RENEW

Eliminate

The second step in the RENEW program addresses the toxins that have been accumulating in your body for years. You will do this by supporting your body’s natural detoxification and elimination processes with a combination of herbal cleansing formulas, a high-fiber diet, colon hydrotherapy, saunas and steam baths, and dry skin brushing.

The Benefits of Internal Cleansing

Just as we regularly clean the outside of our bodies, we should also focus on the inside, where a buildup of harmful toxins can lead to serious—even chronic—health conditions. For this reason, regular internal cleansing is now more important than ever.

Herbal internal cleansing has been used traditionally to support the body’s natural detoxification processes, with its roots extending as far back as the ancient Sumerians. At the heart of every herbal cleansing program is supplementation with herbs, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial natural ingredients to support each of the body’s cleansing organs—including the lungs, liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, bowel, blood and skin. These are collectively referred to as the ‘7 channels of elimination’. An effective total-body cleansing formula will consist of numerous herbs working together to support the body’s natural detoxification processes.

Traditionally, detoxification and cleansing are accomplished naturally through the use of eliminative herbs that act as laxatives, diuretics (stimulates urine output), diaphoretics (sweat-inducing) and blood purifiers. Other herbs support the cleansing process by toning specific organs and allowing the body to heal itself. Several of the ways in which a total-body cleansing formula will enhance the detoxification process include:

• Provide nutritional support for the cleansing organs
• Strengthen the organs and protect them damage by toxins
• Stimulate bile production in the liver
• Stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation
• Promote mucus discharge from the lungs (an expectorant effect)
• Eradicate pathogens (such as fungi, viruses and bacteria)
• Prevent fat deposits from developing in the liver
• Stimulate peristalsis (muscle contractions that move food through the intestines)
• Stimulate urine output
• Hydrate the colon

To simplify the herbal detoxification process and maximize its effects, Brenda Watson recommends taking a total-body basic cleanse (ideal for first-time and infrequent cleansers) as well as a total-body advanced cleanse at least once throughout the year. Upon completion of the basic and advanced cleanses, you may also benefit from a focused liver cleanse, as well as a focused heavy metal cleanse.

Total-Body Basic Cleanse

Ideally, a Total-Body Basic Cleanse will consist of whole herbs, which are milder than deep-cleansing herbal extracts and gentler for the first-time cleanser or someone who has not cleansed in a few years. An effective basic cleanse will often contain a two-part (morning and evening) formula designed to detoxify the body while supporting bowel health.

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Total-Body Advanced Cleanse

The total-body advanced cleanse is formulated to provide a deeper, more effective cleanse in order to pull out waste and toxins that have become deeply embedded in the cells and tissues. In addition to supporting the body’s seven channels of elimination, the advanced cleanse will include powerful herbal extracts to provide those detoxification organs with nourishment and deep-cleansing support. Generally, it requires a longer period of time than the basic cleansing formula. An effective advanced cleanse will often contain a two-part formula designed to mobilize and eliminate waste and toxins, and to provide support for the elimination organs as well as the nervous system.

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Focused Liver Cleanse

As the body’s major detoxification organ, the liver employs a dual-phase detoxification method that requires specific nutrients to be effective. When the body is lacking these nutrients and toxic exposure is high, toxins overwhelm the body and the stage is set for illness to develop. Certain lifestyle factors can also create the need for added liver support, including alcohol; prescription or recreational drugs; hepatitis; and toxic exposure.

Individuals with liver issues can benefit greatly from use of an herbal liver cleansing formula. Ideally, such a product would contain a blend herbs, antioxidants and nutraceuticals used traditionally to support healthy liver function. A Focused Liver Cleanse may be taken on an ongoing basis by anyone who wants to maximize liver support. Ideally, it would supply the nutrients required for Phase 1 and Phase 2 liver detoxification.

Such nutrients may help:

• Protect the liver from toxins
• Provide important liver antioxidants and their precursors
• Stimulate bile production and flow to enhance elimination of toxins
• Cleanse the kidneys for safe toxin elimination
• Support the liver in dealing with chemical toxins
• Scavenge free radicals

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Focused Heavy Metal Cleanse

Heavy metals are among the most damaging pollutants affecting us today, and they are also some of the most difficult toxins to eliminate from the body. Progressive medical doctors use a process known as chelation to coax heavy metals out of the body. Essentially, metals attach to a chelating agent and are then eliminated from the body. However, chelation may ultimately deplete the body of necessary minerals as well as toxic ones. For this reason, it is necessary to replace key nutritive minerals when undergoing a Focused Heavy Metal Cleanse.

The ideal heavy metal cleansing product would include a two-part formula made with key nutrients to restore normal metabolic processes—including calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, boron and vanadium—and important botanicals and nutrients that bind with and help eliminate heavy metals from the body, such as alpha lipoic acid, bladderwrack, chlorella, cilantro, garlic, kelp, L-leucine, N-acetyl-cysteine, sodium alginate and spirulina.

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The Importance of Oil and Fiber

While taking an herbal cleanse, added fiber and essential fatty acids are highly recommended to support the detoxification process. A natural (preferably organic) fiber supplement is an important addition to any cleansing program, as fiber has been shown to support elimination and absorb toxins in the intestinal tract, preventing them from being reabsorbed back into the body. Flax fiber helps provide the ideal balance of soluble and insoluble fiber that nature intended.

Beneficial oil formulas with Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids also play an important role in the detoxification process. They help soothe and lubricate the intestines and colon, and they work in the body to promote the 2 to 3 healthy daily bowel movements that many experts recommend. Look for a formula made with lipase, an enzyme that helps the body digest and absorb oils.

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Supporting the Detoxification Process

In addition to regular internal cleansing, there are several natural ways to support your body’s natural cleansing physiology. These include:

Saunas & Steam Baths

Rooted in Finnish culture, saunas and steam baths have been used throughout the world as a medium for cleansing and detoxification. The heat produced in a sauna stimulates perspiration, thus promoting the elimination of stored toxins through the skin. That is because toxins are released into the lymphatic fluid, from which sweat is manufactured.

Referred to as hyperthermic therapy, this process of releasing toxins via sweat also takes a considerable burden off of the kidneys and the liver (which work daily to filter toxins and waste) and enables them to function more efficiently. It has also been shown to favorably impact both the immune and nervous systems, as well as promote muscle relaxation and ease aches and pains. Two types of saunas used most often today are conventional saunas and infrared saunas.

• Conventional Sauna. A conventional sauna heats the air either electrically or by burning wood. The skin perspires as a result of direct contact with the hot air. Typically, temperatures of 180 to 235 degrees Fahrenheit are used to induce sweating. These high temperatures increase cardiac load in the same way that aerobic exercise does.
• Infrared Sauna. Unlike conventional saunas, infrared saunas do not heat the air. An infrared sauna usually consists of a wooden structure containing several infrared heaters that emit Far-Infrared Ray radiation to create a sauna atmosphere.

If you don’t have access to a sauna or steam bath, you may want to make your own detoxification bath at home. Begin by filling a clean tub with hot, filtered water (as hot as you can comfortably tolerate). Add ¼ cup of Epsom salts and gradual increase to as much as 2 to 4 cups per bath. Soak a large bath towel in the water, and pull it over your head. Remain beneath the towel for no longer than 20 minutes, and then rinse with fresh water. You may repeat this procedure 2 to 3 times each week to help release toxins.

NOTE: After any type of hyperthermic therapy (and during, if possible), be sure to drink plenty of water to replace fluids lost through perspiration.

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Colon Hydrotherapy

As its name implies, colon hydrotherapy is simply water therapy. In contrast to a traditional enema, colon hydrotherapy involves repeated infusions of filtered, warm water into the colon to help tone the bowel and promote healthy elimination. Colon hydrotherapy is especially important today, as several common ailments have been associated with colon toxicity, including allergies, arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue, constipation, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and joint and muscle pain. Therapeutic benefits of colon hydrotherapy include:

• Promotes healthy bowel function and tones bowel muscles
• Stimulates the body’s natural detoxification process
• Benefits the lymphatic system, in turn reducing stagnation of intestinal contents
• Reduces waste absorption
• Thoroughly cleanses the colon

NOTE: Choose a colon therapist that has been certified by the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (I-ACT). Such therapists use FDA-regulated equipment and work in conjunction with local municipalities to regulate colon hydrotherapy through the establishment of safe standards and guidelines.

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Theraputic Dry Skin Brushing

The skin plays a vital role in the process of detoxification, and regular skin brushing helps it perform this important function. While it may sound peculiar at first, dry skin brushing is a natural, effective way to eliminate toxins from your body via your skin. Special natural-bristle skin brushes may be purchased at your local health food store, and it only takes a few minutes each day to complete the process. Prior to using a sauna or steam bath (or simply before showering or bathing), designate some time for skin brushing. Begin by stroking your skin from head to toe with your brush. Stroke toward the heart, gently but vigorously. This will help remove dead skin cells and open the pores of your skin, which in turn increases circulation and stimulates lymph flow. This is important because the flow of lymph in the body is directly related to detoxification and healthy immune function. Skin brushing can be performed regularly to facilitate detoxification. If you are unable to do any form of sauna or steam bath therapy, you still can benefit from adding regular skin brushing to your daily regimen.

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