Friday, December 16, 2016

DETOX PROGRAM: A TOTAL BODY CLEANSE AT HOME

Full Body Detox Program -- How To Detox

If you wanted to learn how to detox your body, naturally, bookmark this page! We offer the world's most comprehensive full body detox program. The following Full Body Detox Program and body cleanse incorporates a series of seven detoxes, making sure you go step-by-step and thoroughly cleanse everything from toxins & heavy metals to stones and even excess fat from the liver. Learn everything you need to know about detox diets, juice fasting, colon health, liver detoxing, blood cleansing, and much more.

About Jon Barron's Natural Detox Program

The Baseline of Health® Foundation supports Jon Barron's emphasis on a natural, full body detox because a natural detox of ALL major organs is essential to maintaining health. It is simple: you can down all the vitamins, herbs, and antioxidants, but you won't see your health turn around if your colon is filled with putrid fecal matter or if your liver can't clean toxins out of your blood and perform its daily functions. Some of you may know about different types of water or juice fasting, but very few have incorporated a full body, organ specific cleanse that Jon Barron has designed in this Detox Program. Although general juice fasting definitely provides overall benefits, targeted detoxing takes advantage of certain herbs, nutraceuticals, or alternative health protocols to greatly accelerate the process -- particularly in regards to specific body systems and/or organs. The combined juice fast with an organ-specific natural detox offers the most powerful cleansing program for overall health. The nine specific detoxes include the Colon Detox, Intestinal Cleansing, Heavy Metal Detox, Gallbladder Cleansing Prep, Kidney Detox, Pancreas Flush, and finally the Liver Detox, Gallbladder Flush, & Blood Cleansing (specifically in this order). Let's look at all of them in detail:

Full Body Detox Steps
  • Phase One: Heavy Metal Cleanse, Colon Detox, & Intestinal Cleansing
  • Phase Two: Kidney Detox, Gallbladder Prep, & Pancreas Flush
  • Phase Three: Liver Detox, Gallbladder Flush, & Blood Cleansing

PHASE 1: COLON CLEANSE & HEAVY METAL DETOX

Colon detox is the first step to wellness
Welcome to Phase One of Jon Barron's full body detox: The Colon Detox, Colon Cleanse and Heavy Metal Detox!  Colon detoxing and intestinal cleansing is the foundation for the Liver Detox (Phase 3) because if the intestinal tract is clogged during the liver detox, many of the toxins being dumped by your liver will back up into your bloodstream, making you feel very unwell, learn more. 
So, if you are doing to do a full body detox, you must start here, with a colon cleanse. 
Colon Cleanse and natural colon detox
Products Needed: 

The Colon Detox, Colon Cleanse & Heavy Metal Cleanse — Phase One

Removing Heavy Metals
Jon Barron's heavy metal formula is now proven to be a major weapon in the fight against heavy metal toxicity. We recommend you do this detox while also doing the colon detox since the colon formula will help move the heavy metals out of the system. Once cleaned out after 30 days, a two week cleanse every 6 months should be enough to keep you relatively metal free — unless you eat a lot of high-mercury fish, or have more than a few amalgam fillings, in which case every 2 months is advisable. Incidentally, you do not want to use a chelation formula every day. Your body actually needs small amounts of some heavy metals.  For more information on the heavy metal cleanse, review our frequently asked questions.
Colon Detox 
  The best method for doing the colon detox is to take one scoop of Colon Detoxifier powder a day with 8 ounces of diluted juice until your first canister is gone (about 30 days). With one scoop of detoxifier, you may (or may not) need to take a colon corrective formula with it to prevent constipation. However, if this is your first detox, you absolutely want to take a colon activator for a few days to get the colon working properly before starting on the binding detoxifier.

   The advantage of the daily method is that you are soothing, healing, cleansing, and detoxifying your colon on a regular basis. In addition, if your detoxifying formula has anti-fungal herbs such as Pau d'arco in it, it will help control Candida on a daily basis.

   Colon Detox Instructions: 

   Preparation

   Start with one capsule of Colon Corrective during, or just after, dinner. This formula works best when mixed with food.

   In the morning, you should notice an increase in your bowel action and in the amount of fecal matter you eliminate. The consistency should also be softer. If you do not notice any difference in your bowel behavior (or the difference wasn't dramatic), increase your evening dosage to two capsules.

   You can continue to increase your dosage of Colon Corrective by one capsule each evening until you notice a dramatic difference in the way your bowel works. By the end of the first week, you should know what your dosage is. If not, then remain on the Colon Corrective for as long as necessary to get regulated before you go to the next step (the Colon Detoxifier). Remember, it has taken most of us years to create a sluggish bowel; so let's be patient for a few days and increase our dosage of Colon Corrective by just one capsule a day -- only.

   Colon Detox Days 1-30

   Start taking the Colon Detoxifier powder. One scoop a day on an empty stomach. A good way to take the Detoxifier powder is to use an empty 16 ounce juice bottle. Pour in 2-3 ounces of juice (grape works nicely). Add water to the 8 ounce mark. Then add the scoop of Detoxifier powder. Shake thoroughly and drink down. Rinse the bottle and reuse as required. It is helpful to drink additional liquid after each dose of Colon Detoxifier (at least 8 ounces). Also, be sure and drink plenty of pure water, herb teas, and diluted fruit and vegetable juices during the Intestinal Cleansing and Heavy Metal Detoxification program. A good amount is 64-128 ounces of liquid a day. This makes the program more effective. Still have more questions? Review our frequently asked questions.
Taking medications? - be sure to take any other supplements (including the Metal Magic and Colon Corrective) or medications a minimum of 20 minutes before or an hour after the Detoxifier so that there is no chance of them being absorbed. After taking the powder, it is best to wait at least 30 minutes before eating.
Once you start taking the Colon Detoxifier powder, you can also start taking the Metal Magic. The instructions are to use 4 droppers, 3 times a day until the bottle is gone. A "dropper" is the glass part of the dropper approx half full. It can be taken with juice or water. It can be taken with or without food, just not right at same time as the Detoxifier.
*Note: Be sure to continue taking the Colon Corrective all the way through to day 30.  At end of the detox, wean off the Corrective slowly — reducing the amount you take by one capsule every couple of days.
Accelerated Colon Detox Method
If you are running out of time during the holidays and want to try something faster, this is another option. We must warn that this method is extensive and not recommended if this is your first time detoxing the colon.
Day 1 Start with one capsule of Colon Corrective during, or just after, dinner. This formula works best when mixed with food.
Day 2 In the morning, you should notice an increase in your bowel action and in the amount of fecal matter you eliminate. The consistency should also be softer. If you do not notice any difference in your bowel behavior (or the difference wasn't dramatic), increase your evening dosage to two capsules.
Days 3-7 You can continue to increase your dosage of Colon Corrective by one capsule each evening until you notice a dramatic difference in the way your bowel works. By the end of the first week, you should know what your dosage is. If not, then remain on the Colon Corrective for as long as necessary to get regulated before you go to the next step (the Colon Detoxifier). Remember, it has taken most of us years to create a sluggish bowel; so let's be patient for a few days and increase our dosage of Colon Corrective by just one capsule a day -- only.
Days 8-14 One hour after a light breakfast, take 1 level scoop of Colon Detoxifier with at least 8 oz of diluted juice. Repeat 1/2 hour before lunch, a couple of hours after lunch, 1/2 hour before dinner, and 1 hour before bed -- for a total of 5 scoops a day.

More Information on Colon Detoxing & Heavy Metal Cleanse:

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COLON DETOX FAQS -- PHASE ONE OF FULL BODY DETOX 

Colon Detox & Intestinal Cleansing FAQs | Natural Detox Program
Below is a list of questions and answers pertaining to the colon detox, the first step to cleansing toxins out of the body.  Use the links on the right to scroll through our full body detox program -- the most comprehensive detox program that you can do right at home.  Colon cleansing is not the end of detoxing--it's merely the first step. Colon detoxing, as we've previously discussed on this site, is required to clean out the elimination channels so that toxins released from the other forms of detoxification have a clear path out of the body. But the major work of detoxification, the dramatic improvements in health that most people are looking for, come more from those other detoxes than from colon cleansing. 


Colon Detox FAQs -- Phase One of Full Body Detox

30 Day Intestinal Cleansing Questions

  1. Do I need to change my diet during this colon detox phase?
  2. Do I do the heavy metal cleanse during this colon detox?
  3. Will the Detoxifier drink interfere with my medications?
  4. What is a normal bowel movement while doing the colon detox?
  5. What is the right amount of colon activator?
  6. Will I experience gas and bloating?
  7. Can I become addicted to the herbs recommended?
  8. Are there any special concerns if I have Crohn's disease?
  9. What if I miss a day on the colon detox?
  10. Some of the recommended ingredients absorb drug residues. What if I have to take medications?
  11. Can I do the colon detox if I get food poisoning or the stomach flu?
  12. Should I continue taking my vitamins and other supplements during the colon detox?

Colon Detox Answers

1. Do I need to change my diet during this colon detox phase?

There are no food restrictions on the colon detox, but be smart. Reduce your intake of what causes the problem in the first place: processed foods, excessive amounts of meat, commercial dairy, and sugar. Try to eat more fruits and veggies.

2. Do I do the heavy metal cleanse during this detox?

Yes, if you are doing the Metal Magic™, now is the time to take it. Although not mandatory, it makes all the sense in the world to do the heavy metal detox and the colon cleanse and the same time. The two detoxes complement each other. However, you do not want to take the Metal Magic™ and the Colon Detoxifer at the same time each day. In fact, any supplement or medication you are taking, including the Metal Magic™, should not be taken within 20 minutes before or 60 minutes after the colon detox powder so that there is no chance the Detox powder will absorb the medication or herbal remedy. The problem is probably more theoretical than actual, but why take a chance. The Metal Magic™ pulls the heavy metals free out of your bloodstream and out from your body's soft tissue and then safely carries them out of your body. The Colon Detoxifier draws heavy metals out of the walls of your intestinal tract and colon and then safely passes them out with your stools. The two work together nicely to pull toxins out of the body and safely out the colon.

3. Will the Detoxifier drink interfere with my medications?

No, but to be on the safe side, it's recommended that you take any medications a minimum of 20 minutes before or 60 minutes after the colon detox powder so that there is no chance the Detox powder will absorb the medication.

4. What is a normal bowel movement when detoxing?

A normal bowel movement is soft and unformed. It should break apart when it hits the water -- or at least when flushed. This is not to be confused with diarrhea, which is characterized by water.

5. What is the right amount of colon activator?

It's when you sit down on the toilet and say, "WOW!" It's when you finish and look down and say, "Did all that just come from me?" In other words, if you have to ask if you're taking enough, then you're probably not. And, because Jon's formulas are more than just fiber, don't always expect to see the form of your colon in the toilet.

6. Will I experience gas and bloating?

If you were to start a car that had been sitting idle in the garage for years, you would not expect it to start right up. You would expect to have to crank it over several times. You would expect it to blow some smoke, to backfire several times, maybe even shoot some flames out the tail pipe -- but then settle down and begin to purr. Your bowel is no different. Gas and bloating are the smoking and backfiring of the bowel. Work through it. Once you have rebuilt your bowel function, your intestinal tract will begin to purr like a well-tuned engine.

7. Can I become addicted to the herbs recommended?

Unlike harsh chemical laxatives, it's practically impossible to become addicted to natural herbs. Not only are these herbs not addictive, they actually work to strengthen bowel function. In fact, there is no problem with continuing to use Colon Corrective indefinitely, even after finishing the Intestinal Cleanse.

8. Are there any special concerns if I have Crohn's disease?

Yes. If you have an overactive colon, then you do not want to take the Colon Corrective, which would increase that activity even more. If you have diarrhea or an overactive colon, start with the Colon Detoxifier to soothe and calm your colon down. Eventually, as your colon function returns to normal, you may want to incorporate some Colon Corrective into your program.

9. What if I miss a day of the colon detox?

The more consistent you are, the better overall results. If a dose is missed, make it up one hour after you have taken your next scheduled dose and take the Detoxifier for an extra day or two to finish the bottle.

10. Some of the recommended ingredients absorb drug residues. What if I have to take medications?

To be on the safe side, it's recommended that you take any medications a minimum of 20 minutes before or 60 minutes after the colon detox powder so that there is no chance the Detox powder will absorb the medication.

11. Can I do the colon detox if I get food poisoning or stomach flu?

Absolutely. One scoop of Colon Detoxifier taken with a glass of water (or 9 capsules) will often help control the problems of mild food poisoning or stomach flu in as little as 20-40 minutes. If one dose doesn't work, try a second dose. Also, a strong dose of garlic, or garlic formula, is highly recommended in these situations as it is highly antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic.

12. Should I continue taking my vitamins and other supplements during the colon detox?

During the intestinal detox, you can continue to take all of your supplements. When it comes time to do the liver detox, give your body a rest and use just essential supplements. To be on the safe side, it's recommended that you take any supplements or medications a minimum of 20 minutes before or 60 minutes after the colon detox powder so that there is no chance the Detox powder will absorb them.


METAL DETOX CASE STUDIES


Heavy Metal Detox Testimonials

"I have a heightened sensitivity to metals and mercury poisoning was a regular occurance in my life. Just one tuna sandwich too many, or a big night of sushi, and I would find myself vomitting violently for 8-10 hours, with severe stomach cramping and dehydration. I stepped through the full heavy metal detox Jon suggests. I've only done it twice in a year and a half and haven't had a single occurance since the first run of the detox. I continue to be careful about the metals I put into my body, but I am finally able to enjoy a nice fish dinner without fear of being deathly ill the next day!
I also immediately noticed that my mental clarity, my energy levels and my zest for life rose to new levels. Thank you so much Jon!"
Moe P., CA
"After my BIG mercury filling started to leak, I had memory problems, metal taste in my mouth and really weird ensationsŠand I took your advice about making Cilantro Pesto (before I got the product) Great Advice!"
D. McKenzie (Kerrville, TX)
"I used to get headaches, but not any more! As soon as I started doing the heavy metal detox, I could feel something 'new' going on inside, almost as if I could feel the metal deposits in my body being eliminated. There's an energy signature with this detox that creates a new flow of energy. It's made me feel really good. I'm impressed with this detox and highly recommend it to others. You've got my business!"
L. Dailey (Portland, OR)
 The Healing Crisis. On occasion when detoxing, particularly during your first few detoxes, you may experience some symptoms, often referred to as a healing crisis (Herxheimer reaction). It is characterized by a temporary increase in symptoms during the cleansing or detoxification process. Reactions, when they occur, are almost always mild, but on rare occasions can be severe.
There are three primary triggers for a detox reaction.
  1. Any large-scale die-off of bacteria can release a significant amount of toxins present within the actual bacteria. The stronger those toxins are and the more bacteria present to release them, the stronger the cleansing reaction. Colon cleansing, the use of probiotics, digestive enzymes, immune enhancers, and pathogen destroyers can all trigger bacterial die-off.
  2. Any detox that causes the organs of the body (particularly the liver, which is a storehouse of drug and poison residues) to purge their stored poisons and toxins, can trigger a cleansing reaction, as can the use of an herbal blood cleanser.
  3. Any program, such as fasting or the use of weight-loss herbs, that causes a rapid breakdown of fat cells (which are a storehouse for toxins) can be accompanied by a detox reaction.
The bottom line is that the body must go through an elimination process to achieve good health. There will be ups and downs. Symptoms, if they appear, are usually mild, but in some cases can be severe. Understand, the symptoms you experience are indicative of the cleansing, purifying process that is underway. Go as slowly as your body needs to so that your elimination is gradual and comfortable. Also, keep in mind that this is not an endurance contest. If symptoms become too severe, stop the detox and regroup. You can always restart the detox again at a later date.
Easing Your Way through the Healing Crisis
  • Drink plenty of fresh water, juices, and herbal teas to flush the body of toxins.
  • Use a colon stimulation formula to make sure that you are eliminating waste promptly. Symptoms frequently disappear immediately after a good bowel movement.
  • Use psyllium seed husks, ground flaxseed, or oat bran daily to absorb toxins and to help speed their transit through the system.
  • On occasion, a good enema or colon irrigation can provide relief.
  • Sometimes, rest is the best therapy.
  • And, on rare occasions, a reduction of the dosage or temporary cessation may be required.
The follow story comes from an actual letter I received from a competitive cyclist who went through a healing crisis while detoxing. His reactions were on the severe side to be sure, but it's instructive to see how the crisis ended.
The 30 day colon cleanse went without a hitch. I lost 10-15 lbs, maybe more. This is excellent news for a competitive cyclist because weight loss without losing muscle mass is a win-win situation.  
After I was done with the colon cleanse I began the liver/gallbladder detox. The first day I had some cravings for food and that night I dreamed I was at a banquet stuffing my face.  I thought, “Oh no I'm supposed to be fasting,” and then woke up and realized I hadn't broken my fast. I had interesting dreams almost every night of the five days.
The second day I had a headache in the morning and, when I got home around 4PM, the headache still persisted. I tried to make the potassium broth but the smallest tasks seemed monumental, and I lay down in bed and started to burp a little.  I couldn't sleep, the headache got worse and I began to feel as if I was going to be ill.  Eventually, I ran to the toilet and had my first bout of vomiting and “dry heaves.”
The only way I can describe the next hour or so is that it was like how “going cold turkey” from heroin is portrayed in the movies. I had several sessions on my knees, hot and cold sweats, one of the worst headaches of my life and actually had to time my breaths between “puking my guts out.”
The first session was the carrot juice I had consumed or so it looked like. The second time around was what, in retrospect, may have been ancient maraschino cherries or tape worms (?) -- chunks of red, but not blood.
Round three brought up some mucous like substance and some yellowish, bile like fluid.  At this point the “heaves” were so bad that I was getting scared and thinking I might have to stop the detox. The final bout was the worst and brought up yellow bile (?) with red “blood” specks in it, seemingly from the deepest recesses possible (or that I had ever experienced).
Exhausted and not wanting to be too far from the toilet, I sat back in a reclining chair and fell asleep. I woke up in an hour and immediately noticed that my sinuses were clearer than I can ever remember. My headache was gone, and I felt like a million bucks. I called my chiropractor friend and he confirmed that it was probably the effects of toxins being released by my liver into my system and that I may have gotten rid of some bad stuff when I became ill.

The Holiday Colon Cleanse
 Hey, call me a hopeless romantic, but as soon as the holiday season rolls around, I start thinking detox. We are starting to mentally prepare for our annual liver detox in January. So I figured, why not talk a little about the detoxes in this newsletter?

Why Cleanse During the Holidays

For many of us, thanks to holiday parties and pressure from family and friends, the next two months are the worst time of the year when it comes to eating. We end up eating more than we should. And we end up eating worse than we should. So while it's true that no one actually eats the fruitcake that they are given each year as a gift, there are turkey dinners, roasts, hams, stuffings, casseroles, egg nogs, plum puddings, and desserts galore to be had by all. Yes, I could say, "Eat healthy." But that's just downright unrealistic. We know that for most of us, no matter how much we try and avoid it, there's just too much tasty food set before us and too much eating going on over the next two months not to get caught up in it to some extent.
Which brings me to the point at hand, if done properly, detoxes can fit smoothly into your holiday routine, allowing you to:
  • Still indulge (within reason)
  • Minimize the damage during the holidays
  • Repair the damage (and then some) immediately after the holidays
  • Lose the excess weight you put on in one fell swoop
  • And most important of all: break the bad habits you've developed over the holidays
That last point is so important it's probably worth talking about for a moment.
How many of us start the new year with a resolution to lose that extra weight we've put on and improve our eating habits? And yet, how many of us succeed in that resolution? Why do so many of us fail? Why is it so hard to "get our act" together come the New Year?
Quite simply, the six weeks of the holiday season are more than enough time to turn our bad eating into a full-blown bad habit -- a habit with a great deal of momentum. And so, once we pass our 30's (at the point your body is no longer quite as forgiving) we add 4-5 lbs during the holiday season and despite the best of intentions are unable to get rid of it come the new year. And so, each year, we repeat the process, steadily getting a little bigger, a little fatter, a little more unhealthy -- year after year.

So what's the answer?

I recommend incorporating a low intensity 30 day colon/intestinal detox during the months of November and December. Then at the beginning of the New Year, after the holidays are over, do a 5-day liver/gallbladder flush to repair the damage, lose the excess weight, and break the momentum of the bad habits you've acquired. Ultimately, the liver detox may be the single most important thing you can do to improve your health.

The Colon Detox

If you've never done a liver detox before, a colon detox is pretty much a mandatory preparation. When you do the liver detox, it will squeeze bile and toxins out of your liver and gallbladder and out through your intestinal tract. But if the intestinal tract is clogged, many of the toxins in your liver will instead back up into your bloodstream, making you feel very unwell. Thus the need for a preparatory colon cleanse -- within 6 months of the liver detox.

It Begins with the Colon

The foundation of any health or healing program must begin with the intestinal tract. This is not necessarily because it is inherently more important than any other system or organ in the body, but because it's the area of the body upon which we focus our greatest abuse, and because it impacts virtually every other system in the body.
The colon is the main elimination channel of the body. It is the means by which we eliminate the toxic waste of the digestive process, including massive amounts of E. coli bacteria and parasite larvae. If that waste hangs around longer than necessary, its impact on the body is profound.
Our modern lifestyle has taken its toll on our digestive/elimination organs. Refined, processed, low fiber foods, animal fats, a lack of exercise, and an ever increasing level of stress all contribute to our current gastro-intestinal health crisis.
Any program designed to clean, detoxify, and rebuild the colon needs to address several key areas. The program must:
  • Help bring the colon back to life by stimulating the muscle movement of the colon.
  • Encourage matter to move forward through the system.
  • Halt putrefaction.
  • Draw old fecal matter off the walls of the colon and out of any bowel pockets.
  • Disinfect.
  • Draw out poisons and toxins.
  • Help leach out heavy metals such as mercury and lead.
  • Remove chemicals and drug residues.
  • Even remove radioactive material such as Strontium 90.
  • Soothe and promote the healing of the mucous membrane lining of the entire digestive tract.
  • Help stimulate the body to begin the healing and repair of herniated areas.
  • Increase the flow of bile to help clean the gall bladder, bile ducts, and liver.
  • Promote healthy intestinal flora.
  • Destroy and expel parasites.
  • Destroy Candida albicans overgrowth.
  • Maintain regularity.
  • Decrease straining.
  • Speed up the transit time of feces through the large intestine.
  • Promote the growth of beneficial bacteria colonies in the intestinal tract.
For years, I used to believe that the best way to detoxify the colon was an intense, accelerated 1 week detox that used up to 5 scoops of detoxifying powder a day. But over time, I've become convinced that the slower gentler, one scoop a day program for approximately 30 days is more effective (since it quadruples the healing time of the detoxifier's action). And it certainly is easier to do, and far less disruptive. For most people, this program will work better -- and not interfere with your holiday celebrations in the slightest. There are many good colon cleansing products. Baseline Nutritionals® sells a Colon Detoxifier formula that I designed that I'm certainly partial to. (It does, however, contain psyllium, which some people are allergic to). You will probably also want to use a Colon Corrective formula with your detoxifier to make sure you don't bind up, which can happen since most detoxifiers contain clay. Again, for convenience, Baseline Nutritionals®carries a Colon Corrective formula.

Heavy Metal Cleansing

At the same time you do a colon detox, I recommend that you do a heavy metal detox since the two cleanses complement each other. There are many oral chelation products on the market, but the only one I know backed by clinical studies is Metal Magic™ from Baseline Nutritionals®. I previously used to recommend doing 12 droppers a day for two weeks on the Metal Magic™. But since we learned during the clinicals that 6 weeks on the program removed around 90%+ of most heavy metals in the body, I am now recommending a 6 week detox twice a year. You will need approximately a bottle a week while on the program.

The Liver Detox

The liver detox, of course, is the centerpiece of our annual event. But it is also the most laborious part, hence the need for group support. The results are well worth the effort, though. Of all the things you can do in alternative health, the liver detox is probably one of the most important in terms of achieving maximum health in today's environment. Let me explain.
Next to the skin, the liver is the largest organ in the body. In many ways, it is the most important organ in the body, and the last to be considered when it comes to health. In addition to being large, the liver is also a complicated organ involved in at least 200 separate functions. Generally speaking, the liver performs a vital role in regulating, synthesizing, storing, secreting, transforming, and breaking down many different substances in the body. Specifically, some of these include:
  • Regulation of fat stores
  • Neutralizing and destroying poisons
  • Protein metabolism, including manufacturing of new body proteins
  • Metabolizing alcohol
  • Managing chemicals and drugs in the blood
  • Aiding the digestive process by the production of bile
  • Helping the body resist infections by producing immune factors and by removing bacteria from the blood stream
  • Storing vitamins, minerals, and sugars
  • Production of quick energy when needed
  • Controlling the production and excretion of cholesterol
  • Maintaining hormone balance
  • Regenerating its own damaged tissue
  • Cleansing the blood and discharging waste products
In fact, in regard to the last point, the liver is the main detoxifying organ of the body. It filters out dangerous drug residues and poisons from the blood and passes them out of the body -- through the colon via the bile duct. Plug the colon and it's like flushing a toilet plugged with toilet paper; everything backs up. The net result is sickness and disease. The important point to remember here is that you shouldn't even begin to cleanse and repair the other systems in the body, such as the liver, until you clean out the colon so that the toxic material will have a clean path out of the body. Again, this is why I recommend doing the colon detox before doing the liver detox.
In essence, our liver is the primary filter of our body. Good health is impossible without proper function of the liver. Unfortunately, over time, we so abuse it and so overtax it that illness is the inevitable result. As part of a program to rebuild and repair the liver, we must:
  • Remove all the excess fat from the liver
  • Get bile flowing freely again
  • Eliminate toxic waste that our livers have filtered out
  • Dissolve and pass out the accumulated gall stones that are stored in our livers
  • Regenerate the damaged and destroyed cells of the liver
The liver is so important to our well-being that many healers maintain that most diseases cannot develop in the body (that, in fact, no form of cell degeneration can occur) if the liver is functioning in an efficient, healthy manner. Conversely, an unhealthy liver is very likely at the root of most serious health problems.

So What Harms the Liver?

  • Too much protein in the diet. Protein metabolism is especially taxing on the liver since it is the liver which must metabolize complex proteins into simple compounds. The greater the consumption of protein, the greater the stress on the liver.
  • Too many simple carbohydrates in the diet. The body converts excess simple carbohydrates into triglycerides, which are then stored in the liver as fat. The more fat stored in the liver, the harder it is for the liver to perform its full range of normal functions.
  • Overeating. Too much enzyme deficient food stresses the liver.
  • Drug residues. Virtually all of the drugs that we take (medicinal, recreational, chemotherapy, whatever) are processed, purified, and refined in the liver -- in preparation for elimination from the body.
  • Alcohol causes inflammation of the liver's tissue. Once the liver is inflamed, it can no longer filter, which causes it to plug up with fat and become even more inflamed. If we consume enough alcohol, we overwhelm the liver's ability to regenerate itself, and the net result is cirrhosis (or hardening) of the liver.
  • Toxins, heavy metals, and pesticides. Everything we breathe, eat, and absorb through our skin is purified and refined in the liver.
  • Lack of exercise forces the liver to do the elimination work that should be done by the lungs and the skin.
  • And of course, there's always liver disease such as chronic Hepatitis C.
Fortunately, your liver has an astounding ability to regenerate itself -- if you give it a chance. Giving it a chance means two things:
  1. Proper diet. You need to eliminate (or at least cut back) the liver stressors in your diet. The sicker you are, the more cleaned up your diet needs to be. If you're suffering from serious liver problems, a raw juice diet may be required to give your liver time to regenerate.
  2. Several times a year, you need to do an herbal detox/flush of your liver.
Voila! And to help with this (and of course tying everything neatly together), we have our 4th annual international liver detox.
Colon Detoxification vs Colonics
Lately, many of you have been asking me the difference between a traditional colonic and a colon detox program. Which is better and why? The best way to understand the significant differences between these two approaches is to look at the big picture -- Intestinal Health -- and in doing so, the answers to many related questions such as "which I prefer and why" and "what makes a formula effective" become clear.
There is an old saying that "death begins in the colon." This is an oversimplification to be sure but more accurate than not. In fact, the road to health begins with intestinal cleansing and detoxification -- no matter what the disease or problem.

Healthy Intestines

Unfortunately, most people confine their understanding of intestinal cleansing to its effect on fecal matter. And even though it is true that cleansing programs do draw old fecal matter out of the colon, limiting the discussion to fecal matter misses the big picture and obscures the differences between colonics and colon detox programs.
Understand, the intestinal tract is essentially a continuous tube from the mouth to the anus, and each part of the tube has a specific function to perform. Among these are:
  • Digestion -- transferring the nutritional value of that food into the body.
  • Processing the waste from that food and eliminating it from the body.
  • Serving as a drainpipe for waste produced as a result of metabolic functions within the body itself.
  • Serving as a drain for toxic substances absorbed through our lungs and skin, etc.
  • Functioning as a first line of defense in the body's immune system by serving as a home to beneficial bacteria that identify and eliminate viruses and unhealthy bacteria ingested with our food.

What can go wrong if the system is backed-up?

Physically, the colon is simply not designed to store large amounts of old fecal matter. Stores of old fecal matter are not only breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and dangerous parasites, but the extra garbage causes the colon to distend and expand. This causes the walls of the colon to thin out (like blowing up a balloon more and more). As the walls extend out, they press on and compress other organs in the abdominal cavity.
Consider that a sluggish bowel can retain pounds of old toxic and poisonous fecal matter (10-20 pounds is not unusual, and up to 65 pounds has actually been reported). It should be noted that doctors rarely see this accumulated matter during colonoscopies because patients are given purgatives to clean out their intestinal tracts before the colonoscopies, thus removing the evidence -- but they do see the effects, the herniations of the colon aka duvertuculi.
In fact, a clean colon is essential in our detox pipeline. The liver is the main detoxifying organ of the body; it works by filtering out and/or neutralizing dangerous drug residues and poisons from the blood and then passing them out of the body through the colon via the bile duct. But if the colon is plugged, it's like flushing a toilet clogged with toilet paper; everything backs up. The net result is sickness and disease. In fact, you can't even begin to cleanse and repair other body systems until you clean out the colon so that the toxic material will have a clean pathway out of the body.
Again, the net result of a backed-up system is sickness and disease including:
  • Constipation and the attendant symptoms of self-toxification.
  • Diverticular disease (herniations of the colon).
  • Hemorroids.
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
  • Ulcerative Colitis.
  • Crohn's Disease.
  • Colon/Rectal Cancer.
  • Other Related Diseases including: diabetes, Gall Stones, Kidney Stones, Gout, Hypertension, Varicose Veins, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, and Obesity.
  • Other cleansing treatments (i.e. liver cleanse) are not as effective if the colon isn't clean.

How can I tell if the system is backed up enough to require a treatment?

A normal bowel movement is soft and unformed. It should break apart when it hits the water -- or at least when flushed. This is not to be confused with diarrhea, which is characterized by water.
There has been a great misconception among the public and most medical professionals about how often a normal healthy person should move their bowels. For years, doctors have thought that anywhere between one bowel movement a day and one a week was normal. What we have learned is that it is normal, and necessary, to have one bowel movement a day for each major meal (as opposed to a snack) you ate the day before. If you eat three major meals, you should have three bowel movements the next day. If you don't, you're not alone. In fact:
  • In the United States, the average frequency of stool passage is just over 3 bowel movements per week.
  • Individuals with colonic inertia (a condition of the colon when muscles do not work properly, causing constipation) often do not pass a stool for 7-10 days at a time.
The key issue, of course, (aside from organic disease) is lack of fiber in your diet -- the more fiber, the faster the transit time of waste through the intestinal tract . Even with all the attention fiber gets in relation to healthy evacuation, it is still MIA in many daily meals. So let's look what you're eating in terms of transit time:
  • A beef patty, white flour roll, and french fries have virtually zero fiber -- thus slow transit time.
  • What's pizza made of? White flour and cheese. White flour and water is used to make wallpaper paste. And cheese (casein), at one time, was the primary ingredient in Elmer's Glue (thus Elmer's picture on the front). Ergo, when you eat pizza, you're eating wallpaper paste and Elmer's Glue -- a real stick to your "ribs" kind of meal.
If your diet consists of a lot of slow transit time food, then you are essentially clogging your pipes. Once nutrients are absorbed from food, there is no reason to keep the waste in your body. In fact, the longer food stays in your intestines, the more it rots, causing long-term disruptions and toxicity.

Dead men tell no tales

Consider that disruption in the pH of intestinal fluids causes ulcers and disturbs the balance of mucus. In his book Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management, Doctor Bernard Jensen, DC, ND, Ph.D., shared:
  • One autopsy revealed a colon to be 9 inches in diameter with a passage through it no larger than a pencil. The rest was caked up layer upon layer of encrusted fecal material. This accumulation can have the consistency of truck tire rubber. It's that hard and black.
  • Another autopsy revealed a stagnant colon to weigh in at an incredible 40 pounds.
Dr. Jensen describes the problem associated with mucoid plaque (thickened intestinal mucus) as: "The heavy mucus coating in the colon thickens and becomes a host of putrefaction. The blood capillaries to the colon begin to pick up the toxins, poisons and noxious debris as it seeps through the bowel wall. All tissues and organs of the body are now taking on toxic substances. Here is the beginning of true autointoxication on a physiological level."
Thankfully, the story does not end there. Modern awareness of the impact intestinal health has on overall health has created a choice in treatment options. This leads me to the question of the day:

What Is the Difference Between a Colonic and a Colon Detox Program?

The Enema

During an enema, water is inserted into the rectum through a tube causing the emptying of the lower bowel. Enemas are useful for a quick fix -- particularly when "temporarily" backed up. However, they only flush loose fecal matter in the lower part of the colon.

The Colonic

A colonic is a type of enema that injects large amounts of water under controlled pressure through the rectum high into the colon for cleansing purposes. Some treatments add things to the water such as peroxide or even herbs. Think of the colonic as a powered enema. It still only captures loose fecal matter, but goes higher into the colon and is more thorough. The bottom line is that colonics do work to flush loose waste and sediment from rectum and lower intestine but they:
  • can actually weaken muscles over time.
  • don't draw from bowel pockets.
  • don't draw from tissue.
  • flush all bacteria -- the good as well as the bad.
  • can disrupt natural pH balance.
  • it doesn't happen often, but there are documented cases where inadequately disinfected or sterilized irrigation machines have been linked to bacterial contamination.
If you are so inclined, periodic colonics are not a bad thing. They can definitely improve your health and sense of well being. Regular colonics, on the other hand, may be too much of a good thing.

The Colon Detoxification Program

An effective colon detoxification program necessitates a two-pronged approach.
  1. A colon correction formula
  2. A colon detoxifier

Colon Correction

A good herbal intestinal corrective provides both cleansing and healing to the entire gastro-intestinal system. It stimulates peristalsis (the muscular movement of the colon). It halts putrefaction and disinfects, soothes, and heals the mucous membrane lining of your entire digestive tract. Entirely herbal, with no harsh, habit-forming chemicals, an effective activating formula will also help improve digestion, relieve gas and cramps, increase the flow of bile (which in turn cleans the gall bladder, bile ducts, and liver), destroy Candida albicans overgrowth and promote a healthy intestinal flora, destroy and expel intestinal parasites, and increase gastro-intestinal circulation. The herbs used in this type of formula are also antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.

Colon Detoxification

In contrast with the colon corrective formula, a good detoxifier is cleansing and soothing. It is used periodically in conjunction with the corrective. The detoxifier formula is a strong purifier and intestinal vacuum. It draws old fecal matter off the walls of your colon and out of any bowel pockets. It also works to draw out poisons, toxins, heavy metals such as mercury and lead, and even remove radioactive material such as strontium 90. A good detoxifier will also remove over 2,000 known drug residues. Its natural mucilaginous properties will soften old hardened fecal matter for easy removal and also provide an excellent remedy for any inflammation or irritation in the stomach and intestines. This formula is helpful in irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, and hemorrhoids. And on top of everything else, a good detoxifier will usually eliminate the effects of food poisoning or stomach flu in 20-40 minutes.
The list goes on…
The colon detoxifier program's two-pronged approach also:
  • Helps bring the colon back to life by stimulating the muscle movement of the colon.
  • Encourages matter to move forward through the system.
  • Halts putrefaction.
  • Disinfects.
  • Soothes and promotes the healing of the mucous membrane lining of the entire digestive tract.
  • Helps stimulate the body to begin the healing and repair of herniated areas.
  • Increases the flow of bile to help clean the gall bladder, bile ducts, and liver.
  • Promotes healthy intestinal flora.
  • Destroys and expels parasites.
  • Destroys Candida albicans overgrowth.
  • Maintains regularity.
  • Decreases straining.
  • Speeds up the transit time of feces through the large intestine.

Yeah, but!

Okay, the colon detox program is not all roses and sunshine; you may experience some gas and bloating. But think about it for a moment. If you were to start a car that had been sitting idle in the garage for years, you wouldn't expect it to start right up. You might have to crank it over several times. It might blow some smoke and backfire several times, maybe even shoot some flames out the tail pipe -- but then settle down and begin to purr.
Your bowel is no different.
Gas and bloating are the smoking and backfiring of the bowel. Work through it. Once you have rebuilt your bowel function, your intestinal tract will begin to purr like a well-tuned engine. You may also experience muscular movement, along with occasional cramping and aching, but these effects are minimal if you use a properly designed formula.

What to Look for in an Intestinal Health Program

In a colon corrective, I recommend you look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Cape Aloe, Senna, Cascara Sagrada, Barberry Rootbark, Ginger Root, African Bird Pepper, Fennel, and Terminalia chebula. (The Cape Aloe gives it strength, while the fennel makes it gentle.)
In a colon detoxifier, I recommend you look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Psyllium seeds and husks, Apple Pectin, Montmorillonite Clay, Activated Willow Charcoal, Pau d'arco, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Marshmallow Root, and Fennel Seed. Each offers a unique benefit to the colon detox program as well as an overall effectiveness not available in a colonic. Since detoxification is the primary focus of this week's newsletter, let's look at the ingredients in this formula in a little more detail.
Psyllium seeds and husks are rich in soluble fiber and have long been used to ease constipation and digestive system upset. Studies show that in addition to increasing stool weight, supplements of psyllium seed husk produce stools that are slick and gelatinous.
  • Psyllium is unique in contrast with other viscous fibers that are fermented completely in the colon in that it is resistant to fermentation. Researchers observed that this gel provided lubrication that facilitated propulsion of colon contents and produced a stool that was bulkier and more moist than were stools resulting with use of comparable amounts of other bowel-regulating fiber sources. An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Sep;72(3):784-9. Marlett JA, Kajs TM, Fischer MH.
A number of studies suggest that psyllium may also be effective in lowering cholesterol, promoting weight loss (it makes you feel full), and aiding in the relief of numerous other conditions.
(Note: Psyllium can make tetracycline antibiotics less effective, so consult your doctor for guidance before using psyllium while on a regimen of antibiotics.)
Apple pectin may be used to remove unwanted metals and toxins, lower cholesterol and to help reduce the side effects of radiation therapy. In fact, it was used after Chernobyl to pull radioactive waste from victims. Apple pectin also helps to break down the build up of mucus and binds to various toxic metals -- mercury, lead etc. And Apple pectin is also another good source of fiber. It has the ability to form a gel that can bind water and toxins together, thus also bulking the stool and carrying the toxins out of the body.
Montmorillonite clay is medicinal powdered clay derived from deposits of weathered volcanic ash. It is one of the most effective natural intestinal detoxifying agents known, capable of absorbing up to 40 times its weight in fecal matter. It is also capable of absorbing a wide variety of toxins in the intestinal tract. Technically, the clay first adsorbs toxins (heavy metals, free radicals, pesticides), attracting them to its extensive surface area where they adhere like flies to sticky paper. Then it absorbs the toxins, taking them in the way a sponge mops up a kitchen counter mess.
According to the Canadian Journal of Microbiology (31 [1985], 50-53), montmorillonite can absorb pathogenic viruses, aflatoxin (a mold), and pesticides and herbicides including Paraquat and Roundup. The clay is eventually eliminated from the body with the toxins bound to its multiple surfaces.
Montmorillonite clay is so far the only mineral found to catalyze the synthesis of RNA polymers (with at least 10 nucleotides) from their individual units. In other words, montmorillonite clay may have played a fundamental role in the creation of life on earth. This just might be a point both creationists and evolutionists can agree on.
Activated willow charcoal does essentially the same thing in your intestinal tract that a charcoal block does in your water filter. It attracts and traps thousands of times its own weight in gases, toxins, food additives and other chemicals. As a side note, it can absorb over 3,000 known drug residues. Willow charcoal is preferred over charcoal from coconut shells.
Pau d'arco (Tabebuia heptophylla) comes from the rain forests of Brazil and other areas of South America. Pau d'arco works well in the formula because of its proven ability to help control Candida. This amazing herb also nourishes the body's defense system and helps protect against pathogenic organisms. It has been used for centuries to improve immune function, detoxify, and reduce pain throughout the body -- especially in the joints. Research has shown that it contains a natural antibacterial agent, has a healing effect on the entire body, cleanses the blood, and kills viruses. Pau d'arco has been used as a treatment for AIDS, allergies, all infections and inflammations, anemia, asthma, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, as a blood builder, bronchitis, all types of cancer, colitis, cystitis, smoker's cough, diabetes, eczema, fistulas, gastritis, gonorrhea, hemorrhages, hernias, Hodgkin's disease, liver disease, leukemia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, osteomyelitis, Parkinson's disease, polyps, prostatitis, psoriasis, rheumatism, skin cancer, skin sores, spleen infections, snake bites, ulcers, varicose veins, warts, and plain old wounds.
The great demulcent and emollient properties of Marshmallow (root) make it useful in treating inflammation and irritation of the alimentary canal, and of the urinary and respiratory organs. Marshmallow's mucilage content helps soothe inflamed tissues -- not only in the intestinal tract, but also in the lungs making it beneficial in cases of bronchitis and asthma. The active biochemicals in Marshmallow are large carbohydrate (sugar) molecules, which make up the mucilage. This smooth, slippery substance can soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes. Marshmallow has been known to relieve indigestion, kidney problems, urinary tract infections, and even external skin wounds such as boils and abscesses.
Slippery elm bark works with the body to draw out impurities and toxins, assisting with the healing of all body parts. And slippery elm's coating action soothes the irritated tissues of the intestines, colon, urinary tract, and stomach ulcers. The primary chemical constituents of slippery elm are mucilage (galactose), starch, tannins, calcium, vanadium, and zinc.
Licorice root stimulates the production of digestive fluids and bile, soothes ulcers, helps reduce intestinal inflammation, and supports the healthy function of the kidneys, liver and bladder. Its action in soothing ulcers is unique. Rather than inhibit the release of acid, licorice stimulates the normal defense mechanisms that prevent ulcer formation. Specifically, licorice improves both the quality and quantity of the protective substances that line the intestinal tract; increases the life span of the intestinal cell; and improves blood supply to the intestinal lining.
Fennel is a carminative herb that helps reduce colic, gas, indigestion, intestinal disorders, assimilation, nausea, and flatulence. It also can help break up kidney stones and uric acid in the tissues and is therefore used in treating gout. Fennel (seed) will help clear mucus and phlegm from the lungs and it will also help rid the intestinal tract of mucus. Its tissue cleansing properties also have a cleansing effect on the gall bladder and liver. Fennel is very effective for cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy. Fennel will help improve digestion and quiet hiccups. This herb will effectively reduce or eliminate intestinal and stomach gas.
And yes -- fiber is an important factor in our diet, yet the average person in America has a fiber intake of less than 10 grams a day. For optimum health and to prevent certain forms of cancer (colon or breast) and aid in the prevention of heart disease, you need between 25-30 grams of fiber a day! Flax (stabilized, ground) is one of the highest sources of fiber known. It is also extremely high in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3's lower high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels by as much as 25% and 65%. Omega-3's decrease the probability of a blood clot blocking an artery. They also lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and lower insulin requirements in diabetics. Unfortunately, omega-3 fatty acids go rancid very quickly after grinding. That's why it's vital to use stabilized ground flax if you are not grinding it fresh yourself on a daily basis. And flax is high in lignans, some of nature's most powerful anti-tumor bio-chemicals. The fiber in flax (along with the flax lignans) works as a perfect complement to the fiber found in psyllium seed husks.

Regular Maintenance

In the end, colonics offer a quick cleanse and promote a sense of well being, but I still prefer a long-term multi-faceted approach that addresses the big picture.
I recommend a summer and winter liver and blood cleaning and a fall and spring intestinal cleansing combined with a heavy metal detox. Alternating these treatment programs promotes optimal wellness and vitality, plus offsets disease and signs of aging. If it helps get you in the mood, think of the Intestinal Cleansing program (including the colon cleanse and heavy metal detox) as just another natural part of Spring Cleaning. You wouldn't live in a house with backed-up pipes so don't live in a body with backed-up pipes.
Colon Cancer, a Dietary Shocker
This is shocking! A study recently released by the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that diet plays a major role in colon cancer! Who would have believed it? Thank goodness we have researchers who can uncover such things for us.
While there is no shortage of evidence linking the so-called Western diet to an increased risk for developing colon cancer, the study is among the first to examine the impact of such a diet on survival among patients treated for the disease. Who knew?
The study's author, Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts found that cutting back on red meat, for example, has a powerful effect. "It's not really increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables, but really trying to reduce the amount of red meat intake, fatty foods, and sugary 'desserty' foods, that seems to be protective for colon cancer recurrences and survival."
Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt adds, "The biggest surprise is actually the impact that a western pattern diet seems to have." (You see, the researchers actually expressed surprise that diet matters.) Patients who switched to greater quantities of fruits, vegetables, poultry and fish appeared to fare better.
People, let’s get real here. What you eat matters. Of course it matters. It has a huge impact on all the major non-infectious diseases of our time: cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. You don’t need researchers to tell you that. To a large degree, you dig your grave one forkful at a time. For more information on diet, check out Chapter 6 of Lessons from the Miracle Doctors. You can download a copy for free.

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