Time to Detox

I recently went on a road-trip with my partner to the mountains for some much needed relaxation and fresh air.  Throughout the 7 hours in the car my partner kept asking me- “Did you fart?”  It got to be funny after the 3rd or 4th time when I could honestly say “no” I hadn’t.  I think we have all experienced the mortifying moment when we have accidently passed gas at the most inopportune moment. And instead of claiming it we delicately let the foul air pass without a comment or apology.

When we finally got to the mountains we were walking in the woods and my partner turns to me and makes the comment on how he thinks he can smell the controversial sewer that was just put in 1.5 years before.  For a brief moment I let him believe that it was the sewer that smelled so horrible.  I was just too embarrassed to tell him that I had indeed passed gas this time.  After driving in a car for 7 hours I felt I was in a state of congestion and all around stagnancy.  The diet of chips and soda pop couldn’t have helped any to this state of toxicity I was feeling. I could feel the last 7 hours gurgling around in my belly and trying to get free and since we were walking back and forth from my car, which was about 1/3 of a mile away from the cabin, everything started to move.

I laughed away his comment but then it happened again! I thought for sure I was safe in relieving my bloated intestines in the open air but I soon realized I had no choice but to claim it.  I could not in good conscience let him believe that he could smell the controversial sewer when it was just my stinky body.  So begrudgingly I claimed it and we laughed about it.   It is funny how laughter can make an uncomfortable situation much easier.

Over the course of the next day and 1/2 it became a joke of ours again as he kept on asking me if I had farted.  By this time we had both realized it was us that smelled so badly!  We realized how we were really stinky humans.  The accumulation of the stress of the city, mom’s home cooking around the holidays, boxes of Girl Scout cookies, weekends of parties and over indulgence were all diffusing from our tissues.  pew!  All these toxins were quite potent in the forest away from the pollution and scents of the city.

As we go into spring it is a great time to shed ourselves of these unwanted scents, pounds, emotions, and skin cells that have accumulated over the winter months.  Our liver grows stagnant over the winter from a high fat and high sugar diet.  Being stagnant can cause irritability, headaches and bloating to name a few negative side effects.  Below are some remedies for quick and easy detoxification.  Just make sure it fits within your health guidelines and won’t tax your body systems beyond what it can handle. If you are unsure discuss detoxification methods with your doctor.

Cleanse the liver/gallbladder

When the liver is over burdened with toxins one might experience extra weight, bloating, wrinkled skin, acne and rashes. One of the most popular cleanses I have seen for the liver is the Master Cleanse.

Lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper mixed with water make this a sweet and spicy cocktail full of healing benefits.

The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver.  It is released into the digestive tract to help emulsify fats.  If not working properly one might experience pain in the right abdomen, bloating and headaches.  A diet low in fats, refined sugars and high in fiber will help to combat the onslaught of gallstones.  Check out this website for more cleanse ideas:  http://www.justcleansing.com/gallbladder.htm

Hydrotherapy-  Eastern Europeans know well the benefits of hydrotherapy for cleansing the body.  Taking a hot sauna in winter was often the only form of cleansing the body.  The heat relaxes and heats the body releasing toxins from adipose tissue into the surrounding tissue.  Adding the cold plunge/shower constricts the blood vessels and surrounding tissue flushing out this accumulation by a pumping of the blood.  Repeat this cycle a few times and soon you will experience improved circulation, body odor, digestive health and a reduction in bloating.

Tongue scrubbing aids in detoxing as well. If the liver is congested the body will release toxins through the skin, lungs and tongue. Keeping that tongue fresh will help reduce bad breath and take some of the pressure of the liver.

Dry brushing the skin not only improves the appearance of the skin but it detoxifies the body and improves circulation.  Dry brush your skin before a shower towards the heart to get rid of accumulated skin cells.  Brushing towards the heart helps to move the blood and lymph getting rid of excess waste such as cellular debris.

Drink more h2o -a gallon a day for a week.  Nothing can match the power of drinking your daily quota of water and more!  Depending upon your body mass index determines whether you should be drinking 64 oz of water or 120.

Ease back/ cutout processed foods, alcohol, sweets.  We all love those potato chips and hershey bars or whatever your guilty pleasure is. Maybe it is that gin and tonic or beer at the end of the work day or week? What we don’t realize is the big task we give our liver in processing all these foreign foods.

Incorporate Raw food/ Spring Foods.  Spring is the time to take advantage of young spring greens and vegetables.  Eating local vegetables can improve health by giving you the vitamins and minerals we have grown deficient of through the winter months of hibernation and excess.