Today’s topic gets pretty…well, personal. We can’t really talk about cleansing without addressing bowel health.
But before we get to the “off the beaten path” cleansing techniques our title suggests, I want to mention the most basic daily detoxification method that every single human should be routinely embracing: water.
Start the day with 16 oz. of room temperature water with a juice of half a lemon (a whole lemon if you can stand the taste). 16 ounces touches every single organ and lets the body know, hey we’re awake, and metabolism can begin!
If you’re a coffee drinker, do this before you have your coffee because the lemon water builds an alkaline base for the acidic coffee.
Special tip: espresso is better for you than regular coffee because it has less caffeine is brewed on the spot. Espresso can actually be alkaline forming if you drink it within the first 15 minutes of being brewed.
Back to lemon water…
During the first four hours of sleep, the body pulls acid from the joints and stores it in a holding tank behind the heart.
Drinking lemon juice will help wash excess acid from the stomach through the large intestine so when you have a bowel movement, you will eliminate much more acid than you would have without the lemon.
Warm lemon water is even better because it flushes the lymphatic system as well.
Plus, when you have something warm when you wake up, it helps the body raise your core temperature that has dropped while you were sleeping, giving your thyroid a bit of love.
Drinking coffee in the morning without breakfast raises cortisol levels so no matter what you eat after the coffee will not be as effective because insulin won’t be able to get you’re your cells because they’re taking a cortisol bath. It’s important to have coffee with breakfast (if you’re a coffee drinker) rather than drinking coffee alone.
Wondering how much water you should drink a day? Contrary popular belief, there’s not a set number of glasses you should drink per day; the amount should be based on body weight, season, and activity level. An ideal target for water consumption is 1 liter of mineralized (not just purified) water per 50 pounds of body weight. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should consume at least 3 liters (or 100oz) of water per day.
Now on to our favorite ways to cleanse at home on a daily or weekly basis.
Dry Skin Brush
Dry brushing improves circulation. A few times a week, brush dry skin with upwards strokes towards the heart. Brushing towards the heart helps circulate the lymphatic system and flush it, which ends up moving behind the heart so it can exit through the digestive system.
Detox Baths
Taking a warm bath with bentonite clay (1/2 cup is enough), 1 cup raw apple cider vinegar, and ½ cup sea salt will draw toxins out of the skin, giving your organs and your skin a deep, yet cleanse.
Tongue Scraper
There are only so many ways to detox: through our skin, bowels, or lungs (deep breathing). While people might brush their tongue, if the liver or the digestive system is congested (especially if you have Candida), you’ll have a white coating on your tongue that you’ll want to remove daily, especially while on a planned cleanse. Brushing your tongue just moves the bacteria around, while scraping your tongue with a tongue scraper removes it.
Randy is used to interviewing tons of dentists so he knows a lot about oral health. I love how Randy suggests gargling with hydrogen peroxide to remove periodontal bacteria, which is the “western” version of oil pulling. Ridding the mouth of bacteria prevents the bacteria from reaching the heart. This is especially important if you’ve ever had a root canal.
My version of this is oil pulling.
This ancient cleansing and restorative method from the east is completely safe and extremely effective if you can commit to it for 21 days. Put about a tablespoon and a half of sesame oil in your mouth and pull the oil through your teeth for 10 minutes (don’t gargle with it, pull it through the teeth so that the oil can attach to bacteria). This removes bacteria and the removal will be evident when the sesame oil becomes white and thick. This is very important for anyone with gum disease, sleep disorders, or any manner of digestive complaints (because they are likely related to bad bacteria in some way). Do this once a day for three weeks to a month.
Colonics and Enemas
While colonics are not “At-home” or “DIY”, I do recommend them. A colonic is an irrigation of the colon. When you have a bowel movement, you are only eliminating the sigmoid colon or the end of your colon. A colonic can help cleanse much more of the colon, including the transverse colon, the ascending colon, and all the tiny folds that might have accumulated old waste.
Because colonics can help remove accumulated toxic waste that had been preventing nutrient absorption, people usually notice a big lift in their energy and mental clarity and sense of calm after a colonic. Detoxification should begin in the colon well before ever attempting a more intense cleanse like a liver or heavy metal cleanse because you need to create an open channel for waste products to flow into so they can be released from the body.
What about enemas?
Enemas are at-home way to detoxify your body. You can do regular enemas or you can do coffee enemas if you are looking to provide support for your liver. The Gerson Foundation helps people heal from Cancer naturally and coffee enemas are an essential part of their program. If you’d like to explore this idea more, this Natural News article gives you the details on how to administer a coffee enema at home.
An enema bucket is cheap, and scary as it may sound, it’s actually pretty easy and non-intimidating.
Outside of colonics and enemas, the position you are in when you eliminate is really important to regular cleansing on a daily basis. I will let the Squatty Potty explain the rest of that story…
I love these!
There have been studies showing you can burn anywhere from 800-1200 calories in 30 minutes by sitting in an infrared sauna. They are also used to help heal injuries. The concept behind them is that you’re heating your body from the inside and then your body has to cool itself, which increases metabolism.
NASA uses them for faster wound healing.
A dermatology study showed you can increase skin health and vibrancy by using an infrared sauna only twice a week. Many local spas and wellness centers have infrared saunas for hire for around $20/session.
A recent study of the perspiration of someone after 30 minutes in an infrared sauna found over 80 known toxins, while the perspiration from only exercise had 50% less. Infrared saunas release toxins from fat cells, which is difficult to do during a 30-minute exercise session.
If you are purchasing a sauna for health benefits, the single most important element to consider is heater emissivity which determines how efficient infrared heat is conducted and emitted. Sunlighten‘s Solocarbon heating technology is the only independently tested and proven 95-99% effective at delivering the highest concentration of infrared. This is the active ingredient needed to achieve the known health benefits of infrared therapy.
You can learn more about Sunlighten HERE
Here are three of our favorite (delicious!) recipes for detoxifying daily:
Cleansing Cilantro & Oregano Pesto
Now I want to know, have you tried any of these detoxification methods? Which ones did you like, which ones didn’t you like? Are there other ways you detox that aren’t listed here?
What are your favorite detox recipes?
Please share with our community by posting a comment below. I know this tribe is full of other health coaches and we can all learn so much from one another!
If you liked this blog, you’ll love:
The Chronic Exhaustion & Yeast Overgrowth Connection
The At-Home Remedy that Heals Your Whole Body
Avoiding 3 Toxic Daily Chemicals and How to Rid the Body of Them
How to Naturally Eliminate Heavy Metals
Blog Resource Links:
Cleansing Cilantro & Oregano Pesto
the host is quite annoying. He interrupts her often and just seems awful. I wanted to hear Christa speak but he just kept on interrupting and saying nonsense.
Would you recommend going to an infrared sauna before or after a colonic? Thanks!
Hi Connie, Either is fine, but logistically you probably want to sit in the sauna first so you can go home and rest after the colonic. Hope that helps!
Lemon juice is highly acidic-that’s why it hurts so much when you get it in a cut. It doesn’t make anything alkaline. Same as orange juice.
Bowel movements don’t eliminate acid, the kidneys secrete that into the urine. The best way to reduce acid in your blood is to breathe deeply.
Taking a 2qts (sometimes a little more) warm chamomile enema after a one hour session of power yoga is so relaxing, pleasant, helpful to my detox that I use weekly my enema bag. So nice to improve my breath, to reduce my asthma symptoms!
its pronounced “EYE-YUR-VEDA”
Great info. Always love watching Christa. Wish Randy wouldn’t keep interrupting so much
Can anyone please tell me if it is safe to do a coffee enema while pregnant?
Hi Ann,
Although there are mixed opinions on this subject, we don’t recommend any cleansing methods while pregnant. You and your doctor will have to make the final decision if it’s ok for you to do a coffee enema while pregnant. Have a great day! ~Stacey, The Whole Journey, Team Member
I’ve been using enema kits for months. I would say they are effective and affordable way to detoxify your body. For more information you can check http://enemakits.com.au/
You say in this article not to drink coffee alone, but with breakfast. What if it’s rocket fuel type coffee? To maximum my fasting window, I stop eating around 7:30-8:00 at night (earlier if I can) and don’t eat a full meal until 11:00 the next morning. However, around 9:00 I have a rocket fuel coffee made with organic decaf coffee, coconut oil, cacao butter, hemp hearts, a scoop of collagen peptides, some vanilla extract, a little stevia, and some almond milk.
I would like to do the lemon water but I am histamine intolerant. =(
Great info Christa! I am wondering if Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in water has the same effect?
The far infrared rays penetrate 3 – 4 inches into the body, deeper than just regular heat. This vibrates the water in the blood and allows better penetration of the nutrients into the cells when the water is not clumped together. It also allows for improved waste removal from the cell. This also means that you need to be right up against the infrared generator in order for it to penetrate this deeply. Therefore, the infrared mats might be more helpful to lie on than just a sauna.
Far infrared creates a production of nitrous oxide in the body which is a pivotal part of the immune function. And perhaps they could do a show on narcissism and the art of communication and respect when it comes to Randy.
Christa, what a narcissistic bhole. How can you stand him interrupting and dominating.
Hi Christa- Good information regarding cleansing options- do you recommend a certain brand of mineral drops to add to water? I am also looking for a good water purification system and would like to know if you have a preference. I have tried to click on some of the links above and keep getting a blank page.
I take another beverage that has to be taken on an empty stomach in the morning. How long should I wait to take it AFTER I take the lemon water? Is 15 mins. enough time? I loved you on the Wellness Family Seminar – I learned so much! Bought your cookbook too!! TY
Seriously dude. Stop talking. Let the woman talk.
OMG, Yesssssssss!!!
exactly!!!!!!!
Is there any danger to putting lemon in all the water we drink during the day? Is there a safe limit to how much is ok?
Please research the risks associated with colonics prior to getting one… my colon was perforated during the session and I ended up in the hospital with toxic material in my pelvic floor. It has been a long road of recovery and can be fatal.
I drink green tea in the morning instead of coffee- does the same principle apply as far as only having it with food and not before the lemon water? I started the lemon water 2 days ago and it feels good to drink it before my first cup of tea. Having a hard time with the juice of half a lemon in only 16 ounces- too tart for me so I’m diluting it a bit more.
Thank you for all the info! I am already doing a lot of these and now I have some more to try! We stopped drinking coffee a couple of months ago and started drinking matcha! We love it for a lot of reasons, 1 being that it is alkaline rather than acidic. Would you still recommend we do the lemon water before it?
http://www.gotmatcha.com/are_you_new_to_matcha.html
Hi Christa,
Thank you for the information.
I have seen somewhere some info on at home infrared saunas.
It was some sort of tent or something like that. It was not the wooden one. Do you think that the tent would work?
Thank you
I have a portable infrared sauna, and yes it works great!!! When I first started using it, my armpits and back would turn red and rashy a lot…my Drs said this was detoxing. As a side note, I bought a hospital bedside table at the thrift store. I place it in front of the sauna and watch webinars or videos while I am in it. Sure makes it easier to commit to using it!
Another great article to add to my Whole Journey Binder! All of your videos are transcribed and your articles are printed and added to my copy of your book. Each page is in a sheet protector and I have folders that match your logo! I have one source for everything – The Whole Journey. Thank You for being the TRUSTED source for all of us.
There are Dry Brushing articles warning us that there are very specific details that if not followed exactly can be dangerous as well as there are different methods. The diagrams with arrows are too confusing to me and now I’m afraid to do it wrong. Would you consider revisiting Dry Brushing in greater detail? Thank You Again for sharing your wisdom. I look forward to buying the Shopping Lesson next.
I did the room temp lemon water first thing this morning after oil pulling and felt really good & hydrated (and not as hungry/”hangry”) by breakfast. 🙂 Great tip! Curious if it would have the same effect if I were to use a few drops of lemon essential oil (good quality like doTerra or Young Living) in place of fresh-squeezed lemon? I have that essential oil and don’t always remember to buy lemons… but if lemons need to be on my perpetual shopping list, I can make that adjustment. Your thoughts?
Great video and tips! I drink a 8oz cup of water with a teaspoon of Sole` after waking. Does that have the same affect as drinking lemon water? Should I drink a glass of lemon water and then a glass of water with sole`? Is that to much? Will the acid in the lemon from drinking lemon water every morning ware on your teeth?
I have been drinking a teaspoon of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar in 16 oz of warm water for the past few months. Do you recommend switching from apple cider vinegar to lemon water instead? If we should be drinking lemon water, can we use lemon concentrate that is in a bottle or do you recommend squeezing fresh lemon every morning?
It depends if you have low HCL or not Preet. You can try lemon and see if it works for you. If you’re going to use concentrate, I’d suggest only Santa Cruz Organic because there are still enzymes in it. The thing with concentrates is you don’t get live, fresh enzymes that contribute to digestive health.
I am not sure if I have low HCL. I use to drink warm water with lemon before I heard of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar on your show, I thought apple cider vinegar was better than drinking lemon water so I switched over to apple cider. Since I don’t know my HCL level, do you recommend drinking lemon water or apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning. Does Santa Cruz Organic make lemon concentrate or lemon juice? I will def try to use fresh lemon if you recommend lemon water instead of apple cider.
Also, thank you for all the info. This is great info,
I have done coffee enemas but was getting cramps pain in my lower abdomen afterwards. I have hashimotos and was wondering if this was irritating my leaky gut.
I’d suggest drinking 4-8 ounces of aloe vera juice afterward Karen to soothe the inflammation. It could be too harsh for you. If you try it again, implant the aloe afterward and see if that minimizes your discomfort.
I take Synthroid for hypothyroid each morning as soon as I wake up. If I drink 16 oz. of lemon water with the synthroid, will it lessen the effectiveness of the synthroid?
Should not interfere with your Synthroid Ann. I believe only food does that.
I had the same question… thanks!! I just purchased How to Conceive Naturally and am loving it so far! I’m 31 and TTC.
Also I’ve read that oil pulling should be done first thing, before even brushing. So does that mean that it should be oil pulling, then brushing, then lemon water/synthroid?
Great information – thank you. What alkalinizing drink would you recommend for a person with atrophic gastritis who can’t tolerate a morning lemon water because of inflammation? I’ve tried it and it burns too much.
Bone broth with a pinch of pink salt in the morning would be soothing for you, Elisabeth. Or water with aloe vera juice.
Thank you so much – I really appreciate that you took the time to reply. I’ll try that.