Archive for October, 2011

Detoxify Your Home

Posted on: October 7th, 2011 by Natalie No Comments

Decrease your toxic load by reducing and removing toxins from your home

  • Replace all toxic personal care products and household cleaning products with non-toxic products
  • Try eco-friendly cleaners and paints that are low in volatile organic compounds in your house. Cleaners like bicarbonate of soda, eucalyptus oil and white vinegar are great for the environment and your family.
  • Install air filters, commit to proper ventilation and have lots of indoor plants to filter the air.
  • Buy water filters.
  • Use feng shui to get the energy clear in your home. If the chi in your home cannot flow easily it can become stagnant and toxic, trapping negative energies.
  • Use natural substances like orange essential oil to deal with pests in your home.
  • Wear clothes that are made from organic fabrics. Do not dry-clean clothes.
  • Avoid using plastics where you can.
  • Eat organic produce where possible or soak non-organic produce in apple cider vinegar/white vinegar.
  • Enhance digestion with enzyme and probiotic supplements.
  • Stop smoking or drinking alcohol.
  • Prevent conflict and criticism in the home as these negative emotions effect our physical health.

Love Your Liver

Posted on: October 26th, 2011 by Natalie No Comments

The liver is one of the primary organs of detoxification.

Its major functions:

  • Filters your blood by removing harmful viruses, bacteria, yeasts, foreign substances and toxins
  • Metabolizes carbohydrates, fats, proteins
  • Breaks down and detoxifies old or excess hormones
  • Stores glycogen and fat soluble vitamins and minerals
  • Produces bile so that fats and vitamins can be digested
  • Balances blood sugar by releasing glycogen when blood sugar is low
  • Creates proteins needed for blood cells, hormones and the immune system
  • Detoxifies toxic chemicals so that they can be broken down and eliminated through bowel, skin, lungs and urine
  • Neutralises drugs and alcohol

Causes of Liver Dysfunction

  • High exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution, pesticides on fruit and veg, cosmetics and cleaning products
  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Medications
  • Heavy Metals
  • High amounts of hydrogenated fats in diet
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Gastrointestinal imbalances such as constipation, candida and leaky gut

Signs Of Liver Dysfunction

  • Yellow/white coated tongue
  • Irritability
  • Dark circles under eyes
  • Fatigue
  • Liver spots (brown spots/blemishes on skin)
  • Yellow sclera (white part of the eyes)
  • Headaches
  • Allergies
  • Excessive sweating
  • Skin rashes
  • Lack of appetite on waking
  • Indigestion after eating fatty foods
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Waking between 1-3am for no apparent reason
  • Poor skin tone

How to Support and Love your Liver

  • Protein at every meal for liver detoxification and to repair and renew cells
  • High intake of raw fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants and protect the liver
  • Caraway seeds, garlic, onions, turmeric and beetroot and Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts all stimulate liver detoxification enzymes
  • Vitamins and minerals especially the B vitamins,Vitamin C, magnesium, selenium and zinc
  • Essential fatty acids such as salmon, flaxseed, wheatgerm, walnuts and sesame
  • Herbs such as St Marys Thistle, Schisandra, Turmeric, Dandelion Root, Globe Artichoke and Rosemary all support liver detoxification and regeneration
  • Avoid alcohol, drugs and processed foods that are high in saturated fats such as deep fried foods, sugar and preservatives as these will burden and increase the toxic load on the liver
  • Exercise regularly to prevent a fatty liver and liver dysfunction

It is important to keep your liver in optimum health as it is the central organ to cleansing and detoxification.

Detox Your Emotions

Posted on: October 31st, 2011 by Natalie No Comments

Not only can toxins from our external world cause harm, but negative emotions coming from within us can cause toxic stress. This occurs when these emotions are suppressed, rejected, judged or lied about. If you allow these toxic emotions to accumulate and they are not dealt with in the right way, the emotional toxicity ultimately leads to physical toxicity. If these negative emotions are left unchecked and accumulate they may drain your energy, sabotage happiness and   manifest as dis-ease in the body.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine particular emotions are known to be related to specific organs of the body which may have a physiological effect on this organ if in excess. For example  anger is related to the liver, worry and fear to the kidneys and grief to the lungs. Therefore if there is an excess in these emotions it will ultimately create disharmony/imbalance of this organ.

It is therefore important to be able to release and detoxify your emotions.

7 steps to dealing with toxic emotions

  1. Identify the emotion
  2. Observe the emotion and allow yourself to feel the emotion wherever it may express itself within the body
  3. Take responsibility of your feelings without feeling guilty and know you have the power to release this emotion
  4. Express your emotion to yourself whether it be by writing it down or audibly to yourself
  5. Release the emotion through physical ritual e.g meditate, write, massage, exercise, laugh, cry, nature or breathe
  6. Share the emotion
  7. Celebrate the detox process and nourish/reward yourself for letting go

Detoxing the emotions is just as important as cleansing your body and will allow you to feel light, clear and energized.