneered nutritional therapy for cancer and other diseases with
excellent results. His therapy
combined coffee enemas with a special diet, juices and other supplements. The enemas were an integral part of the
therapy.
Benefits. The major benefit of the coffee enema, according to Dr. Gerson, is
to enhance the elimination of toxins through the liver. Indeed, endoscopic studies confirm that
the coffee enema increases bile output.
To
test this idea, a patient was given a coffee enema while an endoscope (a thin
tube with a camera on the end to view the intestine) monitored the entrance to
the common bile duct. Within
minutes of administering the enema, bile flow increased.
Increased bile flow also alkalinizes the small intestine
and promotes improved digestion.
Coffee also acts as an astringent in the large intestine, helping clean
the colon walls.
A
common contributor to ill health is the production and absorption of toxins
within the small and large intestines.
If food is not digested properly, sugars ferment and protein putrefies
or rots. Both processes generate
toxic chemicals, which are then absorbed into the liver.
The
coffee enema enhances digestion by increasing bile flow and removes toxins in
the large intestine so they will not be absorbed. Most people with health complaints suffer from impaired
digestion and excessive production of toxic substances in the intestines.
Coffee
enemas are particularly helpful for slow oxidizers. Their liver activity is more sluggish and digestion is
usually impaired. Fast oxidizers
may have more difficulty retaining the enema.
The
procedure described below is really a coffee implant rather than an enema,
because it involves only two to three cups of water. Using more water than this may make the enema more difficult
to retain for some individuals and is not really needed in most cases.
If
you wish, however, the use of a quart of water, and making sure the water
reaches most of the large intestine, is more helpful for cleansing the colon of
accumulated waste material. If one
suspects severe bowel toxicity or in cases of serious illness, quart enemas are
preferable, at least to start with.
How Often And How Long? I
usually suggest one enema per day to assist detoxification or to enhance liver
activity. Two enemas daily may be
taken during a healing reaction if needed. For those who are very ill, several a day may be best for at
least several months. (Dr. Gerson,
by the way, used six coffee enemas daily for cancer patients.)
For best results, a program of coffee
enemas should be carried on for at least a month. They should not be needed for
more than two to five years, although many people have continued to take them
for a number of years without problems.
The best time to take the enema is after a normal bowel
movement. One will get a slight rush from the caffeine, but it is not
like drinking coffee, which I do not recommend. Coffee enemas taken in the evening may
interfere with sleep.
If
performed properly, coffee implants do not cause habituation, constipation or any
rectal problems. In over 28 years of practice, I have rarely seen
significant problems from coffee enemas if they are done properly, according to
the instructions below.
The
exception is if there are significant hemorrhoids, rectal fissures or
other rectal problems. In these
cases, extra care is needed in inserting the enema tip.
Some
people with hemorrhoids find enemas irritating and cannot do them. This is one of the few
contraindications for coffee enemas.
While enemas may seem uncomfortable, many clients report the procedure
is so helpful they soon forget the inconvenience.
Step
1. Materials
* Buy a 2-quart enema bag
with a clamp. This is sold at drug stores. The enema/douche bag combination is
easier to use because you can close the top.
* Buy any brand of regular
coffee - regular grind or flaked, non-instant and not decaffeinated, or grind
your own coffee. Organically grown coffee is best, though any coffee will
do. Organic coffee is available at
natural food stores. Store opened coffee containers in the freezer for maximum
freshness. The S.A. Wilson coffee
advertised specially for coffee enemas is great, but not necessary.
Step 2. Preparation
of coffee
There are two methods. The
first is best.
* Place 2 to 3 cups of
purified water and one-half to two tablespoons of coffee in a saucepan and bring
to a boil (or use a coffee maker to percolate the coffee quickly).
NOTE: The first time you do a coffee
enema, use only1 teaspoon, NOT TABLESPOON, of coffee. This is critical because some people are sensitive to
caffeine and will feel very jittery on more coffee. After a few enemas, you will see how much coffee you can
tolerate comfortably. Ideally,
increase to two tablespoons per enema.
* Let it boil 5 minutes,
then turn off the heat and allow it to cool. One or two ice cubes may be added
to speed the cooling process. You
may make a larger quantity and use it for several enemas.
Tricks
to speed up cooling the boiled coffee. 1) Boil only a
little of the water with the coffee.
Once it has boiled, add the rest of the water to the coffee mixture to
cool the entire amount down to body temperature.
2)
Pour the coffee mixture back and forth several times through the air from one
container to another, even from the enema bag back into a cool pot. This will also cool it much faster.
NOTE:
Body temperature feels hot when you place your finger in it. If the water is too hot or too cold,
retaining the enema will be more difficult.
* Only when the mixture is
about body temperature, strain the liquid through a fine strainer or coffee
filter paper into a clean enema bag.
Screw on the top of the enema bag.
The enema is now ready.
The alternative non-boil
method. This is not quite as
powerful but may be used if time is very important:
* Place 1 cup of ground
coffee in a container with 2 cups of water. Stir the mixture thoroughly and
allow it to soak overnight.
* In the morning, filter
the liquid through coffee filter paper or a fine strainer. Place in a jar for
storage in the refrigerator.
* To prepare an enema, pour
2 cups of purified water into the enema bag. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of the
coffee liquid from the jar.
Step 3. Preparing to
take the enema
* Have a bowel movement
before doing the enema. This is
important, as otherwise you will not be able to retain the enema in most cases
and there could be a mess on the floor!
To have a bowel movement, the best method is to drink many glasses of
spring or distilled water beforehand.
You may also have something to eat or even use a laxative like prunes if
needed.
If
you have not had a bowel movement, take a plain water enema first, before the
coffee enema. This will usually
clean out the bowel quickly and effectively.
* Be sure the plastic hose
is pushed or fastened well onto the enema bag and the thin enema tip is
attached to the other end.
* Remove any air from the
enema tube the following way.
Grasp but do not close the clamp on the hose. Place the tip in the sink. Hold up the enema bag above the tip until the water begins
to flow out. Then close the clamp. This expels any air in the tube.
* Lubricate the enema tip
with a small amount of soap or oil. (Too much lubrication will cause the tip to
fall out of the rectum, creating a mess!).
Step 4. Taking the
enema
* The position preferred by
most people is lying on one's back on a towel, on the bathroom floor or in the
bathtub.
* With the clamp closed,
place the enema bag on the floor next to you, or hang the bag about one foot
above your abdomen.
* Insert the tip gently and
slowly. Move it around until it
goes all the way in.
* Open the clamp and hold
the enema bag about one foot above the abdomen. The water may take a few
seconds to begin flowing. If the
water does not flow, you may gently squeeze the bag. If you develop a cramp, close the hose clamp, turn from side
to side and take a few deep breaths. The cramp will usually pass quickly.
* When all the liquid is
inside, the bag will become flat.
Close the clamp. You can leave the tube inserted, or remove it slowly.
* RETAIN THE ENEMA FOR 15
MINUTES (less time is okay, but not quite as effective). See below if you have difficulties with
this. You may remain lying on the
floor. Use the time to read a book, meditate, etc. Some people are able to get up and go lie on a towel in bed,
instead of on the floor. Walking
around the house with the coffee inside is not recommended.
A small number of
people are unable to retain even a cup of water for the required 15
minutes. One can start with less
coffee or less water in these cases.
There seems to be no harm if one wishes to retain the enema longer than
15 minutes.
Step 5. Finishing up
* After 15 minutes or so,
go to the toilet and empty out the water. It is okay if some water remains
inside. If water remains inside
often, you are dehydrated.
* Wash the enema bag and
tube thoroughly with soap and water.
Hints regarding enemas:
* Remember, you will do
best if you have a bowel movement before doing the coffee enema.
* If intestinal gas is a
problem, some exercise before the enema may eliminate the gas.
* It is not essential but
is helpful if the water fills the entire colon. You can assist by first lying
on your right side for 5 minutes, then on your back for 5 minutes, and then on
your left side for 5 minutes.
* If water will not flow around
the entire colon, you may gently massage your abdomen. Some people attach a
30-inch colon tube to the tip of the enema tube, and insert the tube so the
water will reach the right side of the colon.
* If the enema makes you
jittery, reduce the amount of coffee.
* The enema may lower your
blood sugar. If so, eat something just before or after taking the enema.
* If you have trouble
holding the enema, here are suggestions.
1) Be patient. Practice makes
perfect.
2) The water may be too hot or too cold.
Be sure the water temperature is comfortable.
3) It may help to place a small pillow or rolled up towel under your buttocks
so the water flows down hill into your colon.
4) If trouble continues, try reducing the amount of coffee or add 2 tablespoons
of blackstrap molasses to the water.
EPSOM SALT
BATHS
These are simple,
pleasant and not too costly. They
can help relax tired or tense muscles and release some poisons as well. Magnesium is an element that is often
deficient in modern diets. One can
absorb a fairly significant amount of magnesium and sulfur from an Epsom salt
bath.
Procedure: as you fill a bathtub, add 3 to 5
pounds of Epsom salts to the bath water.
Water should be hot, but not scalding for the most relaxing and
effective treatment.
Submerge
as much of your body, particularly the spin, in the bath. Stay in the water for 20 to 30 minutes. There is no need to shower off after
the bath. You may, in this way,
absorb more of the Epsom salts with their sulfur and magnesium.
SALT AND SODA
BATH
This
is primarily an alkalinizing and mineralizing bath. It is inexpensive and usually comfortable, although the salt
and soda bath can sting the skin a little at first.
This
bath will remove certain toxins and even help with infection in some
cases. We do not use these baths
too often, but they can be helpful if one is in a detoxification reaction or
having an infection heal on a nutritional balancing program.
Procedure.
As you let the
water run into the bath tub, add about 2 pounds of baking soda and 3 or 4
pounds of sea salt. Any type of
sea salt will do. Mix the salt and
soda into the water. The bath
should be fairly hot for best results.
Stay
in the water for 20 to 30 minutes.
Then let the water out. A
shower may be helpful if you feel itchy or sticky from the salt. However, it is not necessary to take a
shower afterwards.
LIVER-GALL
BLADDER FLUSH
The
liver-gall bladder flush is a non-surgical method to help remove
gallstones. It can help avoid the
need for gallbladder surgery in some cases. It is not, however,
a substitute for a complete nutritional balancing program to restore normal activity of
the liver and gall bladder.
A
liver flush or two may help at the beginning of a nutritional program or if one
is having gall bladder problems. I
am not aware of complications or damage from this procedure, although
occasionally someone remains nauseated for several days or more.
1) For 6 days, eat well,
take your nutritional supplements and take 90 drops (30 drops three times a
day) of phosphoric acid drops daily.
I have these available if you cannot find them in a store. Some people recommend drinking as much
apple juice as possible. However,
this is not necessary and is too sugary.
Also
take about 200 mg of magnesium (chelate, citrate or other quality product)
three times a day, one tablet with each meal. The phosphoric acid and magnesium help soften stones and
dilate the bile ducts.
2) At noon on the sixth
day, eat a normal lunch with supplements, phosphoric acid drops and
magnesium. Two hours after lunch,
do a 1-quart coffee enema using 2 tablespoons of coffee, along with 2
tablespoons or 1/4 cup of Epsom salts in the enema. Retain this enema for 15 minutes.
3) At suppertime, have a
normal dinner with supplements, and be sure to have fat with the dinner, such
as 2 tablespoons of butter on vegetables or some real whipped cream as a salad
dressing.
4) At bedtime, do one of
the following:
a) Take
1/3 cup of olive oil followed by some lemon or other juice if the taste is
objectionable.
b) Take
1/3 cup of olive oil blended with 1/3 cup of orange, grapefruit or diluted
lemon juice.
c) Take 4
tablespoons of olive oil followed by 1 tablespoon of fruit juice every 15
minutes until one has take 1/3 cup of olive oil.
For
nausea. The release of bile causes nausea in a
few cases. If nausea occurs during
this procedure, it indicates stimulation of the gall bladder. Finish the procedure. If vomiting occurs, just continue and
do not add more than the planned amount of olive oil.
5) Immediately upon
finishing the oil, lie down on the right side with the right knee drawn up
toward the chin for half an hour.
This is to assist emptying of the oil out of the stomach.
6) If ill during the night,
one may take another strong coffee enema with Epsom salts.
7) In the morning, if
nauseous try to remain in bed until it passes. Upon arising, take another coffee enema with Epsom
salts. If nausea continues after
the procedure, eat lightly and skip supplements for a day or two.
OTHER
DETOXIFICATION PROCEDURES WE USE MUCH LESS OFTEN
These are listed roughly
in their order of usefulness, in our view.
Colonic
irrigation and other hydrotherapy. These can be
excellent treatments that can greatly assist detoxification. We don’t usually recommend a lot of colonic
irrigation due mainly to its cost and inconvenience having to go to an office
for a session. However, it may
always be used with nutritional balancing programs safely, provided the person
administering the therapy knows how to do it safely.
Other
hydrotherapy baths, sprays and other procedures in the tradition of The
Water Cure and
other naturopathic traditions may also be used, though they are not as effective,
in our opinion, as they once were, when the bodies were healthier, in general.
Herbal
poultices. This is an ancient therapy. There are many kinds of herbal packs
and poultices. Overall, these are
very good. Some are potato
poultices, onion poultices, mustard poultices and others. We don’t use them, as a rule, because
they are a lot of trouble and we don’t find them necessary.
Castor
Oil Packs. This procedure was recommended often by
Mr. Edgar Cayce. We don’t use them
much, but they are very relaxing and appear to assist lymph circulation over
the area they are placed, in particular the stomach, liver or other parts of
the abdomen.
Procedures:
Here are two common ways to do castor oil packs:
1.
Daytime Method. Pour pure castor oil onto a piece of flannel
or other absorbant cloth that is about 1 foot long by 1 foot wide. The cloth should be quite damp, but not
dripping with the oil. Castor oil
can be bought at many drug stores.
Some outlets sell organic castor oil, but this is not needed in most
cases.
Place
the pack on your abdomen, usually over the liver (upper right side of the
abdomen). Fold the cloth over once
if it is too large.
You
will now place a heating pad on top of the pack. However, before doing so, be sure to cover the pack with a
large plastic bag lying flat. This
is to keep the oil from soiling the heating pad. Turn on the heating pad to its highest setting and relax in
bed or on a couch with the pack for about 2 hours.
To
clean up, turn off
the heating pad. Remove the
plastic bag. Remove the pack from
your abdomen and wipe off the area with a clean rag or paper towel.
Place
the castor oil pack in a glass or plastic jar. Screw on the top of the jar to keep the oil moist. The pack can be reused many times
without adding more oil, unless it is getting dried out.
2.
Overnight method. Create a castor oil pack as described
above. When you are ready for bed,
place the pack on your abodomen, as described above. Cover the pack with a plastic bad or better, another clean
towel or cloth.
Now
wrap an Ace bandage around your waist and around the pack as tightly as you can
comfortably stand it. Go to bed
with the pack strapped on. In the
morning, remove the Ace bandage, remove the pack, wipe off the area and store
the castor oil pack as described in method #1 above.
Drinking
salt water. This is popular and dangerous, in our
view. Salt water will pull a
certain amount of toxic substances out of the body by osmosis. However, the long-term effects are
questionable at best.
Salt
water has been known to kill, if one drinks enough, by upsetting the mineral
balance. We cannot recommend this
method at all.
Steam
baths do cause
detoxification, especially steam baths.
We don’t recommend steam, in general, because chemicals from the water
can get into the body. The water
should be purified to prevent this.
Steam is also at 212 F. and is thus too hot for many people. Also, these cannot easily be done at
home without an expensive setup.
Hot
springs. A few hot springs are very therapeutic. The trouble is that most are not and it
is hard to tell which are helpful .
So, as a rule, we don’t advise spending a lot of time at hot springs,
though occasional use is excellent, especially if you know the water is clean
and safe.
Hot
tubs, if heated to
over about 104 F. also cause detoxification. However, one always absorbs chemicals from the water unless
it is distilled or reverse osmosis water.
Usually , some chemicals, even silver, must also be added to the water
and this is absorbed as well. Hot
tubs are also costly to buy and to operate in relation to saunas.
Ozone
sauna or ozone steam cabinet is an excellent detoxification bath. We don’t need them, but they are
helpful, especially for some conditions.
Clay
or mud baths, wraps or packs. Clay and some
muds are powerful detoxifiers and can help with many skin and other
conditions. We do not believe they
are nearly as powerful as the sauna or enemas. Also, clay and many types of mud are high in aluminum. Most likely some aluminum will be
absorbed if one does too many clay or mud baths, packs or wraps.
Bikrum
yoga. This is a yoga class that is done with
the heat turned up in the room, often to 90 F. or more. This causes sweating and some detoxification.
We
don’t recommend this because some yoga classes are not safe due to instructors
who do not pay attention to their students’ health conditions. However, some people find Bikrum yoga
relaxing and helpful for detoxification.
Ionic
foot baths are very
popular. They consist of an
electrical device that is placed in a small tub of water, in which one places
the feet.
Unfortunately,
we do not like their effects at all for most adults. They may be used well with children under 10 and with adults
over the age of about 65, in general.
All
ionic foot baths we have reviewed spin the chakras backwards. This does not adversely affect most young
children and most adults over 65.
However, it is harmful for most older children and adults, who are just opening
their chakras and need them to spin correctly. In fact, they can enhance toxicity for this reason. Using them only occasionally if fine, however,
such as once a year or so.
Foot
pads are Japanese
methods of removing toxins through the bottoms of the feet, and occasionally
they are placed elsewhere. Studies
have not indicated these are too effective, however.
Alkaline
water machines. These change the mineral content of
drinking water to supposedly alkalinize the body and thus promote
detoxification and other health benefits.
While they may do this, we strongly urge not to use these devices.
They
include the Jupiter machine, I-Water and Kagen Water machines. They create an unnatural water and do
not filter out most toxic metals and other imbalances in modern tap water.
We
recommend plain distilled water, though it is a little acid in its pH, it
removes a lot of toxic substances and, over time, will help the body alkalinize
for this reason. Good spring water
is also excellent to drink.
Homeopathic
drainage remedies
and others used for dtoxification may have great benefit. We don’t use them as we don’t feel they
are needed, in general.
If
you go to someone for these remedies, make sure you are tested for them because
homeopathics are quite specific for each person, as a rule.
Herbal
detox regimens, in
general, are not recommended. They
may work to some degree. However,
many herbs are toxic to some extent as well. Therefore, be careful with herbal detox and herbal cancer
regimens.
Herbs
that are definitely helpful for detoxification that we like include milk
thistle and dandelion root for the liver, Russian black radish and very few
others.
We
also do not like or use herbal metal detoxification remedies that contain
powerful chelators such as cilantro extract and chlorella. These often remove vital minerals,
along with the toxic metals.
Products containing these include popular products like Metal-Free, NanoDetox
Factors and a host of others. See
chealtion for more on this type of product.
Chelation
therapy. This is covered in far more detail in a
separate article, entitled Chelation Therapy. In general, we don’t use it. It is not needed, is costly and has
side effects that can be dangerous in a few cases.
Instead,
to remove all the toxic metals, we use over seven methods simultaneously. With nutritional balancing methods, we
can remove more toxic metals to a deeper level, as well as removing toxic
chemicals.
However,
in some cases, IV or oral chelation therapy is very helpful. These include advanced cases of
multiple sclerosis, perhaps other neuromuscular diseases and rarely other
situations.
Fasting is a dangerous procedure, in our
experience, if done for more than a week at a time. If you must do it, be sure to work with someone very
knowledgeable in fasting. Dr.
Wilson has placed over 600 people on fasts, and results were very mixed.
We
prefer the much safer nutritional balancing method of nutritional
correction. Fasting was
appropriate in years past, when most of the classic books about it were
written.
Today,
we find that most fasting just accentuates nutritional deficiencies and does
not address many deeper imbalances relating to the body load of toxic metals,
toxic chemicals and infections.
Radiation poisoning, which everyone has, has made the body’s much less
capable of handling most fasts.
Juice fasts are much safer, but still not generally advisable for more
than a few days, at most.
Juicing is a popular method, along with
cleansing diets, to rejuvenate the body.
We like a small amount of carrot, celery, or green juice daily, up to
5-6 ounces only.
More
than this has too much sugar for many people and is extremely yin in Chinese
terminology. Yin means cold, raw
and broken apart. Once again, this
method was effective in times past, when many excellent books were written
about its use such as A Cancer Therapy – Results of 50 Cases by Max Gerson, MD and others.
This
can impeded detoxification in most people today, whose bodies are already
yin. To read more about this, read
the articles on this site entitled Raw
Foods and Juices and Yin and
Yang Healing.
Cleansing
diets can be useful
if their time is limited. However,
their value is often overrated. We
don’t find them necessary in almost all cases. Problems with them are:
1)
Often they are deficient in proteins that people require for
detoxification. Thus they can have
a counterproductive effect.
2)
They are often yin in Chinese terminology, which also inhibits elimination in
many people. For these two
reasons, use extreme care with cleansing diets.
Energetic
detox methods such as IMT, ERT, homeopathics, radionic machines and
electro-acupuncture machines. These methods
have definite merit. We do not use
them because we don’t feel they go deep enough at this time.
We
hope they will improve, as they offer inexpensive and non-invasive methods to
assess and perhaps remove some toxic metals and chemicals.
We
much prefer nutritional balancing that raises the body’s energy level. This is more work, but it will slowly cause
the removal of all toxic metals and chemicals, without regard to their source
or nature.
Exercise
for sweating. Many people say they do not need to
detoxify because they sweat profusely when they run, play tennis or do other
common exercise. There is some
truth to this. However, it is
usually not nearly enough.
Light
and color therapy. This is an underused method that could
be a great help. We use color
therapy in the near infrared lamp sauna and with sunbathing, another
detoxification therapy that we recommend heartily for many reasons. More sophisticated color and light and
sound therapies will be developed, most likely, in the near future.
Eating
Bentonite, Azomite or Zeolite clay, and using detox vitamins such as high-dose
vitamin C, N-acetyl-cysteine, modified citrus pectin and many others. While these do cause some detoxification, we do not use
them, as a general rule. The
reason are cost and possible toxic effects. However, they can be helpful, especially for acute toxicity
to reduce the side effects of the metals, in particular.
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