There are many detox approaches, and there is very little evidence to suggest that one is better than the next. However, a 7-day commitment to healthy activities can be helpful for many symptoms. It can help your body find balance. It is important to be creative and adapt a program to your needs. The following plan offers general guidelines for self-guided detoxification.
Getting Started- This regimen is not intended to be all things to all people. Nor is it a test of will and endurance. It is designed to be a safe, useful, empowering, health guide. You can change it as necessary to meet your own needs. However, this process does require planning and preparation, so read through it and make preparations ahead of time.
- In addition to physical approaches, this plan equally emphasizes mind-body approaches. These can help you relax and unravel negative and unconscious mental patterns that often result in pain and discomfort.
- The most important part of going through a detox program is to first ask why you are doing it. Being clear about your intentions helps avoid disappointment and expectations that are too high. Write down your reasons for going through a detox program using language that is meaningful to you.
- The five basic ingredients of this detox regimen are self-reflection, exercise, sauna, nutrition, and manual-therapy. The program offered here is designed to support and enhance your own ability to heal and experience well-being. It is intended for most people, and you can do it on your own. However, first check with your primary care clinician to make certain this is a healthy option for you.
- We encourage you to use organic, sustainable, local, responsible, gentle, natural, whole, balanced, and easeful products and methods. These honor the global and spiritual aspect of health.
- Healing crises commonly occur during a detoxification regimen. Common and temporary symptoms of detoxification include feeling lousy, headache, lightheadedness, diarrhea, cramps, bloating, body aches, fatigue, mood changes, and weakness. These symptoms are due to a combination of factors including the how toxins in the body are affected, low blood sugar, low fluids, electrolyte imbalance, withdrawal from various substances (such as alcohol, caffeine, sugar, nicotine), and even changes in your daily routine.
- If you develop any of these symptoms, usually the best approach is to continue with the detox. However, you may need to stop or alter the detox if you experience ongoing distressing symptoms.
- Dehydration is common during a detox. Make sure that you drink a lot of fluids.
- Address your particular needs as you go along, such as more frequent snacks, larger meals, increasing protein and healthy fats, working less, resting more, and less striving for goals.
- In general, continued use of prescribed daily medications is recommended. Use other medications sparingly (for example pain medication taken as needed for headaches or other problems). Communicate with your health care provider, therapist, or other healing practitioners for any concerns that arise during the detox as needed.
In the end, you will likely find that you feel better, have more energy, and may require less medication.
- Days 1 and 2 : Eliminate meat, eggs, dairy, wheat, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, and sugar. Eat only organic vegan foods in any arrangement, preparation, and amount using cooking oils (extra virgin olive, canola, sesame, and coconut oils) and seasonings.
- Day 3 : In addition, eliminate grains, nuts, beans, and legumes. Eat only fruits and vegetables in any combination, amount, and preparation using oils and spices as needed.
- Day 4 : Avoid eating any solid food. Drink plenty of water, broth, juice and tea.
- Day 5 : (Same as Day 3).
- Days 6 and 7 : (same as Days 1 and 2).
- Eat only fruits and vegetables in any combination, amount, and preparation using oils and spices as needed.
- Drink plenty of filtered water, juice, tea, and broth.
- Move and exercise the body in any variety, intensity, and duration.
- Keep a journal and practice any variety of self-reflection.
For the entire detox week, eliminate flesh foods/meat (e.g. fish, beef, pork, lamb, poultry, etc.), refined sugars (white/brown sugar and especially high-fructose corn syrup), and artificial sweeteners such as saccharine, aspartame, and Splenda (limited use of natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, and molasses are okay to use in small amounts). Also avoid alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, cigarettes, chocolate, and recreational drugs for the entire week. It is advised to avoid dairy, wheat, and eggs during the detox week as well (instead try soy/almond/rice milk, soy cheese, soy yogurt, stanol/sterol spreads). The recipes you use will guide your cooking methods, e.g. simmering vegetables into soups, steaming, sautéing, etc.
Days 1 and 2Recommended foods for Days 1 and 2 include fresh/frozen/dried vegetables, fruit, and mushrooms (maitake, shiitake, oyster, and/or enoki, etc). If you are following Version #1, healthy grains are also recommended for days 1 and 2 (brown/wild rice, quinoa, buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, seeds, nuts, legumes, and flax seed).
Other recommendations include:- Use cold pressed organic extra-virgin olive oil as guided by your recipes and meals.
- Add spices and healthy seasonings as guided by your recipes.
- Drink 8-10 glasses of filtered water, including vitalizing-beverage, detox-broth, smoothies, and diluted juices.
- Drink tea throughout the day, such as peppermint, decaf green, chamomile, licorice, ginger, rooibos, and digestive tea.
- For snacks eat mixed nuts, dried and fresh fruit, vegetables and detox-broth.
- Consider using herbs and supplements. A list of these including recommended doses is on pages 7-8 of this handout. This recommendation is optional.
- Consider 15-30 minutes of sauna or steam room therapy.
- Consider 30-60 minutes of light exercise such as walking, running, biking, skiing, jumping rope, stretching, yoga, pilates, etc.
On Day 3 also eliminate grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, and mushrooms. Eat only fruits and vegetables. You can include fresh, frozen, or dried vegetables and fruit. You can eat as much of thee as you want, prepared in any healthy way. Just like Days 1 and 2, recommendations include:
- Olive oil.
- Spices and seasonings.
- Filtered water, tea, vitalizing-beverage, detox-broth, smoothies, and diluted juice.
- Optional herbs and supplements at recommended dosages.
- Sauna or steam room heat therapy.
- Light exercise.
- Journaling, self-reflection, or meditation.
A new suggestion to add on Day 3 is massage therapy. This can help eliminate the toxins in your body. It can also assist the body's lymphatic system, which helps balance the fluids in the body.
Day 4 (MODIFIED FASTING)
Eliminate all solid food(i.e., drink only water, tea, juices, and broth with modifications as needed). Most importantly, PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF YOUR BODY! Sensitive, ill, weak, and thin people should avoid or modify this day of fasting if needed For example, you can drink more juice and broth as needed.
Other suggestions include:
- Enjoy rest and relaxation; avoid exercise and sauna use today.
- Do minimal or no work today and avoid being overly active.
- Stop all supplements just for today.
- Drink plenty of fluids (tea with honey, vitalizing beverage, diluted fruit/vegetable juice, and detox broth) to replace those lost through toileting.
- Practice journaling, self reflection, or meditation.
Optional bowel cleansing regimen:
- Take 500-1000 mg of Bentonite Clay or Activated Charcoal capsules by mouth three times per day with water, only for this day of fasting.
- Drink 300 mL of Magnesium Citrate (one bottle) in the morning for bowel elimination.
- Use 1-2 saline Fleet Enemas in the afternoon or evening for bowel elimination.
Day 5 (Same as Day 3 except for Energy-Work)
For day 5, add back fruit and vegetables. You can eat them in any amount or combination.
Prepare them using healthy recipes. Again, recommended foods include fresh, frozen, or dried vegetables and fruit (but no mushrooms, grains, seeds, beans, legumes, or nuts). Just like days 1-3, other recommendations include:
- Olive oil
- Spices and seasonings.
- Filtered water, tea, vitalizing-beverage, detox-broth, smoothies, and diluted juice.
- Restart the optional herbs and supplements at recommended dosages.
- Sauna or steam room heat therapy.
- Light exercise.
- Journaling, and self-reflection, or meditation.
A new suggestion to add on Day 5 is an Energy-Work session such as Acupuncture or Reiki to help balance your system.
Days 6 and 7 (Same as Days 1 & 2)
In addition to fruits and vegetables, add back mushrooms, beans, legumes, seeds, nuts, and healthy grains. You are encouraged to continue the following:
- Olive oil
- Spices and seasonings.
- Filtered water, tea, vitalizing-beverage, detox-broth, smoothies, and diluted juice.
- Optional herbs and supplements at recommended dosages.
- Sauna or steam room heat therapy.
- Light exercise.
- Journaling, and self-reflection, or meditation.
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