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5 Easy Ways To Detox Your Body
- Aug 13, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 30, 2023
Welcome to my new blog! If you're new to Emma Blonde Voyage nice to meet you! If you're an old friend returning, welcome back! As you can see I've been gone a while focusing on my recovery but now I'm back with a brand new website and blog where I will be bringing you the latest in health, nutrition, wellbeing and how to live a low-toxin all natural lifestyle! So let's get straight to it with the first blog which is all about DETOX...
What is detoxing and where do toxins come from?
The term detoxification, detoxing or detox implies you are using different methods or taking different supplements to help eliminate toxins from your body. The goal is to cleanse toxins from the body from the inside out. There are many different types or toxins including heavy metals, organophosphates (herbicides, pesticides, insecticides) and BPA in plastics which are found in the food we eat and drink, the products we use and the air we breathe. It's almost impossible to avoid all toxins in the current world we live in which is where detoxing comes in.
Why is it important to detox?
Our bodies are actually designed to detox themselves via the skin, the liver, the kidneys, digestive system, the lymphatic system and the lungs. However, over the last 50 years our bodies have become more and more toxic due to changes in lifestyle and our surrounding environments which means these toxins build up over time and can lead to different health conditions and diseases such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS / ME), Fibromyalgia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), neurological disorders such as ALS, MS and Parkinsons and even cancer. Only when organs are healthy can they eliminate toxins effectively so once illness occurs and these systems are compromised, it makes it even more difficult for our bodies to detox, toxins aren't filtered properly and they can contribute to worsening of the illness.
Various detoxification methods have been used for centuries around the world including Ayurveydic and Chinese Medicine systems and are still used today by Functional Medicine and Integrative Medicine Doctors or nutritional therapists, naturopaths, herbalists and other types of naturopaths. The aim is to tackle the root cause of the illness and ultimately reduce the toxic load of the body which can help to eliminate symptoms and disease. In a similar way, detoxing as part of every day life can also help to prevent the development of future disease and maintain optimum health.
What can detoxing help?
Fatigue
Chronic pain / Fibromyalgia (inflammation, muscle, joints, nerves)
Sluggish elimination
Irritated skin
Allergies or sensitivities (MCAS / MCS)
Acute or chronic infections (e.g. Lyme Disease / EBV)
Puffy eyes or bags under the eyes
Gut Issues e.g. IBS, bloating, cramps, digestion complaints
Food Cravings
Menstrual problems
Cognitive Issues e.g.memory loss / brain fog
Neurological Disorders
Trouble Sleeping
For me personally, detoxing has been a HUGE part of my recovery from chronic illness and it doesn't have to be difficult OR expensive! Detoxing has allowed me to live a much more 'normal' life with significantly reduced symptoms. Here are some of my favourite and most effective methods of detox I've tried:
Drink Lemon Water
Lemons are a natural detoxifier. They help to cleanse the body by helping the liver and kidneys flush toxins out of the body, whilst also boosting your immune system with a dose of Vitamin C and helping stimulate digestion. Lemons also contain flavonoids, powerful antioxidants from plant compounds that help to protect the bodies cells from damage, reducing inflammation and reducing the risk of certain health conditions like heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer. I make a giant glass of filtered water with added lemon slices or squeezed lemon juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to get me started for the day. Make sure you use organic lemons and filtered water to avoid unnecessary toxins! (It's important to note if you are following allow histamine diet to help with histamine intolerance then lemons are best to be avoided due to their high histamine levels.)
2. Dry Brushing
Dry Brushing or 'Skin Brushing' is the ancient practice of brushing dry skin with a natural bristle brush to helps stimulate the lymphatic system to drain more effectively which helps to eliminate environmental toxins, cell waste and pathogens such as bacteria infections, viral infections and parasites. Dry brushing can also improve circulation which can aid the elimination of waste products, soften your skin and help reduce the appearance of cellulite. You can do it as often or as little as you like, the more often you do it, the more you will detox! I try to do it for a few minutes before I shower or if I feel my body requires more then I do it every day! You can adjust how often you do dry brushing to fit with your lifestyle but my advice is to always listen to your body, it knows best. Just search 'body brush' online to buy one, they are usually pretty cheap and here is a simple video which explains how to do it!
3. Supplement with Glutathione
Glutathione is known as the 'Master Antioxidant' due to it's ability to stimulate the liver to drive toxins out of the body as well as it's properties as an antioxidant which can help fight off and protect our body from free radicals that contribute to disease. Our bodies produce glutathione naturally but during illness our supplies are used up so quickly it's often not enough to help eliminate the toxins that are contributing to us being unwell. Glutathione is the most powerful supplement for detoxification there is. I used to get IV glutathione infusions but they are not very affordable or convenient so I've been taking it daily at home for the last few years and attribute a large part of my recovery to it! Make sure you take Glutathione in liposomal form which is the most effective due to it's bioavailability meaning it is the most easily absorbed! Liposomal glutathione is in a protective casing where it travels to the small intestine then enters the bloodstream to be used by the body whereas as non-liposomal forms are broken down by stomach acid before they even enter our blood!).
4. The Perrin Technique
The Perrin Technique is a type of lymphatic drainage created by Dr Ray Perrin specifically for people with CFS / ME. It’s based on the theory that different stress factors whether that be physical (through postural problems or injury), infectious (bacterial or viral), environmental (exposure to toxins or allergens), emotional stress (work or family) or usually a combination of these things leads to an overload of toxins on the sympathetic nervous system. This results in a build up of toxins in the fluid around the brain and spinal cord which are supposed to detox into the lymphatic system where they leave the body via the liver but in people with CFS / ME and similar conditions these drainage points become blocked leading to a build up of congested toxins in the body and a natural inability to detox effectively. This accumulation of toxins can irritate the brain, spinal cord and surrounding tissues contributing to the wide range of symptoms in ME / CFS.
The Perrin Technique treatment manually stimulates the motion of fluid around the brain and spinal cord to encourage better drainage of the lymphatic system which helps to alleviate the physical symptoms. This treatment has literally changed my life, I wish I had known about it sooner! It can also be beneficial to those with Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, cognitive issues, digestive issues, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases etc because many of these conditions can overlap. You can book an appointment for an initial consultation with a Perrin Practitioner and you can do The Perrin Technique self massage at home to start off with which is a less intense, simpler version. I will share an introductory video below. I see Rakhee Mediratta who works in Chalfont, Buckinghamshire and Marylebone London, France Quirin who works in Birmingham and Ian who works in North Wales and at the Perrin Clinic in North Manchester. From trying out almost 10 different Perrin Technique practitioners, I seem to benefit more from working with some than others!
5. Cold Water Therapy
Cold water therapy stimulates the bodies natural healing powers to help relieve the symptoms of many medical conditions and promote a better sense of health and well-being. Cold water aids detoxification by causing your lymph vessels to contract, forcing your lymphatic system to pump lymph fluid around your body, flushing the unwanted toxins and waste out of the area. Cold water also triggers the immune system's white blood cells to attack and destroy any unwanted substances in the fluid such as bacterial infections and viral infections. Other benefits of cold water therapy include reduced pain levels and inflammation, improved circulation and reduced stress. Start small and build up! I started at 1 second of cold water at the end of my showers and built up from there. You can also do it in the sea or with wild swimming groups in local lakes, but be careful and build up slowly, you don't want to send your body into shock! Here is a video from Chloe Kian's YouTube channel who focuses on slow, mindful and intentional living all about a week in her life trying out cold water therapy. *It's important to note that if you have adrenal fatigue, cold exposure can be a negative stressor on the body and adrenal glands so it's advised to avoid if you have adrenal fatigue.
"Detoxification works because it addresses the needs of individual cells, the smallest units of human life," says Peter Bennett, N.D., co-author of 7-Day Detox Miracle with Stephen Barrie, N.D., and Sara Faye. I hope this blog post has helped you understand how enhancing your bodies detoxification systems can lead to improved overall health. I know that I will continue to use various detox methods to help with my recovery then once I have reached the point where I'm living a full and healthy life I will still continue to detox to ensure the prevention of future illness. Over time detoxification can become a healthy lifestyle and part of our every day routine. I would love to know do you detox at home? What do you find helps you the most? Please me know if you would like to see more of this type of blog posts or if you have any other suggestions!
Welcome to the community and speak soon.
Emma x
