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The Importance of Detox and Cleansing. At the right time.

This subject is so important that understanding it and taking it to heart, can lead to a complete transformation of your health and well-being.

Many health care providers use the term “detoxification” for a number of methods and practices that range from fasting to using healing herbs to improve the body’s internal ability to remove waste. Natural medicine practitioners usually focus on improving the function of the bowel and of the liver, which is the other important organ for internal cleansing. In this approach I use the term “cleanse” because I encourage a gentle approach. The term “cleanse” is used to describe a middle road of gradual, but long term internal cleansing by means of a process of enjoying healthy foods, simple teas and tonics, powerful nutrients and stress relief practices.

Detoxification can mean many things to different people, like withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, fasting therapy, colonic therapy and other methods. I believe in the benefit of starting out slowly. I prefer to expand the focus from just “cleanse,” meaning elimination of toxic waste, to cleanse and “renew.” This is the other side of the coin where we nourish the system and encourage regeneration as well as eliminate toxic congestion of the internal organs. The answer to creating health often is found in taking stock of what we are doing instead of adding in something new.

Modern culture encourages us to add in something new to increase energy or to relieve aches and pain. Taking a vacation from some specific food or eating pattern gives our body an opportunity to recharge itself. The body is able restore balance without any outside help. We think of a vacation as a way to renew ourselves. We are able to create a fresh start and a new outlook on life in a pleasing environment with a schedule free of stress. We can get our creative juices flowing again and get back in touch with the real priorities in life.

Most of us understand what is meant by self-renewal, but many of us think of cleansing as something that is done only to the surface of the body. Cleansing internally can also be used to refresh our body and mind with long-term benefits for total health. One traditional way of internal cleansing is too fast. Should we start a fast? Well, not so fast!

Headaches

I have noticed that when people fast, they often have headaches, body aches, fatigue and sometimes depression. These symptoms are similar to a “hangover.” A hangover is when the body’s detoxifying organs break down and eliminate the by-products from excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. We wouldn’t really say that we are ill if we have a hangover, just that the body needs to catch up in ridding the system of toxic chemicals and then perhaps “sleep it off.” Even without excess alcohol consumption, the body can accumulate a backlog of waste. When we allow organs like the liver to catch up and even take a rest, we experience a renewal that is physical, psychological and emotional.

The purpose of cleansing is to prevent illness and maintain optimum function in all aspects of our lives. The “cleanse and renew” process is also a way to deal with certain types of health problems such as food and seasonal allergies, joint pain and stiffness, digestive problems and unpleasant symptoms of menopause and PMS. And these are only a few of the health conditions that can be addressed with specific yet simple dietary and lifestyle changes. It is a solid foundation for using other methods of treatment for health challenges. I find that most people benefit from a program that does not disrupt the daily routine by causing us to feel sick or by causing the system to shut down. If we try to cleanse too quickly we will get the “hangover phenomenon.”

If we continue to eat as we cleanse, then the bowel will continue to move and the metabolism will continue as usual. We may feel a little sluggish, but most of us can do this and still maintain most of our normal activities. There is often greater benefit in this approach, especially at the first stage of transformation. If you choose to take a more aggressive approach later, you will get a better result by beginning the cleansing process slowly in this way.

Changing Lifestyles and Diet Patterns

All I’m asking is for five days at a time.

As we cleanse we renew by giving the body nutrients that it has been missing if we have been careless in our eating habits for too long. Changing lifestyle and diet patterns for 5 days creates the opportunity to take a fresh look at everything. In the cleanse and renew process, for 5 days the digestive system has a chance to restore itself because it is not overworked. As we strengthen digestive function and allow cleansing to take place we begin to feel more vibrant. The whole body begins to rest, heal and rejuvenate with healthy foods, moderate exercise and stress relief techniques. Then our body and emotional life become more efficient and balanced.

The way to do this is for five days, give the liver a break. That means just have lightly cooked vegetables, salads in season and freshly juiced vegetable juices. For the five days there is no animal protein or oil, except perhaps a small quantity of olive oil. What can we accomplish with this? We certainly won’t change our health condition in five days. What we can do is not only give the digestive organs, especially the liver a rest, but we can also get our health compass back.

After five days of this very simple diet, you will become sensitized. And if you repeat it twice a month for three months, you will become very clear on what works for you and what doesn’t. Most people do not experience any kind of healing crisis reaction. If you are dealing with a chronic illness, five days twice a month for several months can lead to a new self awareness about your condition. You should change it to suit your needs as you get used to it and learn more about what your body is telling you.

What is it telling you now? For many people it’s telling them that it’s time for a cup of coffee or perhaps a candy bar. Maybe it’s telling them that it’s been a rough day and it’s time to have a drink. If this is you, don’t worry about it. I’m not asking you to give up anything. In fact, I think that it’s very unhealthy to tell yourself that you can’t have the things you love and that they might be damaging to you. All I’m asking is for five days at a time.

Cleansing in History

If we examine our traditions and the traditions of other cultures we can see how this process of cleansing and renewal has been a part of the fabric of human life throughout history. Traditionally many cultures have chosen ways to cleanse and renew. Over time, some of these have even been absorbed into traditional religious practices. For thousands of years people have fasted not only to cleanse the body, but to regain a sense of perspective and direction in life.

From ancient times, people, especially seers, medicine men/women have fasted or eaten small quantities of food to gain spiritual insight. It has been a sacred practice throughout the ages in many cultures. Though eating fewer calories over a short period of time has its benefits, it is important to eat high quality real food to establish moderation, to understand our emotional connection to food and above all to create a long-term program full of variety.

People have fasted for centuries, but they also had feasts and times of great celebration and abandoned the ordinary cares of life. But in today’s world we feast often without regard for the need to enjoy the pleasure of the lightness of cleansing and refining our sensitivity to stimulation. In the traditional medicine of East Asia, the natural cycle of internal cleansing was considered to be in spring.

According to the ancient tradition of Chinese medicine, Spring is the season associated with the liver, which is the primary detoxifying organ of the body. Herbs and lifestyle practices to support the liver function were recommended by health care practitioners during this season in order to prevent health problems in the following seasons. A Spring cleanse has been shown to lessen early seasonal allergy symptoms.

Creating a Healthy Metabolism

To cleanse and renew is as normal and natural as your next breath and just as necessary. There is a normal life cycle for all of the cells of the body. There is a normal rate of turnover in this process by which old cells die out and new cells are produced in every tissue of the body. A red blood cell has a life span of about 100 days, but the longevity of a bone cell is about 7 years. Our cells all produce energy and perform specific tasks essential to the functioning of the whole body. This is the process called metabolism.

A normal, healthy metabolism maintains a balance between the production and breakdown of cells. Weight gain is a common result of malfunctioning of the metabolism. The body accumulates cells and tissue or creates a state of congestion. In this case the metabolism is too slow.

In fact many problems of aging are the result of not paying attention to this need to “cleanse.” Modern people eat excessively without a break in the routine unless they get sick. Modern people also are sedentary and frequently don’t get enough exercise. This has the effect of causing a sluggish metabolism. The accumulation of waste in the tissues, a slower cell turnover and congestion perpetuates the cycle of sluggishness.

The ongoing process of life can be thought of as the constant cleansing of old cells from the tissues and renewing them with the production of new cells. This cleanse and renew process is at the core of the balance of life. There are a number of ways we directly participate in this process through our lifestyle and diet habits.

By Daniel Kenner,Ph.D., L.Ac; one of The|Tides Wellness expert team members and leading authority in integrative health and wellness with 30 years of clinical experience in both East-Asian and Naturopathic Medicine. He graduated in 1979 the Meiji College of Oriental Medicine in Japan, passed the national licensing examination and then trained in internships at Osaka Medical University Pain Clinic and Kinki University Medical Teaching Hospital. He was one of the first foreigners ever to be licensed by the Japanese government. Dan also has a Ph.D. in Naturopathic Medical Science from First National University of Naturopathic Medical Sciences and a well respected member of the Board of Governors of the National Health Federation. Since 1983 he has endeavored to integrate the Naturopathic medical traditions of North America and Europe with the traditional medicine of East Asia.

In addition to authoring numerous articles, Dan is (a.o) author of The Whole-Body Workbook for Cancer (New Harbinger, 2009), The Science of AHCC, Basic Health Publications, 2009, Acupuncture Core Therapy (Paradigm, 2008), AHCC – The Japanese Medicinal Mushroom Immune Enhancer (Woodland, 2001) and Botanical Medicine: A European Professional Perspective (Paradigm, 1996).

Daniel is part of The|Tides Wellness team of experts. You can contact him by mailing to info@thetideswellness.com

Seaweed and Algae | Pure, potent and powerful
 
The seaweed that we use in our formulation is sustainably and ethically sourced on land along the coastline. It 100% organic, thus preserving its nutritional content and undergoes no chemical treatment, contains no preservatives.

The seaweed grows in seawater pools which mimic the marine environment. Clear seawater is pumped from the depths of the sea and after a cleansing filtering process it flows into the seaweed growing pools. The seaweed grows in mineral rich unpolluted seawater and is divided into age groups; the ‘Baby House, the Children’s House’ and the ‘Adults ‘. The unique pools imitate the conditions in the sea, the pools are open to the sun and condensers in the water create wave-like movements. After the growing process is completed, the water is pumped back to the sea. The seaweed’s organic growth is monitored according to recognized international standards

About Seaweed

Seaweed and human plasma are almost identical in their chemical composition. It contains an abundance of minerals, vitamins, anti-oxidants and amino acids (especially iodine). Seaweed is known for its slimming and body toning properties, it promotes detoxification, is deeply hydrating and soothing for the skin and can aid in relieving topical skin conditions. Due to its rich mineral content it is a natural stress buster and relieves muscles pain and tense joints.
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Magnesium Chloride | The ultimate relaxation and feel good mineral

The Source

The magnesium in our formulas is a true Dutch original. Originating from a 250-million-year-old evaporated sea from the Pangea Era it is sustainably sourced by just using water pressure. As the magnesium has never been exposed to modern day pollution, this unique in the world magnesium is certainly the most pure and natural source of magnesium chloride in the world known to date.

About magnesium

The magnesium chloride molecule is the same molecule that is present in seawater and in our bodies. It controls hundreds of chemical reactions in the body; the production and transport of energy, synthesis of protein and is essential for transmission of nerve signals, muscle function, healthy DNA, blood pressure regulation and blood sugar uptake. It is in an important mineral to keep our brains and bodies strong. When our magnesium levels dip and become low we can feel stressed, fatigued, as well as experience sleep deprivation and skin disorders can occur too. Think about magnesium as the ultimate relaxation and feel good mineral which our bodies need to operate optimally. If our magnesium levels are perfectly balanced it can make us feel like we are on top of the world.

Can magnesium can be absorbed through the skin?

If molecules are small enough, they can slip through the skin. A molecule smaller than 500 Daltons, can drift through the stratum corneum, the outer layer of the skin - the 500 Dalton rule. Magnesium Chloride ions are significantly smaller than 500 Daltons, at an atomic mass of just 24 Daltons.
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Grey Sea Salt | A mineral powerhouse
 
The Source

As we take no short-cuts with our ingredients we researched many different salts and consciously choose grey sea salt. Not only is this salt sustainably farmed but also hand-harvested using a traditional ancient 2000 years old method. This tradition of craftsmanship has been passed down from generation to generation of salt marsh workers and is still used today.

 How does it work?

Mineral-rich ocean water is channeled through an ingenious channel system to shallow clay swamps acting as a natural purification method, as microbes in the clay neutralize impurities in the seawater. Tests show that the salt is 100 % pollution free due to this time-honored natural purification system. After a journey of 2 weeks in the channels, the salt is collected at one of the many ancient sea beds where it evaporates by the sun, leaving only the salt crystals with over 80 vital trace minerals and electrolytes. As the salt is not washed but sun dried, the refined mineral balance remains completely intact. Many other sea salts are bleached, chemically derived and oven dried which means that many of their vital bioavailable nutrients get lost.

About Grey Sea  Salt

Grey sea salt contains over 80+ vital minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper. Bathing in raw grey sea salt helps to detoxify, condition and heal the skin; it increases circulation, draws out impurities, cleanses the skin pores, removes dead skin cells, leaving the skin soft and thoroughly cleansed. It’s amazing mineral content helps to restore the protective skin barrier of the skin, helps to enhance hydration and greatly aides in reducing inflammation. That’s why people with inflammatory skin conditions are often advised to swim in the sea as part of their treatment. Grey sea salt is also a great source of electrolytes, which plays an important role in the nervous system. They are vital for our brain, heart and muscle health. Grey Sea Salt can easily be absorbed through the skin through bathing.
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Sea Clay | The Noblest of Clays

The Source

Our clay is sustainably and ethically mined, undergoes no chemical treatment, contains no preservatives and is sun dried which not only preserves its rich mineral content but also does not reject Co2 in the atmosphere. The often oven dried and cheap versions available on the market loose many of its mineral content. The particle size of our clay is only 20 µm which easily dissolves in water and does not clog the drain, when used in a bath. 

About Sea Clay

The clay that we use in our bath formulations contain over 80+ minerals and trace elements such as magnesium, potassium, silica, manganese, phosphorous, copper and selenium and has been used for thousands of years by many civilizations for its cleansing, purifying, re-mineralizing and balancing properties. Bathing is Sea Clay has a cleansing and purifying effect. The ionic charge of our clay is 100% negative and adsorbs and absorbs positive charged ions. Almost everything that attacks our bodies like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxic chemicals, is of a positive ionic charge. With its negative charge and very fine texture it draws out the positive charged impurities and toxins while releasing its minerals and trace elements into contact with the skin. Due to its rich mineral content it naturally eases sore muscles, relieves tension in joints and combats fatigue.
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Only use your jade roller on a clean face. Before your start rolling apply a few drops of the Pure Radiance | Face Oil  on your face, neck and chest. Follow the steps hereafter.

Roll lightly do not press too firmly. Repeat every stroke a few times but always pick up the roller and start again from the starting point. Don’t roll backwards. After finishing one side of the face you repeat the same procedure on the other side of your face.

Chest
Start with the large sized stone on your chest and roll along your skin with outward and upward strokes moving towards the lymph.

Neck
Move up to the base of the neck rolling with the large size stone upwards to the jawline.

Chin, Jawline
Continue with the large size stone from the middle of the chin and roll under the chin and on the jawline with outward and upward strokes towards the ear.

Mouth
Roll with the small size stone under, up and above the lips with outward and upward strokes toward the ear.

Cheeks
Roll from the large size stone from the nose outwards toward the ear.

Under Eye and Eye lid
Start with the small size stone at the inner corner of the eye and move very gently to the temple.

Eyebrow
Follow  the contour of your eyebrow  with the small size stone and roll outwards and down to the temple.

Forehead
Start at the middle of your forehead and roll with the large size stone upwards and outwards towards the hairline.

Repeat the same procedure on the other side of your face.

Clean your jade roller with warm water and soap after use, dry with a clean paper towel and store in a clean, dry place.
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Only use the Jade stone on a clean face. Before your start apply a few drops of  Pure Radiance | Face Oil on your face and neck, warm the Jade stone up between your hands.  Follow the steps hereafter.

It is important to always keep the stone flat against your skin and perform light and long strokes, do not put too much pressure on the stone. Repeat every stroke a few times but always pick up the stone and start again from the starting point. After finishing one side of the face you repeat the same procedure on the other side of your face. Always us lightly and give a tiny wiggle at the end of the movement to support removal of waste under the skin.

Neck
Start at the neck and sweep up gently toward the jawline.

Chin , Jawline and Mouth area
Move up to the middle of your chin and sweep the area that’s right under your chin with outward and upwards strokes toward the bottom of your ear.
Continue from the area under your lip sweep on your jawline with outward and upwards strokes toward the bottom of your ear.
Continue from the middle of the upper lip and sweep with outward and upwards strokes toward your ear.

Cheeks
Start from the side of your nose and sweep across your cheeks and underneath the cheekbones with outward and upwards strokes toward the hairline.

Under Eye
Sweep very gently under your eye from the inner corner of the eye and move very lightly  to the temple.

Eyebrow
Follow the contour of your eyebrow and sweep lightly outward down to the temple staying on the brow bone.

Forehead
Start from the area right between your eyebrows (third eye) Sweep lightly upwards towards the hairline and continue to go down on the hairline and down to the jawline to the collarbone.
Continue from the middle of your forehead and gently sweep right above your eyebrows, towards your temple down to the jawline to the collarbone.

Sweeping down all the way to the collarbone is important to collect the lymph you moved to the side of your face so that it moves towards the lymphatic drainage points.

Repeat the same procedure on the other side of your face.

Clean your jade stone with warm water and soap after use, dry with a clean paper towel and store in a clean, dry place.
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Always use the cups on a clean face. Before your start, apply a very generous amount of the Pure Radiance | Face Oil on your face and neck, this is important for good and safe suction and gliding. DON'T let the cup sit in one place, as that can cause bruising. Keep it moving!  Follow the steps hereafter carefully as the lymphatic drainage in every step is most important.

Repeat every stroke a few times but always pick up the cup and start again from the starting point. After finishing one side of the face you repeat the same procedure on the other side of your face.

Chin, Jawline and Cheeks
Put the large cup under the midpoint of your chin and move the cup outward and upwards towards the ear and down to the jawline to the collarbone.  Apply a little jiggle to stimulate the lymph at the of the movement.
Continue with the jawline and the cheeks, move the cup outward and upwards strokes toward the hairline and down to the collarbone. Apply a little jiggle to stimulate the lymph at the of the movement. 

Mouth area
Move the small cup around the mouth area and lips.

Under Eye
Move with the small cup very gently under your eye and move very lightly  to the temple and down to the jaw to the collarbone.

Forehead
Start from the area right between your eyebrows (third eye) Move lightly upwards towards the hairline and continue to go down on the hairline and down to the jawline to the collarbone.
Continue from the middle of your forehead and gently move the cup right above your eyebrows, towards your temple down to the jawline to the collarbone.

Moving down all the way to the collarbone is important to collect the lymph you moved to the side of your face towards the lymphatic drainage.

Repeat the same procedure on the other side of your face. As facial cupping is an intensive treatment only do it once a week.

Soak the cups in warm water and soap after use, dry them with a clean paper towel and store in a clean, dry place.
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